The social media version of this release is available at: http://socialmediareleases.x.iabc.com.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – 31 March 2009 – The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) has named Brian J. Dunn, president and chief operating officer (COO) of Best Buy Co., Inc., as the recipient of the 2009 Excellence in Communication Leadership (EXCEL) Award. The EXCEL Award is the association’s highest award given to non-members and recognizes individuals who exhibit strong leadership in fostering excellence in organizational communication.
“We selected Brian Dunn as the EXCEL recipient because he is always accessible, an active listener, enthusiastic user of social media and brings a personal, humorous communication style that resonates with diverse audiences,” said Samuel Adenekan, chair of the EXCEL Award committee.
Dunn’s journey from sales associate to president and COO of Best Buy tells a story of extraordinary leadership, strong values and confidence. Dunn started his career with Best Buy Co. in 1985 as a sales associate when the company operated just a dozen stores. Today, he is part of a global family of brands with a history of more than 40 years.
Throughout his career, Dunn has demonstrated a rare ability to connect with people and inspire them to work together to accomplish extraordinary things. He encouraged the fight against the generic bureaucracy that often accompanies aggressive growth, and has championed an informal—often irreverent—internal culture, which in turn created fierce loyalty among employees.
“I’m honored and humbled to be named IABC’s EXCEL Award winner for 2009, but I believe this award is really a reflection of the culture at Best Buy—a culture of transparency, humility and fun,” says Dunn.
Dunn believes the rich history of the people who have made Best Buy what it is today is a story worth telling. And in his current role, Dunn tells the Best Buy story as he has known it and lived it to customers, strategic partners and investors alike. He is scheduled to accept the award on Monday, 8 June, at IABC’s 2009 World Conference in San Francisco.
About the EXCEL Award
Each year, the Excellence in Communication Leadership (EXCEL) Award recognizes an individual who consistently demonstrates vision and leadership in his or her commitment to effective business communication. Past recipients of the EXCEL Award include: J.W. Marriott, Jr., chairman and CEO of Marriott International; Stu Reed, executive vice president of Motorola’s Integrated Supply Chain; Rajesh Subramaniam, president of FedEx Canada; Mark Hurd, CEO of Hewlett Packard Company; and many others.
The nomination process for the 2010 EXCEL Award will begin in October 2009. Visit http://www.iabc.com/awards/excel.htm for details.
About IABC
The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) is a global network of communication professionals committed to improving organizational effectiveness through strategic communication. Established in 1970, IABC serves almost 16,000 members in over 80 countries and 100 chapters. For more information, visit http://www.iabc.com.
About Best Buy Co., Inc.
With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, China and Mexico, 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 $45 billion in 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, Bath and Electronic Centers; The Phone House; and Speakeasy. Approximately 155,000 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 2009, we donated a combined $33.4 million to improve the vitality of the communities where our employees and customers live and work. For more information about Best Buy, visit http://www.bestbuy.com.
