By /
Matt Zabel

Matt Zabel

CEO

Advising leaders and helping companies grow.

About Matt


Matt founded Mile 27 Partners to help leaders and businesses go further — to lead with confidence and navigate an increasingly uncertain environment. He’s been “in their shoes” as a seasoned corporate executive and senior government leader. So he understands the pressures business leaders face and the complexity of the decisions they make.

He’s also been “in the room” where high-profile, high-stakes decisions are made — from the corporate C-suite and boardroom, to the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Before founding Mile 27, Matt spent 15 years at Target in several senior leadership roles.

As EVP & Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, he led the company’s enterprise teams in communications, government affairs, reputation management, sustainability, crisis response, enterprise risk management, and corporate philanthropy.

As EVP & General Counsel, he led Target’s law department and oversaw all legal matters for the $106 billion publicly traded company. 

Speaking on Corporate Reputation and Crisis Management at the Page Society Spring Seminar in NYC.
Speaking at a corporate event as EVP & General Counsel
Preparation & support of CFO for congressional hearings.
Speaking at an industry event.
Preparation & support of CEO at a congressional hearing.
Speaking at a retail CEO conference.
Member of National Board of Directors for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America.
Speaking with a corporate law department as EVP & General Counsel.
Interviewing a corporate EVP & Chief Guest Experience Officer.
Speaking to Corporate Chief Communications Officers Conference.
Panel presentation on the Impact of the Current Administration.
Stumbling Through a 100-Mile Race Somewhere in Rural Kansas.
Preparation & support of CEO at congressional hearing.
Interviewing corporate EVP & Chief Operations Officer.
Speaking at an industry conference.
Speaking on Corporate Reputation and Crisis Management at the Page Society Spring Seminar in NYC.
Speaking on Corporate Reputation and Crisis Management at the Page Society Spring Seminar in NYC.
Speaking at a corporate event as EVP & General Counsel
Preparation & support of CFO for congressional hearings.
Speaking at an industry event.
Preparation & support of CEO at a congressional hearing.
Speaking at a retail CEO conference.
Member of National Board of Directors for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America.
Speaking with a corporate law department as EVP & General Counsel.
Interviewing a corporate EVP & Chief Guest Experience Officer.
Speaking to Corporate Chief Communications Officers Conference.
Panel presentation on the Impact of the Current Administration.
Stumbling Through a 100-Mile Race Somewhere in Rural Kansas.
Preparation & support of CEO at congressional hearing.
Interviewing corporate EVP & Chief Operations Officer.
Speaking at an industry conference.
Speaking on Corporate Reputation and Crisis Management at the Page Society Spring Seminar in NYC.
Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator John Thune.
Former President Barack Obama.
U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorney in the Waco/David Koresh/Branch Davidian Trial.
Former President George W. Bush.
National media spokesman for the U.S. Department of Justice’s $280 billion tobacco case.
Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno.
Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Former South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Miller.
U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorney in the Waco/David Koresh/Branch Davidian Trial.
Former U.S. Senator Larry Pressier.
U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorney.
U.S. Department of Justice tobacco lawsuit.
Former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder.
Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator John Thune.
Former President Barack Obama.
U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorney in the Waco/David Koresh/Branch Davidian Trial.
Former President George W. Bush.
National media spokesman for the U.S. Department of Justice’s $280 billion tobacco case.
Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno.
Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Former South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Miller.
U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorney in the Waco/David Koresh/Branch Davidian Trial.
Former U.S. Senator Larry Pressier.
U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorney.
U.S. Department of Justice tobacco lawsuit.
Former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder.

Earlier, Matt served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator John Thune on Capitol Hill and as Deputy Associate Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington DC. 

These varied, cross-functional experiences give him a unique perspective — one that connects business strategy, government policy, competing stakeholder expectations, and legal, reputational, and brand considerations.

At Mile 27, Matt advises senior leaders and businesses, helping them grow their businesses by becoming more resilient in today’s complex, fast-changing environment.

Matt lives in Minnesota with his wife, their four children, and the family chocolate Labrador retriever. In his spare time he demonstrates questionable judgment — but lives up to the firm’s name — by competing in 50- and 100-mile trail ultramarathons.

Meet The Rest of the Mile 27 Team

Ready to go further?

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