Best Buy Co., Inc.Our PeopleCanadaUnited States


20 May 2009  

Best Buy announces leadership to steer continued female CE market share growth

Haesler, Stoddart to bring retail, P&L strength to grow WOLF@Best Buy network leadership, capture market share gains

MINNEAPOLIS, May 20 – Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) today announced a new leadership model to ensure continued growth of women’s market share in consumer electronics through its established Women’s Leadership Forum (WOLF @Best Buy). Liz Haesler, vice president, Home Life and Trend, and Mary Stoddart, vice president, territory general manager, will together lead the next stage of the WOLF@Best Buy network, with a focus to help Best Buy build an even stronger culture for women to work, and demonstrate market share gains with female consumers.

WOLF@Best Buy is a vast network of thousands of Best Buy employees who work with individuals, brands, partners, stores, and communities to help the company build strong women leaders and capture a greater share of the estimated $90 billion female consumer electronics market in the U.S. Both Haesler and Stoddart have been active and contributing members of the WOLF@Best Buy network since its inception in 2004. Both leaders will work to accelerate results for female market share growth and professional development.

“Mary and Liz are humble, thoughtful, visionary leaders who have strong, personal convictions and passion for this area of growth,” said Brian J. Dunn, president and COO, Best Buy Co., Inc. “Both are committed to helping advance the amazing work done thus far, while integrating the WOLF@Best Buy network even more meaningfully into the business.”

Haesler is currently responsible for the development of the Home Life strategy, marketing, P&L and running the business. Haesler also oversees the Trend team, which she developed in 2007 to help the company explore new opportunities for the customer, closely connected to the retail teams. She brings more than 20 years of professional retail experience and a successful history of innovation, managing large teams and fashion merchandising to her role.

Stoddart is responsible for operations across the southeastern U.S., including Puerto Rico, overseeing more than 15,000 employees. She uses her more than 14 years of experience at Best Buy to guide, empower and motivate employees to better deliver experiences that meet individual customer needs and help the company reach its growth goals.

About Best Buy Co., Inc.
With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, and China, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more than $40 billion annual revenue and includes brands such as Best Buy, Audiovisions, The Carphone Warehouse, Future Shop, Geek Squad, Jiangsu Five Star, Magnolia Audio Video, Napster, Pacific Sales Kitchen and Bath Centers, The Phone House and Speakeasy. Approximately 165,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Web sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities. Community partnership is central to the way we do business at Best Buy. In fiscal 2008, we donated a combined $31.8 million to improve the vitality of the communities where our employees and customers live and work. For more information about Best Buy, visit www.bestbuyinc.com.

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Contacts

Kelly Groehler
612-291-6115

 
 

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