Best Buy acquired mobile device and emergency call service GreatCall for $800 million in 2018, marking the start of its foray into healthcare. The technology retailer has since quietly built up its efforts in the space, according to a StarTribune blog post.
Here are four things to know:
1. In December, Best Buy promoted Asheesh Saksena, the lead of its strategic growth office, to president of Best Buy Health. Officials said his role is to "refine and implement" the company's health strategy. Specifically, Mr. Saksena will leverage the company's GreatCall acquisition to develop new ways of using technology to help seniors live independently longer.
2. Best Buy's GreatCall acquisition builds on its existing assured living service, which uses home-based motion sensors and monitoring technologies to prevent health crises in older adults, according to StarTribune.
3. Best Buy also appointed Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health President and CEO Eugene Woods to its board, and added Cindy Kent, a former president and general manager of 3M's infection and prevention division, to its team.
4. Hubert Joly, Best Buy CEO and board chairman, called each of these hires a strategic move that supports the retailer's shift to providing health and wellness devices and services, particularly for the aging population.