Target Corp. has appointed Chandhu Nair as its senior vice president and inaugural chief artificial intelligence officer, bringing in a dedicated executive to coordinate the retailer’s AI strategies across its business operations.
Nair, who officially steps into the role on Aug. 24, brings a background in enterprise tech leadership and software startup entrepreneurship. Prior to joining Target, Nair spent more than six years at home improvement retailer Lowe’s, most recently serving as senior vice president of stores, data, AI, and innovation.
His career in the retail and technology sectors also includes leadership roles at Staples and Infosys, alongside co-founding two ventures: Cognitive Retail Inc., a computer-vision software firm, and Merkatus Partners, a business strategy consulting firm.
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At Target, Nair will oversee the implementation of machine learning tools to streamline store inventory management, simplify tasks for team members, and sharpen predictive analytics.
Target executives emphasized his mandate to focus AI on where it creates practical value for front-line store associates and everyday shoppers rather than keeping tech initiatives confined to corporate laboratories.
“What excites me most is the opportunity to make AI real for the people who experience Target every day,” Nair stated. “The most meaningful AI stories won’t be about what happens in a lab. They’ll be about what happens on the front line.”
He noted that his initial priority will be conducting listening sessions with internal store teams and supply chain partners before launching major technical initiatives across Target’s retail network.
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He earned a bachelor’s degree in information technology engineering from Bharathiar University in Tamil Nadu, India, before completing a master’s degree in general management and operations at Harvard University.
Alongside Nair’s appointment, Target promoted Purvi Shah, an executive of Indian origin, to senior vice president of user experience design. Shah has spent four years guiding user design at Target, including leading the launch of a conversational shopping experience integrated with ChatGPT.
The dual appointments reflect a broader push across major corporate retailers to establish standalone AI leadership roles as competition with e-commerce rivals intensifies.
By recruiting established leaders with proven track records in scalable data systems, Target aims to consolidate existing digital tools such as its Target Trend Brain style forecasting system into a unified retail strategy.