Target names Jeff England supply chief

Target said on May 19 that Jeff England will join the retailer as executive vice president and chief global supply chain and logistics officer, effective May 31. The appointment came a day before the company’s first-quarter earnings call and adds a new senior operations executive as Chief Executive Michael Fiddelke works to improve in-stock levels, delivery speed and sales performance. England will report to Chief Operating Officer Lisa Roath, according to the company’s statement. Shares were higher in Tuesday trading after the announcement, according to market reports. ### Who is Jeff England, and what job is he taking? Target said England will take the role of chief global supply chain and logistics officer on May 31. The company said he will be responsible for accelerating supply-chain plans intended to improve the shopping experience. (corporate.target.com) CNBC and Yahoo Finance identified England as a former Walmart executive who most recently worked at QXO. Retail Dive said Target is bringing him in as it seeks stronger in-stock reliability, while Yahoo Finance reported that Fiddelke is trying to fix inventory issues that have weighed on sales for about three years. ### Why did Target make the change now? (corporate.target.com) May 19 was also the date Target announced its first-quarter earnings webcast details, putting the management move directly ahead of a closely watched results report. CNBC said Fiddelke, who became CEO in February, has been working to bolster the management team as part of a turnaround effort after several quarters of weak sales. (cnbc.com) The Wall Street Journal, as reflected in search results, said England is replacing longtime Target executive Gretchen McCarthy. Target’s own statement did not frame the move as a reaction to earnings, but it said England will help accelerate plans tied to the company’s next chapter of growth, technology and guest experience. (corporate.target.com) ### What does Target say England will focus on? Target said England will oversee efforts aimed at improving the speed, reliability and precision of its supply chain. WWD reported that his remit includes AI and automation, and Retail Dive said the company wants stronger inventory availability and fulfillment execution. (wsj.com) Yahoo Finance reported that the move comes as Fiddelke tries to address in-stock problems, and Seeking Alpha described the appointment as part of an effort to tackle empty shelves and support fulfillment ambitions. Those characterizations came from outside reports rather than Target’s release. (corporate.target.com) ### How did investors react? TipRanks and other market reports said Target shares rose in Tuesday morning trading after the company announced England’s appointment. Yahoo Finance, citing Barchart content, also said the stock gained after the retailer named England to the supply-chain post. Those reports also said the retailer entered earnings facing pressure from weak or declining sales. (finance.yahoo.com) CNBC said investors were looking to the May 20 report for evidence that Target could end its sales slump and rebuild momentum with shoppers. ### What comes next for Target? Target’s investor relations site lists the first-quarter 2026 earnings conference call for Wednesday, May 20, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. (finance.yahoo.com) Eastern time. A separate company release said the webcast begins at 7:00 a.m. Central time and will be available through the Events & Presentations section of its investor website. (cnbc.com) May 31 is England’s stated start date in the new role, according to Target’s announcement. The earnings call is the next scheduled public update from Fiddelke and other executives, including on the company’s operating performance and outlook. (corporate.target.com 1) (corporate.target.com 2)