Milen Mahadevan
Milen Mahadevan is a leading figure in retail media and data-driven advertising, best known for his role in building and scaling Kroger Precision Marketing (KPM), one of the most influential retail media networks in the United States. Operating through Kroger's data science subsidiary 84.51°, Mahadevan has been instrumental in transforming Kroger's vast first-party purchase data — spanning tens of millions of households — into a sophisticated advertising and insights platform that CPG brands use to reach consumers with precision at or near the point of purchase. His work has helped establish retail media as a mainstream and high-growth channel within the broader digital advertising ecosystem. Mahadevan's career has been deeply rooted in the intersection of data science, consumer insights, and advertising technology. At 84.51°, he has overseen the development of audience targeting capabilities, closed-loop measurement solutions, and programmatic advertising integrations that allow brands to connect media spend directly to in-store and online sales outcomes. Under his leadership, KPM has expanded its off-site media capabilities, partnering with major DSPs and publishers to extend Kroger's data assets beyond its own properties. As retail media has surged in prominence — driven by the deprecation of third-party cookies and growing demand for privacy-safe, purchase-based targeting — Mahadevan has become a recognized voice on the future of commerce media, identity resolution, and the role of first-party data in advertising. He is widely regarded as one of the key operators shaping how grocery and retail data is monetized through advertising technology.
Last updated Oct 31, 2026 by the ATDb Editorial Team
AI-drafted from public sources5 sources cited
- Years in industry
- 15 years
Bio
Milen Mahadevan is a leading figure in retail media and data-driven advertising, best known for his role in building and scaling Kroger Precision Marketing (KPM), one of the most influential retail media networks in the United States. Operating through Kroger's data science subsidiary 84.51°, Mahadevan has been instrumental in transforming Kroger's vast first-party purchase data — spanning tens of millions of households — into a sophisticated advertising and insights platform that CPG brands use to reach consumers with precision at or near the point of purchase. His work has helped establish retail media as a mainstream and high-growth channel within the broader digital advertising ecosystem. Mahadevan's career has been deeply rooted in the intersection of data science, consumer insights, and advertising technology. At 84.51°, he has overseen the development of audience targeting capabilities, closed-loop measurement solutions, and programmatic advertising integrations that allow brands to connect media spend directly to in-store and online sales outcomes. Under his leadership, KPM has expanded its off-site media capabilities, partnering with major DSPs and publishers to extend Kroger's data assets beyond its own properties. As retail media has surged in prominence — driven by the deprecation of third-party cookies and growing demand for privacy-safe, purchase-based targeting — Mahadevan has become a recognized voice on the future of commerce media, identity resolution, and the role of first-party data in advertising. He is widely regarded as one of the key operators shaping how grocery and retail data is monetized through advertising technology.
Career
Chief Data and AI OfficerCurrent
The Kroger Co. · Since 2026
President and CEOCurrent
84.51° · Since 2015
Roles with a cited source. All linked roles are in the Roles tab.
Expertise & education
Education
- MBA or Advanced Degree (specific institution not publicly confirmed)