Best Buy exec leaves for COO post at Symantec

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Best Buy's president of digital operations is leaving the struggling electronics chain to become chief operating officer at the computer security company Symantec.

Best Buy has been implementing a turnaround plan as it faces tough competition from discounters and online retailers. The Minneapolis company last week extended until after the holiday season the window for co-founder Richard Schulze to make a buyout offer.

Best Buy Co. announced Wednesday that Stephen Gillett's responsibilities will now be divvied up, with responsibilities going to Chief Financial Officer Sharon McCollam, Scott Durchslag, the president of online and global e-commerce and Shawn Score, senior vice president of U.S. retail.

Gillett also served as executive vice president. He will take on that role at Symantec Corp. in addition to his COO post.

Gillett, who starts at Symantec on Friday, will report to its Chairman and CEO Steve Bennett. He will work at the company's Mountain View, Calif. headquarters.

Shares of Best Buy added 9 cents to $11.99 in premarket trading on Thursday.