Dunn is stepping down after being with the Richfield-based electronics retailer for nearly 30 years. Best Buy recently announced it was closing 50 stores and terminating 400 corporate jobs. Board member Mike Mikan will serve as interim CEO during the search for a permanent replacement.

Four board members will lead the global search for a new chief executive officer at the Richfield-based electronics retailer. Brian Dunn resigned from the leadership position amid an investigation into his personal conduct. Interim CEO Mike Mikan is considered a candidate to permanently replace Dunn. Best Buy expects the search process to take six to nine months.

After a series of bombshells that have shaken the company, Best Buy's interim CEO is trying to reassure employees that the electronics retail giant will rebound and rise again. "This has undoubtedly been the most difficult period in Best Buy's history," G. Mike Mikan said in a video message to employees Tuesday, the Pioneer Press reports.

The Richfield-based consumer electronics giant hopes to hire Brian Dunn's replacement within the next nine months. Dunn resigned in April amid an internal probe that later found he had an inappropriate relationship with a female employee. Best Buy also disclosed interim CEO Mike Mikan's compensation package. He is considered a candidate to permanently replace Dunn.

A spokeswoman for Best Buy says a committee was investigating Brian Dunn's personal conduct when the CEO chose to resign. She says the issues that led to the investigation were not related to Best Buy's operations or finances. The company described Dunn's departure as a "mutual agreement that it was time for new leadership."

Best Buy's board of directors says its investigation into Brian Dunn's personal conduct remains open even though Dunn stepped down as CEO this week. The company says the conduct it's looking into does not involve Best Buy operations or finances, but has offered no other details.

Hubert Joly, the newly appointed CEO at the troubled Richfield-based electronics retailer will earn a base salary of $1.175 million in his first year, CNN Money reports. He will also receive a mix of cash and stock options worth $20 million, according to the Pioneer Press. Joly takes the reins of Best Buy next month.

Best Buy's new top executive, Hubert Joly, tells the Star Tribune that he's "not a big fan of shrinking the company." He wants the Richfield-based electronics giant to maximize sales with its existing stores. One analyst was also a bit puzzled by Joly's comments about "showrooming." "I don't think he's right. I think there's plenty of evidence of people doing that," said Laura Kennedy.