Becky Wanta Joins Best Buy as North America CIO

Plus: State Street Hires New CIO and Elizabeth Hackenson Gets Board Appointment

Last Wednesday, Best Buy unveiled a number of executive management changes designed to improve the company’s ability to glean insights from employees, customers and partners, provide clear accountability for each facet of the retailer’s growth strategy and to get the right leaders in the positions where they can drive the most growth. Among these changes, Best Buy hired Rebecca (Becky) Wanta as its new CIO for North America. She joins on October 19, 2007. Bob Willet remains Best Buy’s enterprise CIO. Wanta reports to Willet.

Wanta most recently served as global CTO of PepsiCo under global CIO Tom Trainer, who started a website geared toward entrepreneurs after leaving the beverage company. Prior to PepsiCo, Wanta worked for the Feld Group where she served as a CTO for consulting engagements with Soutwest Airlines and Wellpoint. She also previously served as CTO of Wells Fargo. Wanta holds two MBAs, from the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington and from Golden Gate University.

Also last week, State Street Corp. named Christopher Perretta EVP and CIO. Perretta joins the Boston, Mass.-based financial services firm from General Electric Commercial Finance, where he had served as SVP and CIO since 2002. Perretta is one of a number of GE executives looking for new job opportunities. Prior to GE, he was an associate partner at Andersen Consulting spearheading various technology initiatives in Europe during his five year tenure.

State Street hired Perretta for his experience developing technology solutions that support new investment strategies and products, according to the press release announcing his hire.

In his new role, Perretta leads an IT organization of 5,300 employees and contractors worldwide. He reports to Joseph Antonellis, State Street’s vice chairman who has held the CIO post since 2002. Perretta received his bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and a master’s degree from Syracuse University.

Alcatel-Lucent CIO Elizabeth Hackenson was appointed to the board of one of her company’s subsidiaries, LGS, which serves U.S. government agencies. Hackensonreplaces Frank D’Amelio on LGS’s board. D’Amelio recently left Alcatel-Lucent, where he served as chief administrative officer.