Prat Vemana has been appointed Chief Information and Product Officer (CIPO) at Target, where he will oversee the company’s technology, user experience, and enterprise product teams. This appointment follows Vemana’s two-year service as Target’s Chief Digital and Product Officer, during which time he helped drive digital development, build the Target Plus marketplace, and establish an enterprise product management department.
Announcing his new role on LinkedIn, Vemana expressed enthusiasm about leading Target’s technology and product teams, emphasizing the impact of technology solutions on the company’s growth. He also acknowledged Sarah Travis, who will be stepping in to lead Target’s digital business, signaling a smooth transition and continuity in the company’s digital strategy.
A Career Defined by Digital Leadership
Vemana’s elevation to CIPO is a natural progression given his extensive background in digital transformation and enterprise product management. Before joining Target in 2022, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at Kaiser Permanente, where he led enterprise product management, consumer experience, and technology teams. His work at Kaiser included implementing telehealth solutions, modernizing cloud infrastructure, and driving governance in enterprise architecture.
Prior to his tenure at Kaiser, Vemana held leadership roles at The Home Depot and Staples, where he spearheaded digital strategies, modernized e-commerce platforms, and enhanced consumer experiences through improved mobile applications and same-day delivery services. His deep expertise in digital commerce, product management, and consumer experience positioned him as a strong fit for Target’s digital ambitions.
Expanding Target’s Digital and Product Vision
Since joining Target, Vemana has played a key role in advancing the company’s digital initiatives. As Chief Digital and Product Officer, he oversaw Target’s digital guest experience, expanded its online marketplace, and refined the company’s fulfillment capabilities. He introduced an enterprise product operating model and improved user experience practices, strengthening Target’s ability to meet evolving consumer expectations.
One of his most significant contributions has been his leadership in the expansion of Target Plus, the company’s third-party digital marketplace. Unlike conventional marketplaces that prioritize an open-seller model, Target Plus has taken an “un-marketplace” approach, carefully selecting high-quality brands that align with Target’s standards. Vemana has described this strategy as a win-win-win for consumers, merchants, and Target—ensuring a curated shopping experience that balances variety with quality.
His work on Target Plus also led to a key partnership with Shopify, opening the doors for more U.S.-based sellers to join the platform and, in some cases, feature their products in Target’s physical stores. This move aligns with Vemana’s broader philosophy of integrating digital and in-store shopping, making product discovery more seamless for consumers while driving growth for Target’s business.
A Broader Technology and Product Mandate
With his appointment as CIPO, Vemana’s leadership now extends beyond digital commerce to encompass Target’s entire technology organization, including cybersecurity, data platforms, data science, infrastructure, product engineering, and enterprise product teams. His role is to ensure that Target’s technology investments align with business objectives, delivering competitive advantages through automation, AI, and data-driven solutions.
His focus remains on creating experiences that resonate with Target’s guests, team members, and vendor partners. Vemana has consistently highlighted the importance of a digital-first mindset, but he also sees technology as a key driver of operational efficiency and business growth. Under his leadership, Target has strengthened its user experience strategy, expanded its site merchandising capabilities, and optimized its digital operations all of which contribute to the company’s long-term vision.
A Vision for the Future
A graduate of the University of Madras with a degree in Computer Science and Engineering, Vemana also holds an MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management. Beyond his work at Target, he serves on the board of directors for Frontier Communications, further cementing his influence in the technology and digital commerce space.
By 2025, Target’s digital retail landscape is likely to be characterized by a highly personalized, seamless omnichannel experience, leveraging advanced technologies like AI, augmented reality, and robust data analytics to anticipate customer needs, offer tailored recommendations, and provide frictionless shopping across physical stores and online platforms. With a strong focus on integrating social commerce and in-store digital experiences, Target is positioned to create a truly immersive customer journey—one that balances convenience, personalization, and innovation under Vemana’s leadership.
