EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The person heading one of the country’s largest discount retail companies has roots firmly planted in Wisconsin.

John Mulligan has assumed the role of interim president and CEO for the Target Corp., based in Minneapolis. He replaces Gregg Steinhafel who also happens to be from Wisconsin.

Mulligan graduated from Eau Claire Regis High School in 1983 before earning a bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s of business administration at the University of Minnesota.

Eau Claire attorney Anthony Bourget was Mulligan’s classmate in grade school and high school. Bourget said even early on Mulligan was a genuine leader with strong core values.

Mulligan joined Target in 1996 as a financial analyst and most recently had been chief financial officer.