Jeanna Hesse
Saint Paul,MN
Summary
Senior Retail Executive renowned for strategic thinking, authenticity, and a transformative leader across diverse categories of business. Innovative leader with over 23 years of experience in omni-channel merchandising, brand building, designer partnerships, operational excellence, and inventory management. Proven success in driving profitable market share growth, launching new brands and finding opportunities that balance risk and reward. Experienced leader respected for creating a diverse culture built on high performing teams, developing top talent, and promoting collaboration within a complex organizational structure.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Divisional Merchandise Manager - Pet Care
Target Corporation
Minneapolis, MN
09.2019 - Current
- Value Creator: Manage a $2.5B P&L, consisting of over 10 different product categories, over 3k SKUS, 100's of National brands and multiple private label brands. Doubled the Pets business at Target within 3 years through well-defined strategic priorities, objectively assessing & executing new opportunities and creating mutually beneficial partnerships.
- Innovative Visionary: Highly skilled at crafting a clear vision for Pet Care portfolio and gaining alignment for key support across the enterprise, securing Pets as a total Target priority.
- Keen Strategist: Strong ability to assess market opportunities and create guest-led strategies that drive sales, profit, and loyalty to Target. Adept at building brands across the portfolio; notably leading the development of Kindfull, the first ever Pets Owned Brand.
- Culture Creator: Respected leader known for leading diverse teams, building top talent, and productive coaching. Effective leadership style that drives culture through clear & shared goals, strong communication and establishing a sense of belonging across the team, cross-functional group, and leaders. Currently lead 6 team members ranging from Senior Merchandise Specialists to Senior Buyers.
- Change Agent: Agile leader who can strategically pivot and recognize emerging trends based on obsession with guest behaviors and macro trends. Smart risk taker that leads teams to develop future forward strategies that keeps pace with the speed of our guest.
Senior Divisional Merch Manager Young Contemporary
Target Corporation
Minneapolis, MN
07.2017 - 09.2019
- Management of +$1.1B P&L with a mix of owned and national brands. Led the designer partnerships of Hunter Boots, Vineyard Vines and 25th Anniversary Collection at Target.
- Created a vision, strategy, and goals for newly created Apparel division that includes Junior Apparel, Designer Partnerships & License Apparel.
- Launched Wild Fable, Targets first new Gen Z apparel brand from concept to $300M revenue within months (now a $1B brand). Led a cross-functional team of over 15 people from ideation to band identity, guest research, product assortment, launch/marketing plans to help Target gain share for this critical consumer base.
- Coached and developed team of 6 merchants from Director to Senior Merchandise Specialists.
Director of Merchandising - Soft Decor & Kitchen
Target Corporation
Minneapolis, MN
01.2013 - 07.2017
Buyer, Womens Apparel & Baby
Target Corporation
Minneapolis, MN
09.2008 - 01.2013
Senior Buyer
Sears Holdings Company
Chicago, IL
05.2002 - 06.2008
Business Analyst
Target Corporation
Minneapolis, MN
07.2000 - 05.2002
Education
Consumer Science
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI05-2000
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Senior Divisional Merchandise Manager - Pet Care
Target Corporation
09.2019 - Current
Senior Divisional Merch Manager Young Contemporary
Target Corporation
07.2017 - 09.2019
Director of Merchandising - Soft Decor & Kitchen
Target Corporation
01.2013 - 07.2017
Buyer, Womens Apparel & Baby
Target Corporation
09.2008 - 01.2013
Senior Buyer
Sears Holdings Company
05.2002 - 06.2008
Business Analyst
Target Corporation
07.2000 - 05.2002
Consumer Science
University of Wisconsin - Madison