Walmart Inc. and Target Corp. have long been the two big kids on the fashion retail playground — and have grown only more so over the past decade-plus.

Now, both Walmart and Target are facing a changing of the guards with new chief executive officers ready to step in next year.

While both businesses are large and have been sharpening their tech chops under current leadership, performance has diverged.

Here, a look back at the current management and how the two biggest mass market players have evolved.

2014

Doug McMillon becomes CEO of Walmart at 47. McMillon started his run at Walmart in 1984 as an hourly associate, picking orders and unloading trailers in a warehouse.

Word of encouragement from Rob Walton, chairman: “Doug is uniquely positioned to lead our growing global co

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