Target Corp has tapped PepsiCoexecutive Brian Cornell as its new chief executive, turning to an outsider for the first time in its history to help lead the U.S. retailer struggling to meet Americans' changing shopping habits, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Cornell, age 55, who has led Pepsi's U.S. foods business for the past two years, steps into the role vacated three months ago by Gregg Steinhafel.