As it looks to accelerate its e-commerce growth and close the digital gap with its competitors, Target Corp. has hired a former Gilt Groupe executive to fill the newly created role of senior vice president of new business integration and operations.

Peter Glusker, formerly vice chairman and CEO of flash-sale luxury retail website Gilt Groupe Japan, will start in the new position Monday.

In the past year or so, Target has branched out and acquired a number of companies — kitchen tools and cookware companies Cooking.com and Chefs Catalog, as well as DermStore Beauty Group, an online beauty and skin-care products firm.

In his new role, Glusker will work to "unlock the full value of these and future strategic acquisitions," Casey Carl, Target's president of multichannel, said in a statement.

Before Gilt Groupe, Glusker held digital media leadership positions with CBS Corp. and Viacom Inc.

"I was drawn to this opportunity because I see a new level of energy coming from Target — from a renewed commitment to speed and innovation to the desire to try things that have never been done before," he said in a statement.