UPDATE 3-Best Buy int'l head to go, but expansion to go on

* Best Buy's int'l chief Robert Willett to retire

* Company does not plan to name successor

* Best Buy says still committed to global growth

* To open 5 U.K. stores in 2010; first opening in spring (Adds company response, paragraph 3)

By Dhanya Skariachan

NEW YORK, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Top U.S. electronics chain Best Buy Co Inc (BBY.N) said it was committed to its expansion plans in Europe, amid speculation that it might put its store opening plans in the region on ice as its international chief retires.

On Wednesday, Best Buy said Robert Willett would retire at the end of the year and it did not plan to name a successor.

In an e-mail to Reuters, Best Buy spokeswoman Lisa Svac Hawks said Willett's retirement did not alter the company's plans for Europe and it would open 5 stores in Britain in 2010. The first store is scheduled to start up in spring.

Best Buy is also preparing to open its first store in Turkey.