Target Appoints Chandhu Nair as First Chief AI Officer

Target Corporation appointed Chandhu Nair as its first chief AI officer and senior vice president, effective August 24. Nair joins the company from Lowe's, where he served as senior vice president of stores, data, AI and innovation. He plans to implement a more coordinated approach to artificial intelligence, specifically targeting inventory management, accelerated decision-making, and the front-line experience for guests and team members.

As part of a broader leadership shuffle, Target also named Purvi Shah as senior vice president of user experience. These appointments coincide with the company's integration of generative AI tools, including Target Trend Brain for style forecasting, to increase appeal to investors and shoppers.

The move aligns with a wider retail trend toward agentic commerce. Competitors such as Walmart, Gap, and Best Buy have already scaled AI deployments. According to the Institute for Business Value, 76% of organizations now employ a chief AI officer as of 2026.