Corie Barry

Corie Barry
Born	Corie Sue Barry
Nationality	American
Occupation	Business executive
Title	Chief Executive Officer
Employer	Best Buy Co., Inc.
Known for	CEO of Best Buy Co., Inc.

Corie Barry is an American business executive who serves as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE: BBY), one of the largest consumer electronics retailers in the United States. She assumed the role of CEO in June 2019, becoming the first woman to lead the company in its history. Barry's tenure at Best Buy has spanned more than two decades, during which she held a series of progressively senior roles in finance and strategic operations before ascending to the top leadership position. As CEO, she has guided the company through a period of significant industry transformation shaped by the rise of e-commerce, shifting consumer behaviors, the economic disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence technologies. Under her leadership, Best Buy has pursued a strategy centered on customer experience, technological innovation, and operational efficiency. Barry has been a prominent voice in discussions about the evolving retail landscape, the impact of tariffs on consumer pricing, and the widening economic divide among American consumers.

Career

Early Career at Best Buy

Corie Barry joined Best Buy in 1999 and built her career within the organization over the course of two decades. She progressed through a series of roles in finance and strategic planning, gaining deep institutional knowledge of the company's operations, financial structure, and competitive positioning within the consumer electronics retail sector. Her ascent through the corporate ranks positioned her as one of the company's most prominent internal leaders prior to her appointment as CEO.

Before becoming CEO, Barry served as Best Buy's chief financial officer (CFO), a role in which she oversaw the company's financial strategy during a critical period of transformation in the retail industry. Her work as CFO provided her with a comprehensive understanding of the company's balance sheet, capital allocation priorities, and the financial mechanics of Best Buy's shift toward an omnichannel retail model. Her financial acumen and strategic leadership during this period were instrumental in her selection as the company's next chief executive.

Appointment as CEO

In June 2019, Corie Barry was appointed chief executive officer of Best Buy Co., Inc., succeeding Hubert Joly, who had led the company's turnaround strategy beginning in 2012. Barry's appointment marked a new chapter in Best Buy's leadership history, as she became the first woman to serve as CEO of the company. Her elevation to the top role reflected the company's confidence in her ability to build upon the operational and strategic improvements implemented under her predecessor while charting a forward-looking course for the business in an increasingly digital retail environment.

Strategic Focus on Customer Experience

A central theme of Barry's leadership at Best Buy has been an intensive focus on customer experience as a differentiating strategy in the competitive consumer electronics market. In public appearances and industry events, Barry has described the company's approach to customer experience as a core strategic priority. Speaking at the Fortune Most Powerful Women summit in October 2025, Barry articulated this philosophy, stating that the company's "focus is manically on the customer." Barry has argued that keeping the customer at the center of business decisions is essential to building a resilient company capable of adapting to rapid changes in technology and consumer behavior.

This customer-centric strategy has encompassed investments in in-store experiences, digital capabilities, consultation services, and the integration of technology solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of Best Buy's customer base. Barry has overseen efforts to position Best Buy not merely as a product retailer but as a technology solutions provider, offering services such as in-home consultation, installation, and ongoing technical support through the company's Geek Squad service.

Navigating Economic and Industry Challenges

Barry's tenure as CEO has coincided with a period of considerable macroeconomic uncertainty and industry disruption. The consumer electronics retail sector has faced headwinds including inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions, shifting consumer spending patterns, and the potential impact of tariffs on imported goods. Barry has addressed these challenges publicly on multiple occasions, providing insight into how Best Buy is managing external economic forces.

In a September 2025 interview with CNBC, Barry discussed the company's quarterly performance and addressed expectations regarding the potential impact of tariffs on Best Buy's business and its customers. The interview covered the company's most recent quarterly results and Barry's outlook for the business in the context of broader economic conditions.

One of the most significant concerns Barry has raised publicly is the growing income divide among American consumers and its implications for retailers. Speaking at the Fortune Most Powerful Women summit in October 2025, Barry said that a growing reliance on wealthy shoppers represents a long-term threat to the economy. She described the widening gap in spending power between affluent and lower-income consumers as something that "keeps me up at night." Barry's comments reflected broader concerns within the retail industry about the sustainability of consumer spending patterns and the potential consequences of economic inequality for companies that depend on a broad consumer base.

Artificial Intelligence and Technological Innovation

Under Barry's leadership, Best Buy has made significant investments in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, both as part of its operational strategy and as a central element of its product and services offering to consumers. Barry has spoken publicly about the company's approach to AI, including its potential impact on the workforce, customer service, and the broader retail experience.

At CES 2026, the annual consumer electronics trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association, Barry participated in a session focused on how retailers are leveraging innovation to shape consumer behavior and the future of commerce. Barry's participation in the CES programming underscored Best Buy's interest in positioning itself at the intersection of retail and technology innovation.

In a discussion at CES 2026 covered by Chief Marketer, Barry addressed the impact of AI on Best Buy's business strategy, describing one of the company's largest investments as being directed toward enhancing the customer experience through AI-driven tools and capabilities. With considerable industry anxiety about how AI would reshape the job market and retail operations, Barry framed Best Buy's approach as one focused on using AI to complement and improve human interactions with customers rather than simply replacing them. She described the company's focus on customer experience as "maniacal," emphasizing the depth of commitment Best Buy has placed on using technology to improve service delivery and customer satisfaction.

Financial Performance

Best Buy's financial results during Barry's tenure as CEO have reflected the broader dynamics of the consumer electronics retail sector. The company has continued to report its financial results on a quarterly basis as a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BBY.

In August 2025, Best Buy reported results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2026 (the 13-week period ended August 2, 2025). In November 2025, the company reported results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 (the 13-week period ended November 1, 2025). Barry has regularly appeared in earnings calls and media interviews to discuss the company's financial performance and strategic outlook, including the September 2025 CNBC interview in which she addressed quarterly results and the potential effects of tariffs on the business.

Public Commentary and Industry Leadership

Barry has emerged as a prominent figure in public discussions about the retail industry, consumer technology, and the American economy. She has been a regular participant at major industry conferences and business forums, including the Fortune Most Powerful Women summit and CES.

At the October 2025 Fortune Most Powerful Women summit, Barry delivered candid remarks about the challenges facing Best Buy and the retail industry more broadly. Her comments about the growing consumer income divide attracted significant media attention, with coverage from Fortune, Retail Dive, and Customer Experience Dive. Barry's willingness to speak openly about structural economic challenges — rather than confining her public remarks to corporate performance metrics — has contributed to her profile as a business leader engaged with broader societal issues affecting the retail sector.

Barry's participation in CES 2026 further demonstrated her role as a leading voice at the intersection of retail and technology. The Consumer Technology Association highlighted her session as part of expanded retail programming at the event, reflecting the growing importance of the relationship between technology innovation and retail strategy.

Recognition

Corie Barry has been recognized as one of the most prominent female executives in American business. Her regular inclusion in the programming of the Fortune Most Powerful Women summit reflects her standing among senior business leaders in the United States. As the first female CEO of Best Buy, one of the largest specialty retailers in the country, Barry has occupied a notable position in discussions about gender representation in corporate leadership.

Barry's appearances at major industry events, including CES 2026, have further solidified her profile as a key figure in the consumer technology and retail industries. Her public commentary on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to economic inequality has generated coverage from major business and trade media outlets, including Fortune, CNBC, Retail Dive, Customer Experience Dive, and Chief Marketer.

Legacy

Corie Barry's leadership of Best Buy represents a significant chapter in the company's history and in the broader evolution of the American retail industry. As the first woman to serve as CEO of Best Buy, her appointment was a milestone for gender representation in the leadership of major American corporations. Her tenure has been defined by the challenge of steering a large brick-and-mortar retailer through a period of profound technological and economic change, including the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer behavior, and ongoing macroeconomic pressures including inflation and tariff uncertainty.

Barry's emphasis on customer experience as a central organizing principle for Best Buy's strategy has reflected a broader industry trend among physical retailers seeking to differentiate themselves from online competitors. Her public statements about the importance of investing in AI to enhance — rather than replace — human customer interactions have positioned Best Buy within a specific strategic framework that prioritizes service quality alongside technological efficiency.

Her candid public commentary on the growing income divide among American consumers has also contributed to a broader conversation within the business community about the sustainability of retail models that depend on broad-based consumer spending. By raising concerns about the widening gap between affluent and lower-income shoppers, Barry has drawn attention to structural economic forces that extend well beyond the retail sector.

As CEO of a Fortune 500 company with a workforce of tens of thousands of employees and hundreds of retail locations across the United States, Barry's decisions and public positions continue to influence industry practices, investor expectations, and the strategic direction of one of America's most recognizable retail brands.