Target appoints its first chief AI officer as retailers scale up AI spending
Chandhu Nair joins from Lowe’s on August 24, into a role that barely existed two years ago and now sits in three quarters of large organizations.
August 11, 2026 – 5:06 pm
Target has named Lowe’s executive Chandhu Nair as its first chief AI officer, starting August 24. IBM research puts the share of organisations with a chief AI officer at 76% this year, up from 26% in 2025.
Nair was previously senior vice president of stores, data, AI and innovation at Lowe’s, and has also worked at Staples and Gap. He plans to focus on:
- "A more coordinated approach" to technology across the organization, encompassing inventory management and faster decision-making.
- Using AI to enhance customer experience, empower team members, and bring new ideas to market quicker.
Target’s move comes as competition heats up with rivals like Walmart, Gap, and Best Buy investing heavily in AI. The appointment of a dedicated chief AI officer underscores the growing importance of AI in retail.
"The most meaningful AI stories won’t be about what happens in a lab," Nair stated, "they’ll be about what happens on the front line."
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