That sets up a clear fork in the road. Continuity with Fiddelke would provide stability, cultural cohesion, and predictability—traits valued by investors in a mature retail brand. But critics may question whether an insider can push the company beyond its comfort zone. Disruption with an external CEO would offer fresh thinking but risk cultural friction and the loss of institutional memory at a delicate moment for the retailer.
For Cornell, who has been Target’s public face for more than a decade, the decision is as much about legacy as strategy. His successor will determine whether Target doubles down on the playbook he crafted or rewrites it altogether.
