Fabindia vs Target: Founders, CEOs and History
Fabindia was founded in 1960 by John Bissell, William Nanda Bissell and is led by Rajeshwari Srinivasan. Target was founded in 1902 by George Dayton and is led by Michael Fiddelke.
Company facts
Founders
Fabindia
John Bissell
John Bissell (1932-1998) was an American who arrived in India in 1958 on a Ford Foundation assignment to advise on handloom exports. In 1960 he founded Fabindia in New Delhi, initially selling handwoven furnishings to buyers abroad.
William Nanda Bissell
William Nanda Bissell (born 1966) is John Bissell's son and chairman of Fabindia. After studying at Wesleyan University he worked with artisans in Rajasthan, then took over the business in the 1990s and became managing director in 1999.
Target
George Dayton
George Draper Dayton became a partner in Goodfellow's Dry Goods Company, one of the largest department stores in Minneapolis, in 1902, and became sole owner and president within a year, renaming it the Dayton Dry Goods Company.
CEOs and their tenures
Fabindia
- John Bissell1960–1998
Founder
An American who came to India with the Ford Foundation, he started Fabindia from two rooms in Golf Links, New Delhi, exporting handloom home furnishings. He suffered a stroke in 1993 and died in 1998.
Source - William Bissell1999–2018
Managing Director (now Chairman)
Took charge in the 1990s after his father's stroke and became managing director in 1999, a role he held until 2018. He turned Fabindia from an exporter into a national retailer and remains chairman.
Source - Viney Singh2016–2023
Managing Director & CEO
Served seven years as managing director and CEO before retiring in April 2023; he stayed on the board as a non-executive director.
Source - Rajeshwari Srinivasan2023–present
Chief Executive Officer
Appointed CEO effective April 2023 after 30+ years in FMCG, retail, luxury and hospitality, including roles as a Tata Administrative Services officer at Rallis India, Tata Consumer, Indian Hotels and Titan Company. She is an IIFT alumna and Chevening Scholar.
Source
Target
- Robert J. Ulrich1994–2008
Chairman and CEO
Under Ulrich Target grew into the second-largest US discount retailer, built its design-partnership model with designers such as Michael Graves, and added the Super Target format. He retired as chief executive in 2008 and was succeeded by Gregg Steinhafel.
Source - Gregg Steinhafel2008–2014
Chairman, President and CEO
Steinhafel resigned in May 2014 after the data breach and the poor results of Target Canada, which the company closed in 2015 after losses. Brian Cornell succeeded him later in 2014.
Source - Brian Cornell2014–2026
Former Chairman and CEO
Cornell's tenure ended amid a stock and sales slump, with revenue declining for three consecutive fiscal years (from $107.412 billion in FY2023 to $104.780 billion in FY2025) even as the omnichannel infrastructure he built began paying off in the following qua…
Source - Michael Fiddelke2026–present
Chief Executive Officer
Fiddelke inherited a company coming off three straight years of revenue decline. His first two quarters as CEO delivered growth: Q1 FY2026 net sales rose 6.7% and Q2 FY2026 net sales rose 5.3% to $26.5 billion, with comparable traffic up 3.6%.
Source
Timeline: Fabindia and Target side by side
1902Target
Dayton Company is founded
George Dayton becomes a partner in Goodfellow's Dry Goods Company in Minneapolis in 1902, then sole owner in 1903, renaming it Dayton Dry Goods Company -- the business that eventually becomes Target Corporation.
1960Fabindia
Fabindia founded in New Delhi by John Bissell
Started as an exporter of handloom home furnishings.
1962Target
First Target store opens
The first Target discount store opens in Roseville, Minnesota.
1976Fabindia
First retail store opens in Greater Kailash
The N-Block shop introduced handloom clothing and linen to Delhi shoppers.
1999Fabindia
William Bissell becomes managing director
Began the national retail expansion and the artisan-shareholder supply model.
2000Target
Company becomes Target Corporation
Dayton Hudson changes its name to Target Corporation as the discount chain becomes the center of the company.
2013Target
Target Data Breach
Target discloses a data breach affecting more than 40 million customer payment cards during the holiday shopping season, becoming one of the most-cited cybersecurity failures in US retail history.
2014Target
Dermstore Acquired
Target acquires online beauty retailer Dermstore to expand its e-commerce beauty business; it sells the unit to THG for $350 million in 2021.
2015Target
Target Exits Canada
Target announced in January 2015 that it would close all of its Canadian stores, ending an expansion that began in 2013.
2016Fabindia
Viney Singh becomes CEO
Viney Singh became CEO of Fabindia in 2016. Served seven years as managing director and CEO before retiring in April 2023; he stayed on the board as a non-executive director.
2017Target
Target acquires Shipt and Grand Junction
Target acquires same-day delivery platform Shipt for about $550 million and transportation-technology startup Grand Junction, accelerating omnichannel fulfillment.
2020Target
Stores become fulfillment hubs
Target's store-based fulfillment model becomes central to digital growth during the pandemic period.
2021Fabindia
First loss in over two decades
Pandemic closures cut FY21 revenue 30% to ~$123 million (₹1,059 crore) with a ~$13.5 million (₹116 crore) loss.
2022Fabindia
IPO draft papers filed with SEBI
Planned ~$58 million (₹500 crore) fresh issue plus offer for sale of 25.05 million shares.
2023Fabindia
IPO withdrawn; Rajeshwari Srinivasan named CEO
Scrapped the roughly $482 million IPO in February; new CEO from April.
2024Fabindia
Organic India stake sale to Tata Consumer agreed
Tata Consumer Products valued Organic India at ~$220 million (₹1,900 crore) enterprise value.
2025Target
Michael Fiddelke named next CEO
Target announces that Michael Fiddelke will succeed Brian Cornell as CEO effective February 1, 2026, after 22 years rising through the company including as CFO and COO.
2026Fabindia
IPO revival reported
The Economic Times listed FabIndia among companies preparing to tap public markets.
2026Target
FY2025 revenue is reported
Target reports FY2025 revenue of $104.780B and net income of $3.705B, the third consecutive year of revenue decline.
2026Target
Q1 FY2026 sales rebound
Target reports Q1 FY2026 net sales growth of 6.7% and comparable sales growth of 5.6% under new CEO Michael Fiddelke.
2026Target
Q2 FY2026 growth and raised outlook
Target reports Q2 FY2026 net sales of $26.5B (+5.3%), comparable sales growth of 3.8% and raises full-year guidance to about 5% sales growth.
Acquisitions
Fabindia
- Organic India (stake)2013Undisclosed
- Organic India2013Undisclosed
- EAST2011Undisclosed
Questions about Fabindia vs Target
Who is the CEO of Fabindia and Target Corporation?
Fabindia is led by Rajeshwari Srinivasan and Target Corporation is led by Michael Fiddelke. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Fabindia founded vs Target Corporation?
Target Corporation was founded in 1902 — 58 years before Fabindia, which was founded in 1960. Target Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Fabindia.
How many employees does Fabindia have compared to Target Corporation?
Fabindia employs approximately 4,200 people, while Target Corporation employs approximately 415,000. Target Corporation has the larger workforce at 415,000 employees, compared to Fabindia's 4,200. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Fabindia and Target Corporation headquartered?
Fabindia is headquartered in India and Target Corporation is headquartered in United States. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Fabindia and Target Corporation?
Fabindia was founded by John Bissell, William Nanda Bissell. Target Corporation was founded by George Dayton.
Which company has a longer operating history — Fabindia or Target Corporation?
Target Corporation has been operating for approximately 124 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Fabindia has been in operation for around 66 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Fabindia vs Target overview