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Target names Indian-origin Chandhu Nair as first chief AI officer
Nair will join Target on Aug. 24 as senior vice president and first chief AI officer, bringing greater focus and coordination to AI across the enterprise.
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Staff Reporter - Fri, 14, Aug 2026
- 04:24 EDT
- 23
Chandhu Nair / Target
Target is strengthening its AI and user experience (UX) capabilities, bringing in Chandhu Nair as its first chief AI officer and Purvi Shah as senior vice president of user experience to drive its digital strategy.
“In our next chapter of growth, we’re strengthening our AI and user experience (UX) capabilities to advance our strategic priorities: leading with merchandising authority, elevating the guest experience, accelerating technology and strengthening our team and communities,” the company said.
Nair will join Target on Aug. 24 as senior vice president and first chief AI officer, bringing greater focus and coordination to AI across the enterprise.
Shah will move into the role of senior vice president of UX, “reinforcing our belief that human-centered design is essential to creating experiences that feel distinctly Target,” the company said announcing the appointment.
Nair in a statement said what excites him most is the opportunity to make AI real for the people who experience Target every day.
“The most meaningful AI stories won’t be about what happens in a lab. They’ll be about what happens on the front line — how we make shopping easier for a guest, give a team member a better tool, make a business decision with more confidence or bring a new idea to market faster,” he said.
Nair previously worked at home improvement retailer Lowe’s as the company’s senior vice president of stores, data, AI and innovation. He has also held leadership roles at Staples and Gap.
He said Target has distinctive strengths in its stores, merchandising and team. The opportunity is to use AI to build on those strengths and support Target’s priorities, not create a separate AI strategy.
“We should begin with the outcomes we want and focus the technology where it can make the biggest difference,” he said.
Purvi Shah / TargetShah said their role is to shape not only what people see, but the systems and decisions behind it to ensure each experience is as easy, inspiring and valuable as it can be.
“That’s another way Target can continue to lead through design, bringing the same thoughtfulness we’re known for in our assortment to the technology and experiences that shape how people interact with Target,” she said.
She said UX helps us stay focused on three fundamental questions: What is the right problem to solve? Who are we solving it for? And are we solving it in the right way, given the context in which someone will use it?
“Experience is everywhere at Target. It’s how a guest discovers a product, how a field team member completes a task and how a business partner works with our team. These moments are connected and powered with intelligence. When we make these experiences even better, we create more opportunity for Target to grow,” she said.
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