Target Appoints Lowe’s Veteran Chandhu Nair as First Chief AI Officer

Target has appointed its first chief artificial intelligence officer, the company said in a Tuesday (Aug. 11) article.

Chandhu Nair will join the company on Aug. 24 and will bring greater focus and coordination to AI across the company, according to the article.

Nair was most recently senior vice president, stores, data, AI and innovation at Lowe’s Companies, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Before joining Lowe’s in 2020, Nair was co-founder and partner of Merkatus Partners, a consulting firm that focused on business strategy and emerging technologies; co-founder and CEO of Cognitive Retail, which developed and marketed advanced data analytics and automation software; and held three roles at Staples, most recently senior director and general manager, global eCommerce product and strategy, per the profile.

“I’ve always believed that some of the best technology conversations happen in stores, not conference rooms,” Nair wrote in a Tuesday post on LinkedIn. “And as AI reshapes retail, its true impact won’t ultimately be measured by models, benchmarks or the sophistication of the technology.”

“It will be measured on the frontlines,” Nair wrote in the post. “In how we make experiences better for guests. How we empower team members. How we simplify work. And ultimately, how we make the entire enterprise smarter while keeping people at the center.”

In the Target article announcing his appointment, Nair said a more coordinated approach to AI at Target could help the retailer keep up with the changing needs of customers, improve inventory management, simplify work for employees and enable faster, better-informed decisions.

“The measure of success won’t be how much AI we deploy,” Nair said. “It will be the difference it makes for Target’s growth, the guest experience and our team’s ability to do their best work.”

When Target CEO Michael Fiddelke assumed his current role in February, he said technology is a top priority for the retailer. In a message from the CEO posted on Target’s website, Fiddelke said the retailer’s priorities include a guest experience that makes digital interactions “easier, more inspiring and welcoming” and technology that removes friction and helps create better experiences for guests.