Noel Leeming taps Best Buy exec to lead retail services

Noel Leeming is tapping into expertise from United States consumer electronics retail giant Best Buy, snapping up one of it senior directors to head up retail services.

The Kiwi retailer has appointed Sean Stephens, who has spent the past 14 years is a range of service roles at Best Buy, as its general manager of retail services, which currently includes the Tech Solutions in-home workforce, in-store Open Learning Centres and the Mobile Learning offering taking technology and learning to Kiwi schools.

Tim Edwards, Noel Leeming chief executive, says the company has been working 'extremely hard' over the past five years to further enhance the customer experience and differentiate itself from competitors.

"Through retail services we are committed to making sure our customers get the most out of their technology," Edwards says.

"Sean is a proven, innovative leader who brings a wealth of best practice experience to the team, he shares our vision and will be an integral asset as we focus on expanding the Retail Services division even further," he adds.

"His experience really underpins what we're about – providing end-to-end service, including how to install new technology and how to get the most out of it, which we know can dramatically enhance our customer's lifestyles," Edwards says.

Stephens time at Best Buy saw him take on a number of roles including business development, Geek Squad Remote Services Lead, director of Geek Squad Services and senior director of Services Business Development.

Stephens was an integral part of Best Buy's initial roll  out of its Geek Squad technical support into more than 1000 Best Buy stores, and lead the effort to take Geek Squad into the home theatre, car electronics and appliance spaces.

Most recently, Stephens was senior director of services revenue growth for Best Buy, responsible for bringing new service offerings to market.

Prior to Best Buy, he worked in Accenture's retail practice, consulting at Fortune 500 companies.

Stephens, who has moved from Minnesota to Auckland with his family, says he's excited by the new opportunities to make Kiwi's lives better by helping them with their technology.

"Customers need help with their technology from delivering appliances, to mounting a television, to ensuring their wireless internet is maximised, and we'll be there every step of the way," he says.