Dive Brief:
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Macy's on Wednesday said that Naveen Krishna has been appointed chief technology officer for the retailer, effective June 16.
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Krishna will be responsible for Macy's technology strategy, including all store, e-commerce and internal-facing technologies. He will report to Macy's president Hal Lawton and will work out of the company's John's Creek, Georgia, technology hub.
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He has more than 20 years of tech experience, mostly in omnichannel retail and consumer products, according to a company press release. Most recently, he was vice president of technology for The Home Depot, where he was responsible for all digital platforms, user experience design, marketing technologies and customer care.
Dive Insight:
Macy's has long embraced technological prowess — even its flagship Herald Square New York City location boasted operations on store floors and back rooms that these days seem sprawling and cavernous, but were state-of-the-art in their day.
Its tech is sophisticated now, too, observers say, but the department store of late seems especially keen on launching its strategy further. Along with Krishna's appointment, the company this week announced a partnership with and investment in retail concept startup b8ta, which some observers say could help redefine the department store's place in the retail landscape.
That effort appears to be led by Lawton, who said in a statement this week that Krishna's "track record in omni-channel retail makes him the perfect fit" in light of the company's tech ambitions, which he said encompass digital and mobile experiences, site stability, store technology, and fulfillment and logistics improvements.
Tech has become a major bottom-line aspect of retail, but not all retailers grasp how tech most effectively supports their business in a new era.
"My view is that while technology is undoubtedly a defining element of any retailer's ability to compete, technology alone will not save them," Doug Stephens, author of "Reengineering Retail: The Future of Selling in a Post-Digital World," told Retail Dive in an email. "The fundamental business model of retail must also be addressed and changed for the benefit of all stakeholders — brands, retailers and consumers. If we don't address the core issues, namely lackluster shopping experiences, outdated metrics for success and risk-averse buying practices, technology will only allow us to race to the bottom more efficiently."