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MINNEAPOLIS — Christina Hennington was named Target’s chief growth officer in February 2021, capping an impressive career with the retailer that began in 2003 as a buyer and that has seen her rise through a succession of merchandising leadership roles. In her current position, Hennington leads the merchant teams responsible for Target’s five key merchandising categories, as well as several enterprise capabilities, including the Target in India team and the product design and sourcing teams.
In addition, Hennington oversees Target’s overall enterprise strategy. As chief growth officer, she works across the organization to identify and pursue revenue-generating strategies that can deepen the company’s relevance with current and prospective guests.
The last two years, though, have been challenging ones for Hennington and for Target as inflation has hammered consumers’ confidence, compelling them to hunker down and focus on basic necessities and forgo the kind of discretionary purchases that have fueled much of Target’s past top-line growth.
During Target’s third quarter conference call last November, Hennington described the consumer environment as the retailer entered the crucial holiday season.
Christina Hennington
“Consumers are feeling the weight of multiple economic pressures, and discretionary retail has borne the brunt of this weight for many quarters now,” she said. “In addition, consumers are facing newly emerging headwinds, including higher interest rates and the return of student loan payments. In the face of this mental and emotional tug of war, consumers are looking for a respite, which is why we are relentless in our pursuit to provide ease, inspiration, joy and comprehensive value every day.”
Hennington’s background equipped her well to fill senior leadership roles. Prior to joining Target in 2003, she worked with the consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers in Boston and also served as product manager for two technology start-ups.
At Target, she initially gained experience as a buyer in toys, then beauty and electronics before being named MP director of household/personal care/baby and beauty. In 2011 she was promoted to vice president and merchandise manager for beauty and personal care, followed by elevation to senior vice president of health and beauty in 2014.
A year later, Hennington was named senior vice president of merchandise transformation and operations, a role that encompassed a broad range of responsibilities, including negotiations, analytics, category management and oversight of Target’s small-store formats, to name just a few. She also played a key role in modernizing the merchant organization, integrating the store and digital buying functions — a move in which Target led the industry.
In addition, Hennington has been active in diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) efforts, and serves as sponsor of several employee resource groups. She was also a founding member of the Racial Equity Action and Change committee (REACH) in 2020.
