Target Names New Chief Digital/Product Officer
Target has hired Prat Vemana as executive vice president, chief digital and product officer. He will join the retailer on Oct. 31 and report to Cara Sylvester, chief guest experience officer.
Vemana will oversee Target’s digital business, including site merchandising, user experience, digital operations and product and Target+, the retailer’s growing online third-party marketplace. Additionally, he will support Target's product teams across the company by bringing a holistic view to the retailer's overall product strategy, the retailer said.
"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 Brian Cornell, Target’s CEO. "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. During his time at the company, he advanced and accelerated its digital strategy by modernizing its platforms to migrate, deploy and manage applications with greater speed and agility.
His work included implementing critical consumer experience enhancements like the redesign of the company's mobile app and launching same-day home delivery for its pharmacy business. Prior to joining Kaiser Permanente, 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 Prat Vemana.
Digital currently represents 20% of Target's business. The company 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.