Our Executives
Mat Povse – Team Member, Geek Squad Agent and President Best Buy Canada
Mat doesn't hold back any enthusiasm when he says that he's madly in love with Best Buy and believes it is a humbling privilege to lead the team that takes care of the launchpad and marketplace for consumer tech in Canada.
Prior to President, Mat held several roles in the company, most recently as Senior Vice President of Best Buy Retail, Geek Squad Services and Best Buy Business, where he and his team were responsible for hundreds of stores, thousands of Blue Shirts and Agents and millions of customers.
In his time at Best Buy, his teams ushered in monumental efficiencies in retail operations, world-class culture and engagement scores, a slew of innovative store formats, the launch of some cool initiatives like Membership, subscriptions, trade-in, and really thoughtful ways to use stores for more than ever.
Before Best Buy, Mat held senior and management positions at other great companies like HP, TELUS and LG, where he then considered himself a member of the broader Best Buy community and remains devoted to the meaningful win-win partnerships with our extended family – our vendor partners.
Both at home and at work, he has a passion to know people, tackle problems, fix, improve and learn. "It's really simple. It's up to all of us to create a place we love, to spend others time well, and to have fun while we're at it – it's amazing to work for a company whose values are one's not to just work by, but to live by".
Bryan Kooistra – Team Member, Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Bryan Kooistra’s team is known as the brain and arteries of Best Buy Canada, thinking ten steps ahead and many years into the future to ensure the company delivers on its vision and commitments to its team and Canadians.
This group of masterminds oversees all financial and legal aspects of the Canadian business, providing invaluable counsel to the entire business and industry at large. Drilling down, they are responsible for the company’s supply chain, service centres, real estate, financial services, procurement, and loss prevention capabilities. Bryan also leads the Best Buy Business team, helping businesses coast to coast with their commercial technology needs.
During his tenure with Best Buy, Bryan has held a variety of leadership positions in the U.S. and China, supporting multiple areas from enterprise strategy, international finance, and joint venture management to omnichannel operations with extensive experience operating within U.S. store divisions and the U.S. digital channel (bestbuy.com). "Our business reaches millions of people across the country. Being a part of it – contributing, building, and making an impact – is incredibly rewarding."
Chris Taylor – Team Member, Senior Vice President, Communications and Chief Human Resources Officer
Belong. Grow. Impact. A steadfast believer in the magic of Best Buy Canada’s culture, Chris and his team look to channel that magic into an environment of belonging, connection and having fun while being the best for its thousands of team members, Blue Shirts and Agents. The heart of the company, Chris supports HR, social impact and communications strategies, programs and platforms that enable team members, communities and Canadians to enrich lives through technology.
The team leads all HR efforts, including its human resources information system, talent acquisition, training and development, inclusion and belonging, employee relations, employment brand, change management, compensation and benefits, payroll, corporate facilities and mental health and wellbeing initiatives. He’s also at the helm of corporate communications, media relations, social impact and sustainability.
Priding himself on authenticity and ensuring all team members can bring their true selves to work, Chris is a champion of open discussion about mental health, inclusion and belonging. “I am constantly humbled and impressed by our collective energy, passion and especially our ability not to take ourselves too seriously. I’m very fortunate to play a small role fueling and maintaining the unique magic of Best Buy Canada.”
Jason Abrams – Team Member, Senior Vice President, Merchandising, Store Experience & Service Solutions
Through the power of partnership and innovation, Jason and his team want every experience with Best Buy products to be unforgettable. Every item, demo, sign, display, service and shelf are passed by the team, as Jason leads merchandising and inventory strategy for all product categories, store experience, construction, facilities, and service solutions like Membership, Protection and Geek Squad services. He’s also responsible for Best Buy Express, a partnership between Best Buy Canada and Bell Canada that expands our ability to support our customers like never before.
Knowing the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, Jason’s collaborative approach has fostered strong vendor partnerships, which have led to many exclusive programs and firsts in the Canadian market. His team has been the catalyst behind the growth of vendor partners onto our Marketplace, the introduction of the smart home category, and they have been instrumental in creating cutting-edge store experiences like innovative shop-in-shop activations. Jason was also grateful to be part of the significant transformation in the company’s supply chain and logistics infrastructure, including new technology and automation in Best Buy’s distribution service centres.
As a leader, Jason values creating an environment where team members are empowered to constantly learn and push the envelope. “With the right teams, people and partners in the room, we get to create experiences and products that will make life better, easier and more enriching both now and in the future. How lucky are we!”
Thierry Hay-Sabourin – Team Member, Senior Vice President, eCommerce, Marketplace and Marketing
Thierry is incredibly proud to be part of the team that reaches, connects and helps millions of Canadians every day through its digital experience and marketing efforts. Thierry’s team oversees the company’s rapid growth in digital retail, on both BestBuy.ca and an industry-leading online Marketplace, and all elements of Best Buy Canada’s marketing strategy and services.
Having taken the first graduate degree in eCommerce offered at any University in Canada, Thierry’s known the importance of total retail since its emergence. Over the course of his time at Best Buy, his teams have launched the company’s first online expanded assortment, reserve and pick up, multi-channel fulfilment, delivery promise, ship-from-store, digital price tags, and drove selling Geek Squad services online. He also helped bring in the introduction of the company’s online community forums, blog platforms, and being the first company in Canada to sell advertising on its site. Thierry’s team launched Best Buy Canada’s Marketplace in 2015, and it remains a key driver of growth, partnering with thousands of seller partners and offering millions of products. In 2016, Thierry led the agile transformation of Best Buy Canada’s technology, eCommerce and data and analytics teams.
By taking an experience-driven approach, Thierry’s focus is to embrace change and lead the organization through innovation while empowering the teams he supports. “Digital retail and marketing are constantly evolving, but there is one constant – how important it is to get it right. Being able to support our customers every day is a real privilege we don’t take for granted.”
Dave Evans – Team Member, Chief Information & Technology Officer, Best Buy Canada
The blueprint. The foundation. The pipes. The power. As Chief Information & Technology Officer, Dave leads Best Buy Canada’s technology organization, overseeing the company’s delivery of technology solutions, infrastructure, platforms, experience design, project and product management, and data. From turning on a team member’s laptop to turning on a cutting-edge new warehouse management system, Dave and his talented technology team ensures Best Buy Canada remains at the forefront of innovation in an ever-evolving retail landscape.
Whether it’s highly visible product launches or the unsung heroes that keep the lights on, Dave believes creating a culture of commitment and engagement has been key to transforming Best Buy Canada’s technology function. The company’s focus on agile methodologies has shifted the organization from a traditional project-based structure to a product-driven technology team, increasing speed, flexibility, and innovation.
Prior to joining Best Buy, Dave held senior software development and managerial roles in education and finance, where he built a strong foundation in engineering leadership, artificial intelligence, and enterprise technology. “Technology hits every aspect of our company and our lives, nearly every second of every day. It’s complex, it’s necessary, and it’s incredibly rewarding.”
Glenn Minor – Team Member, Geek Squad Agent, Vice President, Retail
Glenn has built his career in Best Buy Canada stores and feels the utmost pride in learning from the thousands of Blue Shirts, Geek Squad Agents and leaders across the country every day. By creating a culture that is fun, optimized and customer-focused, his team aims to make Canadians feel cared for and excited every time they walk through Best Buy’s doors.
Throughout Glenn’s 22 years at Best Buy, he has been instrumental in guiding the company’s store teams through significant transformation, including a brand consolidation, navigating complex operating models to keep customers and team members safe during the pandemic, brand new store formats, and more. His team’s dedication to continuous improvement, creating a positive culture and delivering amazing service has translated to incredible engagement levels and customer NPS scores across stores and Geek Squad.
His passion for service excellence, retail and leadership has fuelled his career and delivered meaningful results. “We get to turn days around, solve the trickiest problems, help make our customers lives even better than before they walked into a Best Buy. What’s more fun than that?”
Chris Sallans – Team Member, Geek Squad Agent, Vice President, Retail, Services & Customer Operations
Throughout his nearly three decades with the company, Chris Sallans never tires seeing first-hand how the Best Buy team can change and enrich lives. Passionate about optimization, ease, innovation, and making things better than they were before, Chris and his team are dedicated to creating a seamless and responsive customer journey, no matter how you choose to interact with Best Buy Canada.
Made up of retail and Geek Squad operations, call centre and remote Geek Squad services, this group looks to create new ways to serve customers and teams throughout Canada, while tackling important day-to-day support. Chris’ team areas include labour management, operating models, reporting, and omni-channel fulfilment.
Since joining the company in 1997, Chris has had the privilege of taking part in game-changing initiatives including the introduction of a market-based approach to stores, expanding our store fulfilment network, and optimizing our store footprint through new store formats. “It’s a pleasure to work with both the smallest details of how we work and the biggest, craziest ideas that will change the game. Both can make an incredible difference to our team and our company, and – as a result – improve the way we serve our customers and clients.”