Best Buy Names New Communications Chief

, Best Buy announced Thursday that Matthew Furman will join the company as senior vice president of the Communications and Public Affairs department.

According to a company press release, Furman, 41, will oversee Best Buy's employee communications, public relations, executive communications, government affairs, corporate responsibility and community relations. Before coming to Best Buy, Furman was the vice president of Corporate Affairs for Mars Chocolate and a member of its management team. In addition, he was the former head of corporate communications for Google.

Give the tough times the company is experiencing, Furman said in the release: "It's time to change the story about Best Buy. Time to help employees, shareholders, partners and customers understand that this company's leadership knows what needs to be done to come out of this turnaround well equipped to win in the evolving marketplace."