# Douglas Dayton: founder, Target Corporation

Canonical ID: `f3e75297-a248-4678-b72d-7fda28714e53`

American retail executive (1924–2013); founder and first president of [Target](/companies/target), opening the first Target discount store in 1962 as a division of the Dayton's department store company. Youngest of George Nelson Dayton's five sons who ran the family's downtown Minneapolis department store. He shepherded Target's growth until 1968, then left to lead Dayton Hudson Corporation's other retail ventures.

- **Nationality:** American
- **Verification posture:** verified

## Foundings (1)

- [Target Corporation](https://registry.deploy.report/companies/target.md) _no longer at company_

See all founders: [/founders](https://registry.deploy.report/founders.md)

## Co-founders (2)

- [George Dayton](https://registry.deploy.report/people/george-dayton.md) co-founded [Target Corporation](https://registry.deploy.report/companies/target.md) (1902-01-01)
- [John Geisse](https://registry.deploy.report/people/john-geisse.md) co-founded [Target Corporation](https://registry.deploy.report/companies/target.md) (1962-01-01)

## Former / Previously (1)

- [Target Corporation](https://registry.deploy.report/companies/target.md) Co-Founder of Target stores / First President

## Sources (4)

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Target_Corporation
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Dayton
3. https://corporate.target.com/news-features/article/2013/07/a-vision-on-target-remembering-doug-dayton
4. https://www.postbulletin.com/business/target-founder-douglas-dayton-dies-at-88


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