News

Target CMO Jeff Jones takes leave for Uber president role

August 30, 2016

In what is clearly not a great time for a retailer to lose a top EVP, Target CMO Jeff Jones is leaving his executive leadership role to take on the job of president/ride-sharing at Uber.

Target and Uber nearly simultaneously released the news Tuesday. Jones, who took the Target role in 2012, will depart Target come Sept. 9.

In an announcement, Target CEO Brian Cornell praised Jones' work during the past four years in modernizing marketing and driving strategy. He also acknowledged the timing issue given the upcoming holiday sales season.

"Target's marketing team is world class and we are well positioned headed into the important holiday season. Looking ahead, we will be undergoing an extensive internal and external search for our next chief marketing officer," he stated.

His note also spoke to Jones' contributions in the past years.

"He worked tirelessly to sharpen our focus on the guest and evolved our marketing capabilities to center on the important role digital plays in their lives," wrote Cornell, adding "because of his many contributions, Target continues to be among the world's most recognized and beloved brands. I want to thank Jeff for his work on behalf of our brand, our business and the Target team. He's been an important partner during my time at Target, and I, along with the entire team, wish him well in his future endeavors."

As sad as Target's leadership team likely is in losing such a leader, Uber's team appears just as excited. Jones will be responsible for Uber's operations, marketing and customer support on a global level.

"It's big news and I wanted to explain my thinking," wrote Uber CEO and Co-Founder Travis Kalanick in a note. "Our vision is simple — to redefine how a large operation's effort can be tightly integrated with a customer-obsessed marketing strategy," he explained.

Uber’s two-pronged strategy is to "rewire" city efforts to integrate branding, marketing and strategy. The second part is the new hire, as Kalanick said Uber needs a "world-class leader" to fuse marketing with extensive global operations.

“As we move into the next phase at Uber, one in which we will build a global brand infused in every customer interaction, I cannot think of a better person to lead us on this journey than Jeff. Our journey continues and I couldn't be more excited about what's next," wrote Kalanick.