FAIRFIELD, Conn.--06 October 2008-- GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt today named Lorraine Bolsinger president and CEO of GE Aviation Systems, LLC. Immelt also announced that Steve Fludder has been named head of ecomagination, GE's sustainable business strategy, succeeding Bolsinger.
Bolsinger, 49, is a 27-year veteran of GE and since 2005 has served as vice president of ecomagination, which in 2007 reached $14 billion in revenues and $70 billion in orders.
"Over three years, Lorraine Bolsinger grew a strategic initiative to a scale of remarkable substance and meaning with GE customers, employees and global stakeholders," Immelt said. "Lorraine's visionary leadership, enthusiasm and keen customer focus, combined with expertise in aviation, will now propel our growing Aviation Systems business to new heights."
Bolsinger joined GE in 1981 on the Technical Marketing Program with assignments in Steam and Gas Turbine Sales and Application Engineering. She then joined Aerospace where she held several project management roles. She also brings experience at Aviation Military Systems and Energy aeroderivatives, where she rose to general manager. In 1996 she rejoined Military Systems as vice president and general manager, Military Marketing & Marine Engines. In 1999 she was promoted to vice president, Product Management, for Services, proceeding to vice president and general manager, Market Development & Sales, for Services, and, in 2003, was named vice president, Marketing, for Aviation.
Bolsinger is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Biomechanical Engineering.
Fludder, 48, is a 25-year GE veteran and since 2006 has led global sales for GE Water, based in Dubai.
"Steve is the epitome of today's global GE leader, having started up and grown multiple GE businesses across Asia and the Middle East, where GE is seeing massive growth," Immelt said. "Steve is uniquely suited to lead ecomagination. With his broad career spanning our portfolio of leading technologies and his deep experience driving partnerships and growth in emerging markets Steve is the right leader to take ecomagination global to emerging markets that need sustainable solutions more than ever."
Fludder joined GE Aircraft Engines as a design engineer and rose to lead GE's regional jet engine program. In 1994, Fludder moved to Asia for a series of start-up and growth roles across multiple GE businesses. In 1994 he launched GE Aircraft Engine's Marine & Industrial business across Asia. In 1998 he led GE Energy Services' business in north Asia. Fludder was appointed General Manager of GE Energy Services for the Northeast USA in 1999. He returned to Shanghai in 2002 to lead the start up of GE Wind Energy in Asia. In 2003 he was promoted to CEO of GE Energy in China, based in Beijing, and led the phenomenal growth of GE's Energy and Oil & Gas businesses in this strategic market. In 2006 he was appointed Vice President of sales for GE Water & Process Technologies, and in 2007 he relocated the global commercial headquarters of this business to Dubai to drive international growth for this new GE platform.
Fludder received Bachelor of Science degrees from Providence College and Columbia University, and a Master of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. GE is Imagination at Work. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com/.
About GE Aviation Systems
GE Aviation Systems is a leading global provider of electrical power systems, avionics, actuation and landing gear, aerostructures and propeller systems to the builders and operators of military and civil aircraft, from large transports to fighters, UAVs to armored vehicles, and from helicopters to regional and business jets. A global Systems Customer Services network supports all of GE's products and is tailored to fit the needs of our customers and maximize aircraft availability. Aviation Systems is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio and employs 10,000 people at manufacturing, repair and overhaul facilities around the world.
Rick Kennedy
GE Aviation
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