Dive Brief:

• Beth Jacob, Target Corp. Chief Information Officer, has resigned amongst efforts to overhaul its information security and compliance division. 
• This announcement follows a massive data breach suffered by the Minneapolis-based retailer, in which 40 million credit and debit card accounts were compromised between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15. The hackers also stole names, phone numbers, email, and mail addresses from as many as 70 million customers.
• Target also announced that it will be looking outside the company to fill the roles of chief information security officer and a chief compliance officer, two positions with revamped information security and assurance risk and compliance responsibilities. 

Dive Insight:

Target's latest move is a telling sign that the retailer means business when restructuring its data and technology practices. Perhaps in an effort to distance itself from its previously vulnerable state, Target has increasingly sought outside consultation, with an announcement that it is working with Promontory Financial Group to evaluate its structure, technology, processes, and talent. Time will tell if these new perspectives and personnel will help Target move on from this debacle--and its resulting 46% profit decline for Q4. Either way, the retailer's woes can be a learning tool for the entire industry as it struggles to find a truly hack-proof payment system.