Minneapolis – Best
Buy has created a president-level post for digital and global business services,
to be filled by former Starbucks executive Stephen Gillett.
In his new role,
which also carries an executive VP title, Gillett will lead the company’s e-commerce
businesses, information technologies and global shared services, and will further
its global digital strategy, digital marketing, entertainment offerings, multichannel
capabilities and business development.
The position gives him oversight of “the
critical capabilities necessary to make technology a bigger part of the
customer experience while enhancing operations and processes,” the company
said.
“E-commerce is one
of the fastest-growing sales channels for our business … and Stephen’s track
record makes it clear that he can help us engage customers online in ever more
compelling ways,” said Best Buy’s CEO Brian Dunn.
Gillett previously
served as executive VP, digital ventures, and chief information officer at
Starbucks, where he designed and led the company’s efforts to enhance the
overall global business operations and improve the customer experience through
the use of innovative technology and digital experiences worldwide.
“I am excited to
join Best Buy … and to work together in innovating and expanding its offerings
into a broad multichannel environment that integrates stores, digital, mobile
and social, while continuing to strengthen the customer experience and business
operations,” Gillett said.
Prior to
Starbucks, Gillett was chief information officer for Corbis, a digital media
company owned by Bill Gates, where he was responsible for global technology,
engineering and leading platform efforts for Corbis’ e-commerce and multimedia
licensing business. Before that he spent nearly a decade in Silicon Valley,
holding senior technology positions with Yahoo! and CNET Networks.
An avid gamer, Gillett
is “widely considered one of the most innovative Guild Masters” in World of
Warcraft, the massive multi-player online role-playing game, Best Buy said.
