Ex-Best Buy CEO to lead home services site

Now that retailers such as Amazon.com are entering the online services market, Angie’s List is looking to fortify its executive ranks by tapping a veteran retail e-commerce executive to run the company.



Scott Durchslag, who served as president of e-commerce and global marketing at Best Buy from 2012-2014, has joined Angie’s List as president and CEO.



Durchslag, who developed the “Blue Thunder” omnichannel turnaround microstrategy which doubled online growth at Best Buy from 11% in 2012 to 20% in 2013, replaces former Angie’s List CEO Bill Oesterle. Oesterle left the company earlier this year to enter Indiana state politics.



Prior to joining Best Buy, Durchslag was president of global online travel agency Expedia Worldwide, where he launched the Expedia 3.0 turnaround strategy. Other notable experience includes serving as COO of the online communication platform Skype, where he oversaw the launch of several new products and services.



Durchslag’s experience in managing turnarounds and new product introductions is most likely not a coincidence. Angie’s List has not had many profitable quarters since going public in 2011 and its share price has mostly sat below the price of its IPO. Angie’s List has been transforming itself from an online review site to a paid online marketplace where consumers can find contractors and service providers.



Durchslag told Reuters that Angie’s List can improve performance by pursuing more partnerships like the one it has with vertical paint retailer Benjamin Moore, as well as by leveraging the value of its customer data. He has been a paying member of Angie’s List sinc3 2012.



"Scott is an action oriented executive who understands how to leverage technology platforms to engage consumers and drive profitable growth," said Angie's List chairman John Chuang. "His experience in operations, marketing, product development and engineering makes him particularly well-suited to lead Angie's List as we work to fortify our position as a leading platform in the $800 billion local services marketplace."