10 Target AI and data science leaders
Target AI and data science leaders on this page currently hold titles such as Senior Director, Data Sciences, Senior Director - AI Foundations, Director Advanced AI, Director of Machine Learning and Director Data Science. A reader can learn how AI and data science leaders work at Target from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Aishwarya Shukla
LinkedInExperience: Director Data Science · Target
Aishwarya Shukla has been Director Data Science at Target since August 2025, and also held Senior Manager/Lead Data Scientist at Target from 2019 to 2025. Aishwarya Shukla was Senior Data Scientist at Target from 2016 to 2019 and Analyst, BI and Analytics there from 2015 to 2016.
Anshul Chawla
LinkedInExperience: Director Advanced AI · Target
Anshul Chawla has been Director Advanced AI at Target since June 2026. Anshul Chawla was Director Data Sciences | GenAI Products at Target from 2023 to 2026, Director of Data Sciences | Advanced ML Products from 2022 to 2023 and Principal Product Manager - Advanced AI/ML Capabilities from 2020 to 2022.
Ata Mahjoubfar
LinkedInExperience: Director of Machine Learning · Target
Ata Mahjoubfar has been Director of Machine Learning at Target since August 2019. Ata Mahjoubfar was Lead Data Scientist at Target from 2018 to 2019, Machine Learning Engineer at Dali Analytics from 2017 to 2018 and Postdoctoral Researcher at California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) from 2015 to 2017.
Haema Nilakanta
LinkedInExperience: Director Data Sciences · Target
Haema Nilakanta has been Director Data Sciences at Target since November 2024. Haema Nilakanta was Principal Data Scientist at Target from 2022 to 2024, Lead AI/Data Scientist there from 2019 to 2022 and Graduate Instructor at the University of Minnesota from 2018 to 2019.
Michael Gerstein
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director, Data Sciences · Target
Michael Gerstein has been Senior Director, Data Sciences at Target since January 2026. Michael Gerstein was Director, Head of Data Science at Kohl's from 2024 to 2026, Senior Manager, Data Science at Kohl's from 2022 to 2024 and Manager, Data Science at Transfix from 2019 to 2021.
Narendra Yaddula
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director, Data Sciences · Target
Narendra Yaddula has been Senior Director, Data Sciences at Target since February 2026, leading data sciences teams that build AI and ML based products for Target's Retail Media network in measurement and optimization. Narendra Yaddula also holds Director, Data Sciences at Target, a role started in 2020.
Prasanna Srinivasa Murthy
LinkedInExperience: Director Data Science · Target
Prasanna Srinivasa Murthy has been Director Data Science at Target since July 2024, working on content understanding for search. Prasanna Srinivasa Murthy was Applied Science Manager, Amazon Search Relevance at Amazon from 2021 to 2024 and Data Science Manager, Last Mile - Geospatial at Amazon from 2017 to 2021.
Samir Shah
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director - AI Foundations · Target
Samir Shah has been Senior Director - AI Foundations at Target since June 2019, a role at Director level, and has held Senior Director titles at Target since 2014, first in AI Engineering and then in AI Foundations. Samir Shah was Senior Director - AI Engineering at Target from 2014 to 2019 and Director, SaaS Platform Group at DemandTec from 2004 to 2014.
Swapnasarit Sahu
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director Technology , AI Lab & AI Platforms · Target
Swapnasarit Sahu has been Senior Director Technology , AI Lab & AI Platforms at Target since March 2026, scaling an AI Lab dedicated to advancing AI technologies, and also holds Senior Director Search Tech at Target. Swapnasarit Sahu was Director Data Science, Marketing and Ad-Tech Technology(MAT) at Walmart Global Tech India in 2023 and Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Zeotap from 2019 to 2022.
Yogesh Soniwal
LinkedInExperience: Director Data Science (Ad Tech) · Target
Yogesh Soniwal has been Director Data Science (Ad Tech) at Target since October 2025. Yogesh Soniwal was Lead Data Scientist at Target from 2022 to 2025, Staff data scientist at Walmart Global Tech India in 2021 and 2022 and Senior Data Scientist at Paytm from 2018 to 2019.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's area, such as AI platforms and foundations, generative AI products, search, or ad tech and retail media, to the decision you face. Check when each person's current role started to judge how recent their view of the work is.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you decide which retail problems get an AI or machine learning product first?
- 02What has worked for you in building a data science team and deciding what it owns?
- 03How do you measure whether an AI or data science effort changed sales, cost or guest experience?
Reaching Target AI and data science leaders
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About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.