Umashankar Balaraman

Umashankar Balaraman is an experienced technology and architecture leader with a robust background in retail and consulting. Currently serving as the Head of (Stores + Phydigital) Architecture and Tech at JCPenney since January 2023, previously held the position of Head of Architecture and Tech for all brands at Gap Inc., where responsibilities included overseeing stores architecture and technology across multiple channels. With a decade-long tenure at Walmart, Umashankar led diverse teams in technology modernization and digital transformation initiatives. Further expertise includes roles as Executive Consultant at Acumen Hi-Tech Solutions, Principal Consultant at Fujitsu America, and Sr. Consultant/Architect at Tata Consultancy Services, providing strategic insights across various industries. Academic credentials include degrees in Computer Applications and Statistics and Computer Science from the University of Madras, along with specialized training in Internet of Things from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.