Bob Willett Biography

CEO, Best Buy International

Under Willett’s leadership, Best Buy International is implementing a global integration and growth strategy to maximize the retailer’s opportunities beyond North America, to include the Asian and European continents, while continuing to re-engineer the supply chain and information technology functions that support the company’s transformation to customer centricity.  Best Buy International encompasses Future Shop, Best Buy and Geek Squad stores in Canada, Best Buy and Five Star in China, Geek Squad and now 2400 Carphone Warehouse stores in Europe, along with the company’s sourcing offices in China, Mexico and Turkey.  In addition, Willett is leading the development of both the domestic and International infrastructure, including the supply chain and IT.

Prior to his new role, Willett served as Best Buy’s executive vice president of operations & CIO, and today continues to lead the company’s efforts to improve efficiencies and simplify its customer-centric operating model. Executives responsible for enterprise-wide efficiency initiatives, information systems, supply chain and corporate development management report to Willett.

Willett’s experience spans a variety of positions in the retail industry over the past several decades. Willett previously was global managing partner for Accenture Consulting, where he worked with best-in-class retailers throughout the world on strategy review, business transformation, procurement and supply chain management; brand positioning, technology transformation and customer segmentation. Prior to joining Best Buy, Willett served as a special advisor to the Best Buy Board of Directors on issues relating to operational efficiency and excellence. During his tenure with Accenture, he also served as a partner on the “Process to Profits” initiative that Best Buy undertook in the late 1990s.

Willett launched his career in store management at Marks & Spencer, a leading British department store chain, and has held Managing Director and Group CEO positions at other retailers in Europe.