Bradbury H. Anderson, who recently retired as chief executive officer of Best Buy, a leading consumer electronics retailer, has been elected to the Carlson Board of Directors, Carlson Chairman Marilyn Carlson Nelson announced today.
“We are pleased to have Brad on our board, and we welcome the opportunity to make use of his extensive experience in customer service and business operations. As a family owned hotel, marketing, restaurant and travel company, Carlson, like Best Buy, values high-quality customer service, which gives us an advantage in the global marketplace,” Nelson said.
“All of us look forward to working with Brad as we continue to guide Carlson for continued success in the future,” said Carlson President and CEO Hubert Joly, who recently joined the Carlson board.
Anderson joined Best Buy in 1973 as a commissioned salesman at the fledgling Sound of Music, a small chain of stereo stores that was the precursor to Best Buy.
In 1986, Anderson was promoted to executive vice president and was elected to Best Buy’s Board of Directors. In April 1991, he was promoted to president and chief operating officer. He was named vice chairman in 2001 and continues to serve in that role. In June 2002, he assumed the position of chief executive officer.
Anderson earned an associate degree from Waldorf College, a liberal arts college in Forest City, Iowa, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver.
His charitable and volunteer efforts include his participation on the boards of the American Film Institute, Minnesota Public Radio and Minnesota Early Learning Foundation. He serves on the Waldorf College Board of Regents, the General Mills Board of Directors and the Mayo Board of Trustees.
Other members of the 11-person Carlson Board of Directors are: Lee A. Chaden, retired chairman, Hanesbrands Inc.; Dr. Harald Einsmann, operating partner, Equity Partners; Barbara Carlson Gage, president, Carlson Family Foundation; Edwin C. “Skip” Gage, chairman and CEO, Gage Marketing Group; Richard C. Gage, founder of Nebulous/YourMLSsearch.com; Diana L. Nelson, trustee, Curtis L. Carlson Family Foundation; Glen D. Nelson, M.D., chairman, GDN Holdings, LLC; and Lawrence Perlman, retired chairman and CEO of Ceridian Corporation, and former chairman of Seagate Technology.
Carlson is a global hotel, marketing, restaurant and travel company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Carlson brands and services include: Regent Hotels & Resorts , Radisson Hotels & Resorts , Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson(SM), Park Inn hotels, Carlson Marketing, T.G.I. Friday’s and Pick Up Stix restaurants, and Carlson Wagonlit Travel .