Best Buy appoints Baker Baker as human resources chief

Best Buy Co. Inc. has made Paula Baker its new human resources chief.

Baker started in her new role this week overseeing the development and careers of more than 125,000 employees worldwide.

She succeeds for Shari Ballard, who held dual positions as head of HR and president of U.S. retail for the last two years. Baker's appointment allows Ballard to focus on store operations.

With more than a decade at Best Buy, Baker has held a variety of company jobs from general manager roles to a regional HR directorship. She most recently served as territory vice president for the southeast U.S. region, where she was responsible for more than 10,000 employees.

Before her tenure at Best Buy, Baker worked in retail leadership roles at Books-A-Million, Golfsmith International and St. Andrews Golf Company, according to a biography on Best Buy's website.

She earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.