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\;Brad Anderson is the vice chairman for Be
st Buy Co.\, Inc.\, a multinational retailer of technology and entertainme
nt products and services. \;He retired as Best Buy&rsquo\;s chief exec
utive officer in June 2009.
Anderson\, a voracious reader of biographies and history\,
recognizes that innovation is often accompanied by challenge and change\,
which can become the platform for tremendous learning opportunities. He is
convinced that taking advantage of people&rsquo\;s inherent strengths and
talents provides the necessary fuel to run the engine of top-line growth\
, value creation and sustained profitability. He believes employees can ha
ve fun while being the best and demands that integrity\, humility and resp
ect are demonstrated by all.
A lifelong audiophile\, Anderson joined the company in 197
3 as a commissioned salesman at the fledgling Sound of Music\, a small cha
in of stereo stores that was the precursor to Best Buy. Within weeks of jo
ining the company\, Anderson was ready to quit because he had not made a s
ingle sale. Then\, he discovered the power of asking the right questions a
nd truly listening to the customer&rsquo\;s answers. He became a successfu
l sales person and eventually was named store manager. It was this early w
ork that left Anderson with the indelible impression that a close-to-the-c
ustomer understanding of needs and operations would be key to Best Buy&rsq
uo\;s continued innovation and growth.
Best Buy founder Dick Schulze recognized the suc
cess of Anderson&rsquo\;s retail operations expertise and named him vice p
resident in 1981. Anderson worked closely with Schulze on all of the major
strategic initiatives that transformed and grew Best Buy\, including the
move to a non-commissioned store staff and the decision to let customers b
rowse for themselves in warehouse-style stores. \;
In 1986\, Anderson was promoted
to executive vice president and was elected to Best Buy&rsquo\;s Board of
Directors. In April 1991\, he was promoted to president and chief operatin
g officer. Anderson was named vice chairman in 2001. In June 2002\, he ass
umed the position of chief executive officer.
Anderson has an associate degree from Wal
dorf College\, a liberal arts college located in Forest City\, Iowa\, and
a bachelor&rsquo\;s degree from the University of Denver.
Anderson&rsqu
o\;s charitable and volunteer efforts are highlighted by his participation
on the boards of the American Film Institute\, General Mills\, Mayo Clini
c\, Minnesota Public Radio and Minnesota Early Learning Foundation. In 200
9\, Anderson was also elected to the Carlson Board of Directors.
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SUMMARY:CEO Briefing featuring Brad Anderson\, Best Buy
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