Australian retailer Target has poached TK Maxx’s ecommerce director as it continues to strengthen its leadership team.

Phil Wade, currently ecommerce director at TK Maxx, will join Target in December as marketing director.

He will report directly to managing director Stuart Machin who is leading a turnaround of the retailer.

The hire follows a string of other appointments at Target. Former Tesco clothing boss Richard Jones has joined as merchandise trading director, former Shop Direct buying and merchandising director Damian Walton has joined as general manager homewares and Jonathan Fitzgerald joins in December as merchandise planning, space and range director, moving from Matalan.

Machin, a former Sainsbury’s and Asda director, joined Target in April after moving from grocer Coles. Both businesses are owned by Wesfarmers.

His recruitment drive mirrors his own arrival at Coles in 2008 when he was part of a team - including Archie Norman, famed for turning around Asda, and former Halfords boss Ian McLeod - parachuted in to revive Coles’ fortunes.

It is understood that Wade was placed in his new role by headhunter Clarity, which had already installed Jones and Walton at Target.

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