Target has named former Amazon operations VP Arthur Valdez chief supply chain and logistics officer to shore up longstanding inventory issues at the discount chain.
In his new executive VP role, reporting to COO John Mulligan, Valdez will lead Target’s “supply chain transformation,” including planning, distribution and transportation, the company said.
Last March the No. 2 discounter announced a $1 billion investment in supply chain and technology to fix retail fundamentals and “enhance our digital capabilities, expand fulfillment options and improve the in-store experience,” chairman/CEO Brian Cornell explained last fall.
A key issue was out-of-stocks, which Cornell described as a serious and unacceptable problem. The situation was exacerbated by a supply-chain infrastructure that wasn’t designed for the added demands of e-commerce and in-store pickup, Mulligan had told analysts.
Read:Transcript of Target’s March 2 analyst conference
“While we’ve made significant progress in improving our operations, Target’s growth hinges on our ability to enhance the fundamental aspects of our business, starting with the supply chain,” Mulligan said. “Arthur’s leadership and experience will be a tremendous asset as we continue to drive improvements in end-to-end processes including leveraging our almost 1,800 stores to deliver a seamless experience for our guests.”
Valdez spent 16 years at Amazon, where he held leadership positions across the company’s global and domestic supply chain, including transportation, fulfilment, logistics and international supply chain expansion. Before that he also held positions with Walmart and Kmart.
