Target Latest Company to Make C-Suite More Diverse

Target is going beyond just paying lip service to diversifying its upper ranks. Today, Maurice Cooper starts at the Minneapolis-based retail chain as senior VP of marketing, where he will lead brand, category and promotional marketing efforts across paid, owned and shared media and oversee key campaigns including those around the all-important holiday shopping season. Previously, Cooper was exec VP, chief growth & experience officer at the fast-casual chain Wingstop and also served in brand marketing positions at The Coca-Cola Co. and Intercontinental Hotels Group. Target is just the latest company to make its C-suite more diverse. Another is Boeing, which last week appointed Ed Dandridge to senior VP, chief communications officer. Dandridge previously was global chief marketing and communications officer at the insurance giant AIG. Target and Boeing follow companies such as Apple, Nike and Netflix making high-profile minority hires in recent weeks, each putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to assigning minorities to C-suite roles. The trend is long overdue, and the recent promotions are but a drop in the bucket when it comes to the leadership of American business. As USA Today recently reported, among 279 senior positions at the top 50 companies in the S&P 100, only 5 are held by Black people — and 2 of those recently retired. While many companies rushed to issue statements of support to the Black community following the May 25 killing of George Floyd, they clearly have a long way to go when it comes to making their boardrooms more accurately reflect their employee ranks and the customers they serve.