Home Depot names new EVP and CTO

The Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement retailer, has named Dr. Franziska "Fran" Bell as executive vice president (EVP) and chief technology officer (CTO), effective April 6. As CTO, she will lead the strategy, development and alignment of technology, product management, data and artificial intelligence (AI) for Home Depot, the company stated in a press release.

Most recently, Bell led AI transformation as chief data, AI and analytics officer for Ford Motor Company. Prior to Ford, she served as senior vice president of digital technology at BP and held executive roles at Uber and Toyota. In her new role, she will drive the enterprise-wide integration of agentic AI and machine learning to create an interconnected and data-driven experience for Home Depot's associates, DIYers and Pro customers, as the company further noted.