Ralph Lauren appoints global chief digital officer with focus on AI

Ralph Lauren has appointed Naveen Seshadri as its new global chief digital officer, with the executive highlighting artificial intelligence (AI) as a key focus in his role.

On Tuesday, Seshadri stated that his priorities will include building a "truly connected digital ecosystem" to enhance digital commerce and in-store technology, ultimately improving the global consumer experience and driving innovation.

“With a sharp focus on personalisation, AI, platform modernisation, and cross-channel commercial growth, we’re building for the future with both magic and logic,” he added.

Seshadri joined Ralph Lauren in 2024 as global head of consumer technology and digital commerce before stepping into his new position.

“Ralph Lauren is one of the most iconic brands in the world—rooted in timeless style and an authentic, enduring purpose—and I’m honoured to help lead its next chapter of digital growth and transformation,” he said.

Prior to joining Ralph Lauren, Seshadri served as executive vice president of global retail at The Walt Disney Company, a role he held since 2022.

During his tenure at Disney, he oversaw global profit and loss (P&L) management, commercial strategy, and operational leadership across a broad portfolio, including digital e-commerce, Disney Cruise Line retail, Signature Experiences, Disney World Retail, and shop-in-shop retail partnerships.

His responsibilities also included leading key retail functions such as merchandising, supply chain operations, product management, analytics, customer service, and contact centre operations.

Between 2000 and 2018, Seshadri held executive and management roles at prominent companies, including Lonely Planet, where he served as global chief operating officer for three years, and Foot Locker, where he spent four years as global chief operating officer.

In February, the company reported net revenue of $2.1 billion for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025—an 11 per cent increase from the previous year, exceeding company estimates. During this period, global direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales rose by nearly 12 per cent, while global wholesale sales grew by nearly 9 per cent.



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