The Home Depot announced that Franziska “Fran” Bell has been named executive vice president and chief technology officer. The company said Bell will lead the strategy, development, and alignment of technology, product management, data, and artificial intelligence across the organization.
Bell joins The Home Depot following her role at Ford Motor Company, where she served as chief data, AI and analytics officer and led AI transformation initiatives. Prior to Ford, she held senior leadership positions including senior vice president of digital technology at BP and executive roles at Uber and Toyota. The company described her as a globally recognized leader in technology and artificial intelligence.
In her new role, Bell is expected to drive enterprise-wide integration of agentic AI and machine learning to enhance customer and associate experiences. The Home Depot emphasized that her leadership will support efforts to create a more seamless, interconnected, and data-driven environment for its DIY and professional customers.
The appointment comes as The Home Depot continues investing in advanced technology capabilities to improve operations and customer engagement across its stores and digital platforms.
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“The Home Depot is a project retailer, and customers engage with us across multiple touch points – whether that’s online, in our aisles or increasingly, with AI. Fran is a respected leader in data science and AI, and she understands the power of technology to improve the customer experience. Her expertise will be invaluable as we invest to remove friction and make home improvement seamless for our associates and customers.”
Ted Decker, Chair, President And CEO, The Home Depot
“I’ve always believed that the most powerful technology is the kind you don’t notice, because it’s busy behind the scenes making your life easier. Joining a customer-first brand like The Home Depot is an incredible opportunity to put technology and AI to work where it matters most, helping homeowners confidently take on their first renovations or giving Pro contractors the digital tools they need to grow their businesses. I look forward to working with this incredible team to build even smarter ways to get the job done.”
Franziska “Fran” Bell, EVP And Chief Technology Officer, The Home Depot
