Amazon Executive Tapped To Revamp Target’s Supply Chain

Target gains 16-year Amazon veteran Arthur Valdez, who served as the e-tailer's vice president of operations, focusing on its international supply chain growth.

Target Corp. on Monday announced that a top Amazon.com operations executive would lead the company's supply chain overhaul.

Minneapolis-based Target – the nation's sixth-largest retailer – said that Arthur Valdez would take over as executive vice president and chief supply chain and logistics officer in late March.

Valdez formerly served as Amazon's vice president of operations and focused on the e-retailer's international supply chain growth.

During his 16-year tenure at Amazon, he also held leadership positions in fulfilment, logistics and transportation. He previously worked with Walmart and Kmart.

“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," said John Mulligan, Target's executive vice president and COO, who will oversee Valdez directly.

Target and other brick-and-mortar retailers are struggling to harmonize their supply chains with the increasing demands of online commerce.

Mulligan, who was promoted to his newly created position last year, said that the company's continued progress "hinges on our ability to enhance the fundamental aspects of our business, starting with the supply chain."

Valdez's departure from Amazon, meanwhile, comes as the e-commerce giant appears to be preparing a dramatic expansion of its international logistics network.

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