Kathleen Edmond, Best Buy's Chief Ethics Officer

There is currently a trial in U.S. Federal court based on allegations that a supplier defrauded Best Buy out of many millions of dollars. I don’t know how it will turn out, we will wait and see. What is particularly upsetting is the defense strategy of painting Best Buy employees in an extremely negative light with statements that Best Buy employees request gifts from vendors for their personal use - and similar unethical behaviors. This is not Best Buy’s culture. I am disappointed that the actions of a few rogue employees can tarnish our reputation and the honest efforts of the rest of us. Over the past five years in various settings throughout the company we have transparently discussed how to maintain good vendor relationships and weed out bad behaviors that may exist. With that same intent, we will find the lessons that exist in this very unfortunate incident and learn from them. I also ask that anyone reading this – employee, vendor, customer, or community member – who knows of behavior by a Best Buy employee or someone representing the company – that is less than honest, ethical, or appears to be self serving, please reach out to me or someone in the company so that we can correct the situation. For an individual or a company, one’s reputation is our most important asset. We cannot give let anyone act in a way that damages all of us. Thanks – Kathleen Edmond 612-291-7451 or kathleen.edmond@bestbuy.com or if you prefer anonimity, you may file a web report at www.bestbuyethics.com through our third party vendor.