Best Buy Promotion of Barry to CEO Is Rare Boost for Sitting CFO

Best Buy Co.’s promotion of Corie Barry to chief executive officer is both a rarity for a sitting chief financial officer -- and a positive sign for the rising number of women who are taking on finance jobs at the largest U.S. companies.

Barry will take over for Hubert Joly at Best Buy after the company’s June board meeting. Only about 7 percent of CEOs were in the top financial role immediately beforehand, according to 2018 data from Crist Kolder Associates. About 75 percent of CEOs were elevated from general management roles, such as division president and chief operating officer. ...