- Incoming Target CEO Michael Fiddelke addressed the situation in Minneapolis in a video message on Monday.
- “The violence and loss of life in our community is incredibly painful,” he said.
- Fiddelke was among more than 60 local business leaders who signed a letter calling for de-escalation.
Target’s incoming CEO’s first staff message of the year is a somber one.
Michael Fiddelke, who takes over as CEO next week, addressed the situation in Minneapolis with an internal video message Monday, two days after federal agents killed a second person in the city.
“As someone who is raising a family here in the Twin Cities and as a leader of this hometown company, I want to acknowledge where we are,” he said. “The violence and loss of life in our community is incredibly painful.”
Fiddelke’s message, which Business Insider viewed, did not identify President Donald Trump or ICE by name, and he said the company’s top priority was the safety of employees and customers.
A spokesperson provided a transcript of the message and declined to comment further.
He also said he was one of more than 60 Minnesota business leaders to sign an open letter calling for “constructive dialogue and de-escalation” that was published Sunday.
Bloomberg earlier reported on the video.
The video message comes after Target’s HR chief, Melissa Kremer, sent a memo that directed employees to new internal resources for workers about how to safely handle “disruption near our locations.”
“Target does not have cooperative agreements with any immigration enforcement agency,” Kremer also said in the memo. “We’re listening and working to de-escalate where possible.”
As one of the largest employers in the state, Target has its headquarters and about 20 stores in the greater Twin Cities metro area.
Its locations have become flashpoints on social media as federal agents stage vehicles in the parking lots and use publicly accessible areas of stores.
Fiddelke said he would spend his first days as CEO in the field listening to employees, after which the company will convene a larger discussion about how to move forward.
Read Fiddelke’s full message here:
Hi team. In one week I will officially start as CEO. We’re about to step into a new chapter for Target, and I’ve been looking forward to starting this work with you for some time, but this isn’t the first message I imagined I’d send. We’ll have time to talk very soon about our plans to move Target forward, but right now, as someone who is raising a family here in the Twin Cities and as a leader of this hometown company, I want to acknowledge where we are. The violence and loss of life in our community is incredibly painful. I know it’s weighing heavily on many of you across the country, as it is with me. What’s happening affects us not just as a company, but as people, as neighbors, friends, and family members within Target. We are doing everything we can to manage what’s in our control, always keeping the safety of our team and guests our top priority. During my more than 20 years at Target, one of the things I’ve loved is how we are part of the communities where we operate. Since the beginning, we’ve given 5% of our profits and millions of volunteer hours to make them strong and vibrant places to live and work. In line with that, I’ve been meeting with a range of leaders and this weekend added my signature to a statement using our collective voice to call for calm, constructive dialogue and de-escalation to reduce tension and keep people safe. As that work continues, looking ahead to next week, I’ll spend my first days in the field listening and learning alongside our teams, and then we’ll come together for an all-team huddle to talk about how we’re moving our business forward. Our leadership team is activated, HR is equipped, and our resources remain ready to give you the care and support you need. Thank you for everything you do for each other, our guests, and our communities.
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