NEW YORK (AP) — Target hired a new chief information officer to help overhaul its data security systems in the wake of a massive pre-Christmas data breach.

The Minneapolis-based discounter said Tuesday that it named outsider Bob DeRodes, who has 40 years of experience in information technology and replaces Beth Jacob, who abruptly left in early March. DeRodes has been a senior information technology adviser for the Center for CIO Leadership, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Secretary of Defense and the U.S. Department of Justice. He will assume oversight of the company’s technology team and operations, effective May 5.

The nation’s third largest retailer also announced that MasterCard Inc. will provide its branded credit and debit cards with the chip-and-PIN technology that will be coming out next year. Some experts say that technology offers more security than traditional magnetic stripes.

“Establishing a clear path forward for Target following the data breach has been my top priority,” Gregg Steinhafel, Target’s chairman, president and CEO, said in a statement. “I believe Target has a tremendous opportunity to take the lessons learned from this incident and enhance our overall approach to data security and information technology.”

Target said it’s continuing its active search for a chief information security officer and a chief compliance officer.

Still deals with fallout

Target is still dealing with fallout from a massive breach that has hurt profits and sales and its reputation among shoppers who have been worried about the security of their personal data. The company disclosed on Dec. 19 that a data breach compromised 40 million credit and debit card accounts between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15.