Retail
10 Best Buy IT leaders
These ten current and former Best Buy IT leaders include a former Best Buy CIO, its Chief Digital and Technology Officer, a chief technology officer and directors of IT, enterprise applications and corporate systems. A reader can learn how CIOs lead technology organizations in retail businesses.
Professionals to explore
01—10Adam Sand
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Vice President, Chief Technology Officer · Best Buy
Sr. Vice President, Chief Technology Officer at Best Buy since January 2025; the profile says the role leads the strategic vision for Best Buy's core platform technologies, driving plans and investments in support of strategic enterprise initiatives. Former Sr. Vice President, Head of Platforms, Infrastructure and Operations (2021–2025) and former Vice President, Head Of Platforms (2019–2021) at Best Buy.
Balaji Vatsavaya
LinkedInExperience: Director IT - Enterprise Applications · Best Buy
Former Director IT - Enterprise Applications at Best Buy (2016–2025), and Director Digital Technology at Resideo since September 2025. Former Director of Information Technology, Enterprise Software at Lexmark (2014–2016) and former Global IT Senior Leader SAP & CRM Solution Group at Lexmark (2002–2014).
Colleen Dunn
LinkedInExperience: CIO & SVP Information Technology · Best Buy
Former CIO & SVP Information Technology at Best Buy (2013–2018). Former VP, IT at Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (2001–2012) and former CIO at Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc (1994–2001); since 2018 the profile lists an Information Technology - Executive Consultant role at DKC Enterprises, Inc.
Curtis Janicke
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President of Technology · Best Buy
Senior Vice President of Technology at Best Buy since June 2023, a role the profile headline describes as Senior Vice President Omni Channel Technologies. Former Vice President Consumer & Selling Technology at Best Buy (2010–2023) and former Senior Executive at Accenture (2008–2010).
Harold Knutson
LinkedInExperience: CIO BBY.com VP Corp Systems & Data Warehousing · Best Buy
Former CIO BBY.com VP Corp Systems & Data Warehousing at Best Buy (2000–2004). Former VP Technology Services (2005–2010) and former Global Head of MIS (CIO) - Legal (2010–2011) at Thomson Reuters; since 2011 the profile lists a Strategic IT Consultant & Digital Thought Partner role at Bayside Associates, LLC.
Jason Barber
LinkedInExperience: Director Information Technology System · Best Buy
Director Information Technology System at Best Buy since March 2016, a director-level role in the Engineering and Technical department according to the profile, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Former IT Senior Manager at Best Buy (2011–2015).
Neal Sample
LinkedInExperience: Chief Digital and Technology Officer · Best Buy
Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Best Buy since July 2025. Former EVP CIO at Walgreens Boots Alliance (2023–2025) and former VP Social, Open and Participation Platforms at Yahoo (2008–2010). The profile also lists board chair roles at Wellfield Technologies, Inc. and the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis.
Oliver Downer
LinkedInExperience: Digital, Analytics, & Technology Director (Head of IT for B2B Division) · Best Buy Business
Former Digital, Analytics, & Technology Director (Head of IT for B2B Division) at Best Buy Business (2015–2023). Chief Information & Digital Officer (CIO & CDO) at Gemini, Inc. since May 2023, and former Chief Information Officer Chief Technology Officer (CIO CTO) at Kaplan Professional (2007–2014).
Russ Schaefer
LinkedInExperience: IT Director · Best Buy
Former IT Director at Best Buy (1998–2024). The profile headline reads Sr Engineering Director at Best Buy, a role listed since October 2024, and the profile says the person leads a team of 150+ IT professionals that design, build and support IT hardware and infrastructure, including retail engineering and infrastructure teams.
Tecimen Keskin
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director of Technology · Best Buy
Senior Director of Technology at Best Buy since January 2025; the profile describes business technology leadership across Corporate Systems, Process Automation and enterprise platforms, with accountability for SAP ERP. Former Senior Director Corporate Systems, Process Automation & International ERP (2023–2025) and former Director Corporate Systems & International ERP (2020–2023) at Best Buy.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's scope to your question, since executives who ran the whole technology organization see budgets and priorities while directors know specific systems such as ERP, enterprise applications or infrastructure. Check each role's dates and current status before asking how Best Buy IT works today.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How does a large retailer decide which corporate systems and ERP platforms to modernize first?
- 02What does it take to run IT hardware and infrastructure across hundreds of retail stores?
- 03How should a retail IT organization split work between enterprise platforms and the systems behind online and in-store selling?
Reaching Best Buy IT leaders
How can I contact one of these Best Buy IT leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 2 companies: Best Buy and Best Buy Business, based on profile data retrieved on October 7, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Best Buy IT leaders?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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