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Prat Vemana named Chief Digital and Product Officer at Target

The US department store chain Target has appointed Prat Vemana to the position of Chief Digital and Product Officer. In addition to leading Target+, Vemana will oversee the company’s online marketplace, site merchandising, and user experience teams.

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“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 Cara Sylvester, Chief Guest Experience Officer at Target.

“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.”

In a statement, the company announced the new role would also include overseeing the support for its product teams, offering a “holistic view” of the company’s product strategy.

Previously, Vemana served as Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at Kaiser Permanente. By modernizing the company’s platforms, he helped advance the company’s digital strategy during his tenure.

According to a Target blog post, Vemana said: “I’m thrilled to join a company with such strong values that align with many of my own personal values.”

“I believe that health and wellness is a basic need, not a nice-to-have. And when I think about digital experiences, for example, I’m hard-wired to think about accessibility. It matters to me that Target is a company which takes action on its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.”

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Currently, 20 percent of Target’s business is digital. In addition to investments in same-day services and the ability to make Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments on Target.com, the company continues to improve its digital shopping experience.