Target names new chief digital, product officer

By

Benjamin Fitzgerald

Published
Oct 6, 2022

Target Corp. announced on Wednesday the appointment of Prat Vemana the role of executive vice president, chief digital and product officer, effective October 31.

Reporting to chief guest experience officer, Cara Sylvester, Vemana will oversee Target's digital business, including site merchandising, user experience, digital operations and product, and Target+, the retailer's online third-party marketplace. Additionally, Vemana will provide key support for Target's product teams across the company by bringing a holistic view to the retailer's overall product strategy.

"Digital continues to be a major growth driver for Target, and we're excited for Prat to bring his proven expertise in this area to an elevated role on our leadership team," said CEO Brian Cornell. "Our team has created a digital shopping experience that is truly best in class, and under Prat's leadership, our digital business is well-positioned to continue growing for years to come."

​Vemana joins Target from Kaiser Permanente, where he served as senior vice president and chief digital officer and led its enterprise product management and experience teams. Prior to that, Vemana held digital leadership positions at The Home Depot and Staples.

​"Target sets the standard for consumer experience in retail and is known for delighting its guests in a way that's consistent and engaging across every touchpoint," said Vemana. "I'm thrilled to join a company that I've long admired, and I look forward to playing a key role in shaping the future of Target's leading digital experience."

According to the U.S. retailer, digital currently represents 20% of its overall business.

The company said it continues to advance its digital shopping experience through investments in its suite of same-day services and the enablement of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments on Target.com, among other recent enhancements to its app and website.

​"We know our guests choose Target because our shopping experience offers them a sense of joy and ease that can't be beat, and our digital business plays an increasingly outsized role in bringing that to life for the millions of people who regularly visit our stores, website and app," said Sylvester.

"With his experience leading digital businesses across consumer-facing industries and a guest-centric vision, Prat is the ideal leader to further accelerate Target's digital growth and maximize our impact for guests, team members and our business."