FAIRFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2003--The General Electric Company announced today the appointment of three senior business leaders to new assignments.
-- Yoshiaki Fujimori, 51, has been named President and CEO, GE Asia responsible for working on behalf of all GE businesses to expand customer relationships and to develop new business markets across Asia. He will be based in Tokyo, Japan. Since May 2001, Fujimori has been President and CEO of GE Plastics. -- John Krenicki, 40, has been named President and CEO of GE Plastics, a global manufacturer of high-performance engineering thermoplastics with more than $5 billion in revenues and 11,000 employees worldwide. Krenicki will be based at Plastics headquarters in Pittsfield, Mass. He has been President and CEO of GE Transportation Systems since June 2000. -- Charlene Begley, 36, has been named President and CEO of GE Transportation Systems, a global supplier to rail, transit and mining industries with more than $2 billion in revenues and 8,000 employees worldwide. Begley will be based at Transportation headquarters in Erie, Penn. She has been President and CEO of GE-Fanuc Automation since September 2001.
"The capabilities of these leaders superbly fit the needs of these positions," said GE Chairman and CEO Jeffrey R. Immelt, to whom they report.
"Yoshiaki Fujimori's strong business and customer-development skills can work for us now across Asia, with its diverse market challenges and specific customer needs. Fuji's Asian perspective, combined with his global experience, will serve GE well as we continue to grow in this important region of the world. We created a similar executive role in Europe, Middle East and Africa over a year ago with the appointment of Nani Beccalli, which has proven to be an excellent resource for our customers and businesses.
"John Krenicki returns to Plastics with more than a dozen years of experience in this industry that is now facing some of its toughest pricing and technology challenges in decades. At Transportation Systems, John led operational efficiency while driving tremendous technology development and services growth. I am confident he will help GE Plastics customers meet their changing needs around the globe, and allow GE to continue as a global leader in this business.
"Charlene Begley takes the helm of Transportation with a keen sense of the industry, especially in how to serve the quality requirements of our customers. Charlene has proven to be a skilled operating executive whose experience, most recently in the software and technology-driven automation business, will be a real asset for future growth. She is a strong, energizing leader, and GE is fortunate to have her lead Transportation Systems."
Yoshiaki Fujimori joined GE Japan in October 1986 as Manager, Business Development. From 1988, he held successive positions in GE Medical Systems including General Manager of Nuclear Medicine, CT and MR. He was named President and CEO, GE Medical Systems-Asia and a Company Officer in 1997. Prior to joining GE, Fujimori spent 11 years with Nissho Iwai Corporation as an analyst and manager. He received a bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Tokyo in 1975, and holds an MBA from the Carnegie-Mellon Graduate School of Business.
John Krenicki joined GE's Technical Marketing Program in 1984 after graduating with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Connecticut. He held a number of progressive leadership roles within GE Plastics, Silicones and Structured Products, including General Sales Manager for GE Plastics Structured Products and European Commercial Director for GE Silicones. From 1997, he served as the CEO of GE-Bayer Silicones (a GE joint venture) in Erkarth, Germany. In 1999, he was named a GE Company Officer and became Vice President and General Manager of the Americas for GE Lighting. Prior to his current position, John was Vice President and General Manager of GE Superabrasives in Worthington, OH. Krenicki also earned a master of science degree in Management from Purdue University.
Charlene Begley joined the GE Financial Management Program at GE Transportation Systems after graduating from the University of Vermont in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. She joined the Corporate Audit staff in 1990. In 1994, Begley joined GE Capital Mortgage Services as Vice President of Operations. She was named Manager, Quality for GE Transportation Systems in 1995 and Chief Financial Officer in 1997. In 1998, she joined GE Plastics as Director of Finance for the European operations. She was appointed Vice President, Corporate Audit Staff in 1999, and became the youngest Company Officer in GE's history at the age of 32.
GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified technology and services company dedicated to creating products that make life better. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, television programming and plastics, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com.
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