Home Depot names Ford exec as CTO, deploys AI tools

What happened

Home Depot appointed Franziska Bell as chief technology officer in April (most recently at Ford), while Angie Brown serves as chief information officer and Jordan Broggi oversees customer experience and e-commerce. The company is deploying AI assistants including Magic Apron (launched March 2025, which answers shopper questions and summarizes reviews), a Google Cloud–based customer service system tested in 50 stores, and an internal 'order intelligence' system that assesses delivery risk and proactively alerts customers.

Why it matters

Home Depot reported net sales grew 4.8% in fiscal first quarter despite economic headwinds including high interest rates and weak housing market conditions. Brown says the company is not limiting AI use cases—any AI tool that solves an identified business problem will be pursued. The three priorities linking all AI investments are supporting in-store merchandising, building a connected digital retail ecosystem, and growing business with contractors and professionals who spend more than DIY shoppers.

What to watch

Magic Apron initially alienated professional customers with oversimplified questions; Home Depot pulled the pro version offline and is fine-tuning the system. The company is also developing a generative engine optimization strategy as shoppers increasingly browse goods on ChatGPT and Google's Gemini, though Broggi notes AI platforms' go-to-market strategies have shifted multiple times.