People moves: Target welcomes Grant McGee as chief legal and compliance officer

Grant McGee has joined US retailer Target as its new EVP and chief legal and compliance officer.

McGee enters the role with 20 years of legal expertise and experience in large, consumer-facing global companies. Before joining Target, he served as SVP, general counsel and corporate secretary at Kimberly-Clark. Prior to that he has held senior legal roles at American Airlines and General Electric.

‘Target is a brand that’s been part of my life at every stage – from furnishing my first apartment to everyday essentials for my daughter and gifts and decorations for every holiday,’ says McGee. ‘Professionally, this is a transformative moment in retail, and I see tremendous opportunity for Target to deliver on its strategy and create an exceptional experience for our guests.’

Over at Chevron, the energy company has appointed Scott Keller as its new general counsel.

Keller will assume the role as of July 1, reporting to current chief legal officer Richard Hewitt Pate, ahead of the latter’s planned retirement in 2027 after 17 years of service. After that, Keller will report to Chevron chairman and CEO Mike Wirth as chief legal officer.

Before joining Chevron, Keller was appellate and constitutional lawyer and co-founder of Lehotsky Keller Cohn LLP. Prior to this he served as solicitor general of Texas.

‘Scott brings exceptional experience and expertise, including a strong record of leading through complex matters and a clear understanding of the issues shaping our business environment,’ says Wirth. ‘I’m pleased to welcome Scott to Chevron and look forward to the valuable experience and perspective he will bring to our company.’

Staying in the US, Sony Music has confirmed the departure of Julie Swidler, EVP of business affairs and general counsel at the end of June.

Swidler joined the company in 2008. Prior to that, she held senior legal and business affairs jobs at Arista Records, J Records, RCA Records and BMG.

During her tenure Swidler has seen the company through periods of transformation while championing artists, innovation and long-term progress in the sector, the company says.

Speaking about her exit, Rob Stringer, chairman of Sony Music Group, says: ‘Julie has been a vital component of the Sony Music senior management team for many years and her wisdom, experience and knowledge has been a bedrock of our company’s strategy and growth. She leaves us with our deepest respect and gratitude.’

Elsewhere in the world of entertainment, TV network Starz has confirmed that longstanding Disney executive Jim Kapenstein will join the company next week as its new chief legal and strategy officer.

In the role, Kapenstein will be responsible for ‘developing and leading the strategic direction of business and legal affairs for the company’. He replaces former general counsel Audrey Lee and chief strategy officer John Penney.

‘Few executives bring the breadth of experience Jim does with his involvement in some of the largest transactions in media history,’ says Starz’s president and CEO Jeffrey Hirsch. ‘His insight into guiding organizations through periods of transformation will be invaluable to us as we enter into our next phase of growth.’

Kapenstein spent almost 30 years at Disney most recently as deputy general counsel, during which time he oversaw the acquisitions of 21st Century Fox, Hulu, Fubo, Lucas Films, Marvel and Pixar, among others, as well as ESPN’s equity investment with the NFL.

Over at Ollie's Bargain Outlet, a US off-price retailer, Jared Shure has been appointed SVP, general counsel and corporate secretary.

He joins Ollie's from The Children’s Place, a clothing retailer, where he most recently served as chief administrative officer, general counsel and corporate secretary.

‘We are excited to welcome Jared to our leadership team,’ says Ollie’s president and CEO Eric van der Valk. ‘Jared is a proven strategic partner with significant leadership experience in complex organizations and deep expertise in corporate governance and risk management. He is also a servant leader who shares our passion for enhancing the lives of our customers through selling Good Stuff Cheap.’

Before his time at The Children’s Place, Shure served in senior legal roles at Kate Space & Company and Tapestry. He started his career as an M&A associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and O’Melveny & Meyers LLP.

Similarly, NYSE-listed Oliver Wyman, a global provider of management consulting and part of Marsh, has appointed Andrew Bainbridge as general counsel and chief compliance officer.

Prior to joining Marsh, Bainbridge practiced as an M&A lawyer at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner and held in-house legal roles in venture capital and investment banking.

‘Andrew is a proven leader who has demonstrated the technical legal expertise, commercial acumen, and sound judgment essential for navigating complex global challenges. I am confident he will be outstanding in this position and look forward to working more closely with him,’ says Kate Brennan, general counsel at Marsh.

Bainbridge succeeds Paula McGlarry, who recently assumed the role of global chief operating officer and chief of staff.

Finally, global investment firm Carlyle has confirmed Kate Heinzelman will join the firm as general counsel on June 29.

Before her appointment, she served as general counsel of the CIA, where she was the agency’s chief legal officer. Prior to that, Heinzelman served as chief counselor to the US Attorney General at the Department of Justice. She was also a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, deputy general counsel at the US Department of Health and Human Services and associate counsel to the President in the White House Counsel’s Office. 

‘Kate is a world-class legal leader whose work at senior levels of government, breadth of experience and ability to advise through highly complex, mission-critical situations make her exceptionally well suited for this role,’ says Harvey Schwartz, CEO of Carlyle.