Target Corp. has tapped a Xerox Corp. executive as its new top lawyer, the company announced Wednesday.
Don Liu will replace Tim Baer, Target's current executive vice president and chief legal officer, as Baer prepares for retirement. Baer, a 23-year Target veteran, will stay until July 2017 to help with the transition. Liu starts his new post on Aug. 22, according to a news release.
"As Tim transitions to retirement, I look forward to welcoming Don to our team," Target CEO Brian Cornell said in a news release. "His extensive legal expertise will help us continue to navigate the increasingly complex business environment with the highest standards of ethics and integrity. I know Don will be an excellent addition to our leadership team."
Liu is joining Target after about nine years at Xerox, where he served as executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. Liu has also held senior executive positions at Toll Brothers Inc. and Ikon Office Solutions.
Liu's appointment as executive vice president, chief legal officer and general counsel follows months of leadership shifts at Target. Since taking the reigns of the retail giant in August 2014, Cornell, Target's first outside CEO, has filled four of 12 executive positions with outside hires and another four who were promoted from within.
Two months ago, Cornell filled one of the leadership positions when he hired Mark Tritton from Nordstrom Inc. to become Target's chief merchandising officer.
These changes come at a time when the retail giant finds its cheap-chic brand vulnerable to competitors with similar offerings as well as online retailers like Amazon.
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