Michael Francis, Target's former chief marketing officer and, until recently, the president of J.C. Penney Co., has signed on with Gap Inc. to serve as a "marketing creative adviser," according to Advertising Age.
Francis, who left Target last year and J.C. Penney in June, will join a team of creative advisers for Gap and its other brands, including Old Navy and Banana Republic, the trade journal said.
Part of the duties for Francis will be to oversee Gap's international expansion. While at Target, Francis was closely involved in the Minneapolis-based retailer's expansion into Canada.
Francis abruptly left J.C. Penney in June after he failed to boost sales.
Francis worked for Marshall Field's before Target (which was Dayton Hudson Corp. at the time) purchased it in 1990. He went on to become Target's executive vice president for marketing in 2001 and chief marketing officer in 2008.
The trio of Francis, CEO Gregg Steinhafel and Executive Vice President of Merchandising Kathryn Tesija formed the top brain trust at Target.
DAVID PHELPS
