Jeffrey R. Immelt
Jeffrey R. Immelt
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Jeffrey Rogers Immelt is the former Chairman and CEO of General Electric (GE), a multinational conglomerate headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: February 19, 1956 (age 67)
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Nationality: American
Profession(s): Business executive, investor
Early Life and Background
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Jeffrey R. Immelt was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to a family with strong business roots. His father, William S. Immelt, was a GE executive who later became the company's vice chairman. This early exposure to the corporate world likely influenced Immelt's future career choices.
Immelt earned his Bachelor of Science degree in applied mathematics from Duke University in 1978 and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1980. He began his career at Procter & Gamble (P&G), where he worked for over a decade, holding various leadership positions within the company's healthcare and consumer goods divisions.
Major Accomplishments
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In 1994, Immelt joined GE as the head of P&G's corporate development team. This move marked the beginning of his illustrious career at GE. He quickly rose through the ranks, serving as CEO from 2001 to 2017. During his tenure, the company's market value more than doubled.
Some of Immelt's most significant accomplishments include:
Transformational restructuring: Immelt oversaw a major overhaul of GE's business operations, shifting focus towards faster-growing industries like healthcare and renewable energy.
Strategic acquisitions: He led several high-profile deals, including the acquisition of Alstom's power division for $10 billion in 2015.
Global expansion: Under Immelt's leadership, GE expanded its presence in emerging markets, such as China and India.Notable Works or Actions
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Immelt has been an active participant in various business forums and organizations. He has served on the boards of several companies, including P&G, IBM, and Duke University. In 2017, he joined the board of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.
In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Immelt has demonstrated a commitment to social responsibility through initiatives like GE's "Ecomagination" program, which aims to reduce the company's environmental impact.
Impact and Legacy
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Jeffrey R. Immelt's tenure as CEO marked a pivotal period in GE's history. His leadership helped shape the company into a more diversified, global entity with a focus on innovation and sustainability. While he faced criticism for some of his decisions, such as the company's struggles during the 2008 financial crisis, his efforts to transform GE have had a lasting impact.
Immelt's legacy extends beyond his time at GE. He has inspired business leaders worldwide through his commitment to growth, innovation, and corporate responsibility. His experiences and insights continue to be sought after by industry professionals and scholars alike.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Jeffrey R. Immelt is widely quoted and remembered for several reasons:
Transformational leadership: He has been credited with successfully navigating GE through periods of significant change, including the 2008 financial crisis.
Visionary thinking: His focus on emerging industries and sustainable growth has set a new standard for corporate leaders.
Inspirational figure: Immelt's commitment to social responsibility and innovation continues to inspire business leaders worldwide.
Quotes by Jeffrey R. Immelt
Jeffrey R. Immelt's insights on:
Every leader needs to clearly explain the top three things the organization is working on. If you can't, then you're not leading well.
I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and my parents are really right wingers. My dad watches, like, five or six hours of 'Fox News' every day and stuff like that.
If the only common thread you have as an industrial company is the fact that you think you’re well managed, you can still be a pretty good company, but you’re not going to be a dominant company, a competitive company over time.
People ought to invest in us because they like our company and the way they run it. We still do quarterly earnings guidance, but we tell people openly that they ought to look at the company for the long term and that’s how they ought to invest.
The most important thing I’ve learned since becoming CEO is context. It’s how your company fits in with the world and how you respond to it.
Every leader needs to clearly explain the top three things the organization is working on. If you can’t, you are not leading well.
The best thing you can give as a leader is a reason to trust. People want to trust. They’re hungry for it. But they’re selective. They’ll only give it to a motivator, a communicator, a teacher, a real person. Someone who in good times and bad always does the right thing.
Seeing people in person is a big part of how you drive any change process. You have to show people a positive view of the future and say “we can do it”
