Target appoints Chandhu Nair as first Chief AI Officer

Target has appointed Chandhu Nair as its first Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer and Senior Vice President. Nair, who joins the retailer on August 24, 2026, previously served as the Senior Vice President of Stores, Data, AI, and Innovation at Lowe’s. He also brings experience from leadership roles at Staples and Gap.

In addition to Nair’s appointment, Target named Purvi Shah as Senior Vice President of User Experience. Both executives will report to Prat Vemana, the company’s Chief Information and Product Officer. The leadership changes are part of a multiyear turnaround strategy aimed at modernizing customer experience and reversing slowing sales through significant operational and capital investments.

Nair’s mandate includes coordinating generative AI investments across inventory management, customer experience, and internal decision-making. The company has already begun deploying AI tools, such as Target Trend Brain for trend forecasting. Nair stated that his focus will be on how AI can improve frontline operations, making shopping easier for guests and providing better tools for team members.