Business Executives

Mark Begor is president and chief executive officer of GE Capital Real Estate.

Mark also leads GE Capital's Restructuring Operations unit, a diverse group of solid but non-strategic businesses in GE Capital's portfolio focused on improving returns, increasing productivity and optimizing their value.

Mark began his career at General Electric in 1980, was named a company officer in 1996 and GE Senior Vice President in 2005.

Prior to his current role, Mark held a series of leadership roles at GE Capital's Retail Finance unit from 2002 to 2011, most recently as president and CEO, successfully guiding it through a tumultuous business cycle.

From 1998 to 2002, he was executive vice president, chief financial officer and head of business development at NBC - a role that included managing several large acquisitions. He joined NBC in 1998 as chief financial officer.

From 1995 to 1998, Mark served as GE's head of investor communications, successfully leading the company's communications with institutional and individual investors. During this time, he was twice named Investor Relations Officer of the Year by Investor Relations magazine.

From 1989 to 1993, Mark worked at GE Plastics, including three years in Singapore as CFO and business development leader. He began his career in GE's Financial Management Program and was a member of the company's corporate audit staff.

Mark earned a BA from Syracuse University and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Charles (Chip) Blankenship is the President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Home & Business Solutions, an $8 billion operating unit comprised of GE Appliances, headquartered in Louisville, KY, and GE Lighting, headquartered in East Cleveland, OH. Together, the businesses employ more than 27,000 people around the world who invent, build and deliver innovative, energy-efficient appliances and lighting products that improve people’s lives.

Blankenship began his career with GE in 1992 after earning a B.S. degree in Materials Engineering from Virginia Tech and a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Virginia. His first position was that of Staff Scientist at GE’s Corporate Research and Development facility in Schenectady, New York. His technical work resulted in 23 papers published in refereed journals and eight U.S. and European patents. As a program manager, he led a team of scientists and engineers developing alloys and processes for aircraft engine, land-based gas turbine, lighting systems, medical systems and diesel engine applications.

Blankenship joined GE Aviation’s Commercial Engines Operation in 1996 as the leader of the CF6 Airline Support Engineering team. He was later appointed Manager of Embraer CF34 programs, and subsequently General Manager of GE Aviation’s Small Commercial Engine Operation. In 2006, he was named General Manager for Aero Energy, a division of GE Energy in Houston, Texas, that supplies aeroderivative gas turbines and packaged generator sets for industrial and marine applications. He returned to GE Aviation in 2008 as VP of the Commercial Engines Operation, a $5 billion business and the world’s leading producer of large and small jet engines for commercial aircraft. He was named President & CEO of GE Appliances on January 1, 2012 and assumed his current role on January 1, 2013.

He resides in Louisville, KY, and is married with four children.

Steve Bolze is the president and CEO of GE Power & Water. He became a senior vice president in September 2008.

Bolze's GE career began in 1993 as the manager of Mergers and Acquisitions for GE Corporate Business Development. In 1995, he joined GE Energy in Schenectady, NY, as manager of Competitive Strategies and later became the product general manager for large steam turbines. He subsequently held several leadership roles in Energy Services including president and general manager of Energy Management Services.

In 2002, Bolze moved to GE Healthcare as the general manager for Functional and Molecular Imaging. In 2003, he was appointed a company officer and became vice president, Amersham Integration based in London. He then became president and CEO of GE Healthcare International based in Paris. He was named vice president, Power Generation in November 2005.

Bolze holds a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Duke University and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan. Prior to joining GE, Bolze served as a management consultant for Corporate Decisions, Inc. and project manager for Westinghouse.

Bolze is married and has three sons.

Lynn Calpeter is Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of GE Power & Water and a GE Company Officer.  She was appointed to this role in October 2012.            

Calpeter began her career in 1986 in GE’s Financial Management Program.  She went on to spend six years with the Corporate Audit Staff, contributing to financial and operational audits for numerous GE businesses.  In 1993 Calpeter joined GE Plastics, holding various financial leadership roles and in 1998 was appointed Manager for GEP Global Production, Sales and Inventory planning.

In 1999 Calpeter was named Chief Financial Officer for the Television Stations Division of NBC.  In 2001 she went on to serve two years as Vice President of the GE Corporate Audit Staff in Fairfield, Connecticut.

In 2003 Calpeter was named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of NBC and in 2004, upon completion of the Universal acquisition, she was named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of NBC Universal (NBCU).  She was responsible for overseeing NBCU’s financial planning, tax planning, and financial operations while playing a key role in the company’s strategic business initiatives.

Calpeter’s most recent role was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of GE Energy, leading all financial operations for a $43B portfolio of businesses serving the global energy industry with power generation, oil and gas and grid modernization technologies.

Calpeter is a graduate of Cornell University with a B.S. in business management and applied economics.  She enjoys golf, softball, mountain biking, theater, and music.

William H. (Bill) Cary is the Chief Operating Officer of GE Capital, the financial services unit of the General Electric Company. GE Capital provides financial products and services to businesses and consumers globally. GE Capital finished 2010 with a net income of $3.3 billion and assets in excess of $575 billion. Cary is also a Senior Vice President of GE.

Cary joined GE in 1986 as a member of the Financial Management Program and served in a variety of financial positions. In 1988 he joined GE Capital-Corporate Finance Group, and following increasingly responsible assignments in Corporate Finance, moved to Singapore in 1994 and became Senior Vice President - Capital Markets and Finance for GE Capital Corporation - Asia.

In 1995, he was named Chief Financial Officer for GE Global Consumer Finance. Cary then became Vice President and Manager - Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis at GE Capital’s headquarters in Stamford, CT. Cary was appointed a GE Officer during this assignment in December 1999. Following this role from January 2001 until October 2002, he served as President and CEO of GE Capital Vendor Financial Services.

Cary then became the Corporate Vice President for Financial Planning and Analysis for GE Company until February 2004 when he was named the Vice President of Corporate Investor Communications. In March 2006 Cary was posted to London and appointed President and CEO of GE Money EMEA region. He was elected a Senior Vice President of GE in November 2006. Cary was promoted to President of GE Money (Global) in February 2008, and Chief Operating Officer for all of GE Capital in November 2008. Cary is a member of GE's Corporate Executive Council.

He is a National Honors graduate of the GE Financial Management Program and holds a BS in Finance from San Jose State University. Cary's interests include playing golf and traveling with his family.

John Dineen is President and CEO of GE Healthcare. Formerly GE Medical Systems and now a $17 billion business, GE Healthcare is the global leader in medical diagnostic technology and biosciences. He was appointed to his current role in July 2008.

In 2005, Dineen was named President and CEO of GE Transportation , a $4.5 billion global leader in the rail, mining, marine, drilling and wind industries.

Dineen joined GE in 1986 as a telecommunications engineer in Rockville, Maryland. He has held a variety of leadership positions at GE, both in the U.S. and worldwide, including General Manager of the Power Equipment business in Plainville, Connecticut; General Manager of the Meter business in Somersworth, New Hampshire; General Manager of the Microwave and Air-conditioning businesses in Louisville, Kentucky; Manager of finance for GE Asia in Hong Kong; and President of GE Plastics Pacific. He has served in various assignments in Corporate Finance, and most recently he served as Vice President and General Manager of Plastics at GE Advanced Materials.

Dineen is a graduate of the University of Vermont where he earned Bachelor's degrees in biology/genetics and computer science.

He and his wife have two children.

Tom Gentile was appointed President and CEO of GE Healthcare's Healthcare Systems division in May of 2011. Healthcare Systems is GE's $12 billion business that develops some of the best-known medical technologies including: computed tomography, magnetic resonance, ultrasound, molecular imaging, patient care solutions, x-ray, interventional, life support systems and home health.

Gentile is a 13-year GE veteran and most recently spent three years as Vice President of GE Aviation's Services division, transforming the services business into a global $7 billion platform. Before Aviation, he held a series of leadership roles in GE Capital's businesses in the US, France and Australia, overseeing key acquisitions, consumer product launches and driving profitable growth.

Before GE, Gentile held leadership and strategy roles with McKinsey & Company, American broadcaster CBS, and General Motors. Gentile earned his bachelor's degree in economics and his MBA from Harvard University, and studied international relations at the London School of Economics.

Tom has been an active leader in global GE's Volunteers Network. He was very active with the non-profit organization Cincinnati ArtsWave and looks forward to bringing his passion for corporate citizenship to the Milwaukee area community.

Tom was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He and his wife Julie have three children.

On July 13, 2011, Daniel C. Heintzelman was named CEO of GE Oil & Gas.

GE Oil & Gas employs more than 33,000 people and is a world leader in advanced technology equipment and services for all segments of the oil and gas industry.

Heintzelman was previously president and CEO of GE Energy Services, a business that spanned contractual service agreements, advanced sensing and smart grid technology, and a suite of solutions in power generation, transmission and distribution, and industrial and commercial applications. He held that position since 2005.

He also chaired GE’s Services Council, which leverages GE’s scale and processes across the company’s Aviation, Energy, Transportation and Healthcare Services divisions.

Heintzelman joined GE in 1979 as a member of GE Aircraft Engines’ Management Development Program. Since then, he has progressed through leadership roles in the company, including plant manager for GE's Rutland, VT facility and general manager of assembly operations at GE's Evendale, Ohio facility.

In 2000, Heintzelman was named a GE company officer and vice president and general manager of GE Aircraft Engines Services Operations. He subsequently served as vice president and general manager of Engine Services’ Material Services operation. In 2002, he was named vice president and general manager of GE Aircraft Engines’ Services business.

Heintzelman was named a senior vice president of GE in September 2008. He is a member of the company’s Corporate Executive Council.

He earned a B.S. in industrial distribution from Clarkson University and is a member of the university’s Board of Trustees. He and his wife have three children.

Dan Henson is an officer of GE Company and president and CEO of GE Capital, Americas. This business provides financing for equipment, inventory and franchises; fleet services and M&A, buyout and restructuring capital to companies in over 40 industries, including healthcare.

Prior to this role, Mr. Henson was president and CEO of GE Capital Solutions, an equipment leasing and lending business with operations in 30 countries and assets of approximately $130 billion. Earlier, he was GE's chief marketing officer, responsible for sales and marketing, salesforce effectiveness, advertising, branding and corporate communications. He was also charged with cross-business initiatives, including Imagination Breakthroughs, Ecomagination and GE's Experienced Commercial Leadership Program.

A 21-year GE veteran, Mr. Henson was named a GE officer in 1999. He has served as the chief commercial officer of GE Commercial Finance, president and chief executive officer of GE Vendor Financial Services, president and chief executive officer of GE Capital Fleet Services and president and general manager of GE Capital Auto Financial Services. As chief quality officer for GE Capital, a position he assumed in 1998, he oversaw Six Sigma quality initiatives.

Mr. Henson began his career at GE as a district marketing manager for Vendor Financial Services, where he worked in sales, business development and management. He spent six years leading GE teams in London for European Equipment Finance and in Mexico City for Commercial Equipment Finance.

A graduate of George Washington University's School of Government and Business Administration in Washington, D.C., Mr. Henson lives in Connecticut with his wife and two children.

In March 2011, Mark Hutchinson was appointed the President & CEO, GE Greater China. He is responsible for leading GE’s growth strategy in this important region where the Company intends to double its activity over the next three years. China is one of the most important global markets for GE. The Company has significant operations in Aviation, Energy and Healthcare, in the areas of manufacturing, sourcing and sales. In total 18,000 people are employed in the GE China operations. GE’s purpose in to help China: 1) solve its toughest problems, 2) improve the quality of life, 3) create global partnerships with its National champions and 4) develop global talent. Mark is responsible for making this happen. He is an Officer and Vice President of GE and sits on the Company’s Corporate Executive Council. 

Mark has made a career of building business teams and orchestrating development projects around the world.  Mark combines a broad background as a global business leader with deep local knowledge earned on the ground in key markets where he has served.  Prior to joining GE China, he was President of GE Capital Real Estate, International where he led the Real Estate team in Europe and Asia successfully through a dramatic cycle. During his decade-long stint as a leader of GE’s capital markets team, Mark successfully led a host of complex transactions in North America, Europe and the Pacific Rim.  From New York, he managed GE’s global securitization and loan syndication; in London, he built a pan European capital markets team, providing securitization, export finance, project finance and debt syndication for a variety of GE businesses; in Hong Kong, he spearheaded the financing of key energy-related construction projects in China and Indonesia.  Mark has lived and worked in Australia, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, United States, Japan, France and China.

Prior to joining GE, Mark was head of the Asian project advisory team, based in Hong Kong, for Barclays Merchant Bank.  The successful privatization of Western Harbour Crossing and the Route 3 Project, both key elements of Hong Kong’s infrastructure development, was a central accomplishment during his tenure.

A native of England, Mark graduated from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia.

Jay Ireland, a 31-year GE veteran, is the new President and CEO of GE Africa appointed March 15th 2011. He is a GE officer and a member of GE's Corporate Executive Council

In a clear sign of its intentions in Africa, John Rice, President and CEO of GE Global Growth and Operations, said the new role was aimed to "help to grow our presence and businesses in sub-Saharan Africa, which we believe offers strong potential for long-term growth. GE is poised to accelerate growth through a wide range of solutions that will support Africa's rapid infrastructure transformation across northern and sub-Saharan Africa."

Since 2007, Ireland, 56, has led GE Asset Management, a global investment firm with about US$120 billion in assets under management, including portfolios for institutional investors around the world as well those of GE's US employee pension and benefits plans. Ireland also oversaw the firm's management, distribution and servicing efforts for an array of mutual funds serving several hundred thousand individual investors' needs.

Prior to GEAM, Ireland was President of NBC Universal Television Stations and Network Operations. In this role, he had overall executive responsibility for NBC Universal's 10 television stations, the Telemundo network and its 16 Spanish language television stations, domestic first-run syndication, affiliate relations, and Network Operations. Before joining NBC in 1999, he had been the CFO of GE Plastics.

After three years as an U.S. Army Officer, Ireland started his career with General Electric in 1980 in the Financial Management Program in Lynchburg, Virginia. He became a member of the Corporate Audit Staff, and in 1988 joined GE Plastics where he held several financial and product management assignments. In 1990, Ireland was named managing director of Polymerland-Europe, a plastics distribution company. In March 1993, he was named Manager, Corporate Investor Communications, and was appointed Vice President, Corporate Audit Staff in May 1995.

Ireland is a Trustee of the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, a member of the board of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, and a Trustee of St. Lawrence University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1977. He and his wife have two children.

Daniel Janki is Chief Executive Officer, GE Energy Management. GE Energy Management is a global business that develops advanced technology solutions to help solve the efficiency challenges faced by energy constituencies that generate, distribute and consume power around the world.

Janki began his career with GE in 1992 through the Financial Management Program (FMP). Upon completion, he joined GE’s Corporate Audit Staff. During his time on the Audit Staff, Janki held a series of global assignments, including a two-year role as an Executive Audit Manager in Asia. Following, he served as Chief Financial Officer for GE Equity in Stamford, Connecticut.

In 2003, Janki joined the corporate team as a member of Vice Chairman Dennis Dammerman’s staff. In this role, he led a variety of projects related to GE’s insurance businesses, most notably, the planning and executing of the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Genworth Financial in 2003.

Subsequently, Janki was appointed Chief Financial Officer for GE Consumer Finance, Americas. During his tenure at Consumer Finance, he built a finance organization designed to facilitate the business’s transformation into a multi-product company.

In February 2006, Janki was appointed GE’s Vice President of Corporate Investor Communications in February 2006. In this role, he was responsible for managing the Company’s relationships with its investor constituencies.

Prior to his current role, Janki was Chief Financial Officer for GE Energy, a $45B global technology leader in power generation, oil and gas production, and water treatment. He assumed this role in 2008 and led the growth of the business through strategic technology investments, rigorous operational excellence and smart acquisition expansion.

Janki is a GE Company Officer and is a member of the Company’s Corporate Executive Council. He received a B.S. in Finance and Accounting from The Ohio State University. Janki currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife, two daughters and son.

David L. Joyce is president and chief executive officer for GE Aviation, a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components as well as integrated digital, electric power and mechanical systems for aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings. Mr. Joyce is also a senior vice president of GE.

Mr. Joyce joined GE in 1980 as a product engineer and spent 15 years advancing his career in design and development of GE's commercial and military engines. His contributions encompassed nine different engine families powering 15 base aircraft models, including advanced technology applications.

In 1995, Mr. Joyce transitioned from product development to become a Six Sigma Master Black Belt for the Aviation Engineering Division.

In early 1998, he was promoted to general manger of the Customer and Product Support organization, responsible the global GE/CFM fleet of nearly 20,000 engines in service with more than 500 customers. In this role, Mr. Joyce led the formation of the highly successful "At the Customer, For the Customer" program.

In mid-2000, he was appointed general manager of the small commercial engine operation, where he led GE's successful bid to power China's ARJ21 regional jet. In addition, he oversaw the certification program for the CF34-8 engine for the Bombardier CRJ900 and the Embraer E170/175 aircraft programs.

Mr. Joyce was promoted to vice president and general manager of the commercial engine operation in 2003. He was named to his current role in June 2008.

Mr. Joyce earned both bachelor of science and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University and holds a master's in business finance from Xavier University.

Margaret Keane is the CEO and President of GE Capital Retail Finance. The business provides private label credit card programs, bankcards, installment lending, promotional financing and financial services for consumers through its retail partners and dealers, originated through GE Money Bank.

Margaret joined GE in 1996 as Quality Leader for GE Capital's Vendor Financial Services (VFS) business. She went on to serve in a variety of roles at VFS, including Global Operations Leader and Shared Services Leader of the Mid-Market Leasing Businesses. In 1999, Margaret was named Chief Quality Officer for GE Capital and later, Six Sigma Leader for GE Commercial Finance.

Margaret joined GE Consumer Finance-Americas in 2002, serving as SVP for Operations. In that role, she was responsible for all Customer Service, Sourcing, Real Estate, Facilities and Technology.

In May of 2004, Margaret joined GE Capital Retail Consumer Finance where she led the retail credit card business. She was named a GE Officer in 2005.

Margaret began her professional career at Citicorp where she held leadership roles in Sales, Marketing and Operations over the course of 16 years.

She attended St. John's University, earning a Masters degree in Marketing and Bachelors in Political Science. She resides in Ridgefield, CT with her husband and children.

Richard Laxer is President and CEO of GE Capital Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). The business lends to mid-market businesses and consumers throughout the region, with operations in 19 countries, close to $80 billion in assets and around 19,000 employees.

Laxer joined GE in 1984 as a member of the company’s Financial Management Programme and served in a variety of financial positions. He was named an officer in 2003 and is a member of GE’s Corporate Executive Council.

Prior to his current role, Laxer was President and CEO of GE Corporate Financial Services, GE's global corporate lending business with 3,800 employees and a major investment portfolio. Before that, he was President and CEO of GE Capital Solutions, a global leasing and asset provider with operations in more than 30 countries. From 1991 to 2003, he held leadership roles of increasing responsibility at GE Capital Real Estate, concluding with running the Asia Pacific region from 2001 to 2003.

Laxer holds a B.S. in Business from Skidmore College and is a member of the board of trustees, as well as a member of the Friends of the President's Council. He is also an active member of the 30% club, a group of Chairmen committed to bringing more diversity into UK Boards.

Laxer lives in London with his wife and two daughters.

Keith Sherin is currently the Chairman and CEO of GE Capital. He was named vice chairman, GE, in 2007.

GE Capital, which operates in 50+ countries, provides financial products and services including commercial real estate, aviation leasing, corporate finance, energy and healthcare finance, consumer lending in addition to mid-market lending and leasing. With assets in excess of US $530 billion and 2012 net income of $7.4 billion from continuing operations, GE Capital is one of the world's largest and most profitable finance organizations.

Mr. Sherin first joined GE in 1981 through the GE Financial Management Program in Medium Steam Turbine. After three years he joined the Corporate Audit Staff where he progressed to executive audit manager and later manager of Programs and Planning.

Mr. Sherin was promoted to manager of Finance for Commercial Engine Operations at GE Aircraft Engines in early 1992, and the following year he was named director of finance for GE Plastics Europe in Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands.

In the fall of 1995, Mr. Sherin joined GE Medical Systems as manager of Global Finance and Financial Services, and less than a year later he was promoted to vice president of Finance and Financial Services Operation.

Mr. Sherin was named vice president and GE's chief financial officer in 1998

Mr. Sherin earned his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. from Columbia University.

Lorenzo Simonelli is President and CEO of GE Transportation, a global transportation leader in the rail, mining, marine and energy storage industries. Since becoming President and CEO in July of 2008, Mr. Simonelli has expanded GE Transportation from a $3.4 billion per year locomotive-focused business to a diversified division with annual revenues of approximately $5.6 billion. Under Mr. Simonelli’s leadership, GE Transportation has emphasized advanced technology manufacturing, intelligent control systems, and a diverse approach to new propulsion solutions to solve the world’s toughest transportation challenges.   

Since 2008 Mr. Simonelli has built the business from 9,000 to 13,000 employees through both organic growth and significant acquisitions, including Industrea Ltd., a major mining equipment manufacturer based in Australia.

He started his career with Mitsubishi Bank in International & Corporate Finance and joined GE in July 1994. He is a graduate of the Financial Management Program with assignments in GE International, GE Shared Services, Nuovo Pignone and Consolidated Financial Insurance. He has also served as CFO Americas for Consumer & Industrial, as well as General Manager, Product Management for Appliances, Lighting, Electrical Distribution and Motors.

Mr. Simonelli is a Business & Economics Graduate from Cardiff University in South Wales. He is originally from Florence, Italy.

GE Transportation is a leading supplier to the railroad, mining, marine, stationary power, drilling and energy storage industries. GE Transportation’s fuel-efficient and lower-emissions locomotives, marine and stationary power applications, drive systems for mining trucks, intelligent control solutions and services help support customers across the transportation spectrum. Established more than 100 years ago, GE Transportation’s corporate headquarters is located in Chicago, IL with its global locomotive, engineering and supply chain operations based in Erie, PA.

A graduate of The University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Rick joined GE Aircraft Engines in 1980.  With GE, he pursued his Masters Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and is a graduate of GE’s Advanced Engineering Program.  During his career, he has held numerous assignments in aircraft engine turbomachinery blade, rotor, structures and combustion design and systems engineering.

In 2003, Rick was elected a corporate officer of the General Electric company and promoted to Vice President and General Manager of the Aviation Engineering Division. 

In November 2005, Rick was appointed Vice President and General Manager of the Engineering Division for GE Power & Water, with responsibilities for all engineering including research, development, technology, and product design activities spanning the GE Power & Water portfolio.  The portfolio includes Gas Turbines, Steam Turbines, Generators, Gasification, Controls, Wind Turbines, Nuclear Power, Aeroderivatives, Water, Solar Power and Services Engineering.  The GE Power & Water Engineering Division currently has over 7,300 engineers across 120 sites in 30 countries around the world.

In June 2011, Rick was appointed to GE’s Corporate Executive Council (CEC).

He has been awarded five patents, is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA, and is a member of the ASME.  He is the 2005 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Engineering award from the University of Notre Dame.

Rick and Ellen, his spouse, currently reside in Greenville, SC, and they have three children.

Dmitri Stockton is President and CEO of GE Asset Management, a leading global investment firm with $120 billion in assets under management (as of December 31, 2012) for GE’s U.S. employee pension and benefits plans and a wide range of other institutional investors, including plan sponsors, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, and endowments. A 25-year GE veteran, Mr. Stockton previously served as President and CEO of GE Capital’s Global Banking unit based in London. Earlier in his GE career he held roles as CEO for GE Capital Bank in Switzerland, President and CEO of GE Money’s Central and Eastern European Banking Group, and Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer for GE Mortgage Corporation. Mr. Stockton is a Senior Vice President of GE Company and a member of GE’s Corporate Executive Council. He is also a member of the Executive Leadership Council, U.S. Institute, Pension Managers Advisory Committee, the Executive Advisory Council at North Carolina A&T State University School of Business and Economics, and on the Boards of GE Foundation, A Better Chance and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. He is a former board member of Garanti Bank in Turkey, Bank BPH in Poland and BAC Credomatic Bank in Central America. Mr. Stockton holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting from North Carolina A&T State University.
 

A $3 billion unit of Connecticut-based GE, GE Lighting today employs nearly 15,000 people in manufacturing, sales and distribution locations around the world who fulfill customers’ most basic and business-critical needs with a wide variety of innovative, lighting products and services. Not new to the lighting business, Sylvester earlier worked in GE Lighting for 14 of her 24 years with GE. In rejoining GE Lighting in 2011, she is now leading the business and employees in the exciting global lighting transformation underway as world markets move toward energy-efficient lighting solutions.

Prior to her current position, Sylvester was most recently President & CEO of GE Intelligent Platforms –  GE’s high-technology global provider of software, hardware, services and expertise in automation, operations management and embedded computing, serving the energy, water, oil and gas, manufacturing, government and defense, and telecommunications industries. Her contributions included a significant commitment and focus on technology leadership, new product launches, and vertical marketing, resulting in the doubling of revenues.

Sylvester began her GE career in 1987 as an intern at GE Motors in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. She then joined GE Lighting in 1988 in the Sourcing operation. Along the way, she held positions of increasing responsibility, such as Director of Sourcing for GE Lighting Europe, based in Budapest, Hungary, and in 1997, as General Manager of Worldwide Sourcing for the business, based in Cleveland. Sylvester also served as General Manager for Global High Intensity Discharge (HID) before being named President & CEO of GE Lighting Systems in Hendersonville, North Carolina, in 2000. She was then named President of the former GE Quartz in 2002, followed by the leadership role with GE Intelligent Platforms in 2006.

In addition to her GE leadership responsibilities, Sylvester was instrumental in helping to launch the GE Women’s Network in 1997, and has been an avid supporter ever since. She is on the Board of Governors for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and serves on the Board for United Way of Greater Cleveland.

Sylvester holds a B.S. Degree in Procurement and Production Management from Bowling Green State University and an MBA from Cleveland State University – both in Ohio.

Sylvester, her husband Mike, and two daughters reside in Moreland Hills, Ohio.