We want to create a simpler, more efficient business that will be competitive across all product lines.
Jeff Immelt, GE Chairman and CEO

GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt announced today that the Company will combine its GE Appliances and GE Lighting businesses into a single business to be called GE Consumer Products.

"GE has a rich heritage of providing customers with essential, inventive home products," Immelt said. "Because Appliances and Lighting have powerful connections with similar consumer bases, we believe they will now be able to grow more successfully together than either would on its own.

"This reorganization will enable Lighting and Appliances to provide more cost-effective and pointed approaches to supporting all of our customers needs," said Immelt. "We want to create a simpler, more efficient business that will be competitive across all product lines. By taking out administrative costs, we will be able to put that money back into investing in new technologies and building greater brand awareness.

"There is significant consolidation taking place in the retail industry, and our strategic move will create a more focused team that can better serve major retail customers," he continued. "At the same time, GE will create enhanced capabilities to better serve our important commercial customers from the home builder channel in Appliances to many highly valued commercial and industrial customers in Lighting."

GE Consumer Products, with annual revenues of more than $8 billion, will be headquartered in Louisville, KY, and maintain a substantial business presence in Cleveland, OH. James P. Campbell, currently President and CEO of GE Appliances, has been named the President and CEO of GE Consumer Products. Jack Fish, currently Vice President of Global Manufacturing for GE Lighting, will become Chief Operating Officer of Lighting and Area Executive in Cleveland for GE Consumer Products, reporting to Campbell. Matthew J. Espe, Pres ident and CEO of GE Lighting, is leaving GE to become head of IKON Office Solutions.

The changes are effective immediately. GE will begin to consolidate Appliances and Lighting operations around the world where it makes most sense, especially in areas of administration and retail services.

Campbell has been President and CEO of GE Appliances since April 2001.

“Jim Campbell’s experience over 20 years with GE in retail sales, marketing and business operations has helped lead Appliances to renewed growth and makes him the ideal person to take the GE Consumer Product team in exciting new directions," said Immelt.

"The Lighting and Appliances teams are to be commended for their outstanding efforts in navigating very competitive global industries," continued Immelt. "Our goal now is to combine the rich talents of these two businesses into a unified effort that will extend our leadership position and profitability."

In the past three years, Appliances and Lighting have introduced many innovative products, including the award-winning GE Profile AdvantiumTM oven, GE Profile ArcticaTM refrigerator, 350-watt ConstantColorTMCMH SPXX commercial lighting and the GE RevealTMlight bulb.