GE's Changing of the Guard

Originally Published MX November/December 2001

COVER STORY

GE's Changing of the Guard

Joseph M. Hogan, president and CEO of GE Medical Systems, rises to the challenge of leading one of industry's giants.

Interview by Greg Freiherr

For Joseph M. Hogan, speed is a way of life. In 16 years, Hogan has ascended from a marketing and product management position with GE Plastics (Pittsfield, MA) to being president and CEO of GE Medical Systems (GEMS; Waukesha, WI). Before taking the helm at GEMS, Hogan had only nine months following his April appointment as vice president of global e-business to get a handle on the company. One month later, he was named executive vice president and chief operating officer.

The rapid succession of appointments was part of a grooming process. Hogan had been handpicked as the successor to Jeffrey Immelt, who served as president and CEO of GEMS from 1997 to September 2001. Immelt was the odds-on favorite to succeed GE's legendary leader Jack Welch, and as Immelt rose, so would Hogan. The pieces fell into place in late November 2000, when Immelt was named to replace Welch and Hogan