Editing General Electric (section)

==Corporate affairs==
[[File:GeneralElectricSign.jpg|thumb|right|A General Electric [[neon sign]]]]

In 1959, General Electric was accused of promoting the largest illegal cartel in the United States since the adoption of the [[Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890]] in order to maintain artificially high prices. In total, 29 companies and 45 executives would be convicted. Subsequent parliamentary inquiries revealed that "[[white-collar crime]]" was by far the most costly form of crime for the United States' finances.<ref>The American Way of Crime: From Salem to Watergate</ref>

GE is a multinational conglomerate headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.<ref name=10K2017>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/40545/000004054518000014/ge10-k2017.htm|title=US SEC: Form 10-K General Electric Company|publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]]|access-date=June 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224125706/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/40545/000004054518000014/ge10-k2017.htm|archive-date=February 24, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> However its main offices are located at [[30 Rockefeller Plaza]] at [[Rockefeller Center]] in [[New York City]], known now as the Comcast Building.{{update inline|date=May 2019}}<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=0000040545&owner=include&count=40|title = Company Search, EDGAR System, Securities and Exchange Commission|access-date = December 21, 2015|at = header|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160101021438/http://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=0000040545&owner=include&count=40|archive-date = January 1, 2016|url-status = live}}</ref> It was formerly known as the GE Building for the prominent GE logo on the roof; [[NBC]]'s headquarters and main studios are also located in the building. Through its RCA subsidiary, it has been associated with the center since its construction in the 1930s. GE moved its corporate headquarters from the GE Building on Lexington Avenue to [[Fairfield, Connecticut]] in 1974.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2015/06/8569598/ge-fumes-over-connecticut-tax-hike-new-york-calls|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812060907/http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2015/06/8569598/ge-fumes-over-connecticut-tax-hike-new-york-calls|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 12, 2015|title=As G.E. fumes over Connecticut tax hike, New York calls - Capital New York|date=August 12, 2015|access-date=December 27, 2018}}</ref> In 2016, GE announced a move to the [[South Boston Waterfront]] neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, partly as a result of an incentive package provide by state and city governments. The first group of workers arrived in the summer of 2016, and the full move will be completed by 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/01/13/general-electric-will-announce-tomorrow-that-has-selected-boston-for-global-headquarters-according-official-familiar-with-process/ZYZSu7GorfVTRXM2ZIaabJ/story.html|title=Boston lands new GE headquarters|newspaper=Boston Globe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202115504/https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/01/13/general-electric-will-announce-tomorrow-that-has-selected-boston-for-global-headquarters-according-official-familiar-with-process/ZYZSu7GorfVTRXM2ZIaabJ/story.html|archive-date=December 2, 2017|access-date=January 13, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mann |first1=Ted |last2=Kamp |first2=Jon |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/general-electric-plans-to-move-headquarters-to-boston-1452703676 |title=General Electric to Move Headquarters to Boston |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=January 13, 2016 |access-date=January 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113185153/http://www.wsj.com/articles/general-electric-plans-to-move-headquarters-to-boston-1452703676 |archive-date=January 13, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=GE Moves Headquarters to Boston |url=http://www.genewsroom.com/press-releases/ge-moves-headquarters-boston-282587 |publisher=General Electric |date=January 13, 2016 |access-date=September 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923022821/http://www.genewsroom.com/press-releases/ge-moves-headquarters-boston-282587 |archive-date=September 23, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{Update inline|date=February 2019}} Due to poor financial performance and corporate downsizing, GE sold the land it planned to build its new headquarters building on, instead choosing to occupy neighboring leased buildings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wbur.org/bostonomix/2019/05/09/general-electric-seaport-property-sale|title=GE Sells Fort Point HQ For $252 Million|website=wbur.org|date=May 9, 2019 |access-date=August 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902074327/https://www.wbur.org/bostonomix/2019/05/09/general-electric-seaport-property-sale|archive-date=September 2, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

GE's tax return is the largest return filed in the United States; the 2005 return was approximately 24,000 pages when printed out, and 237 megabytes when submitted electronically.<ref>{{cite press release |title=IRS e-file Moves Forward; Successfully Executes Electronic Filing of Nation's Largest Tax Return |publisher=United States Department of the Treasury—Internal Revenue Service |date=May 31, 2006 |url=https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-news/ir-06-084.pdf |access-date=December 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504201427/https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-news/ir-06-084.pdf |archive-date=May 4, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2011, the company spent more on U.S. [[lobbying]] than any other company.<ref name="Carney">{{Cite web |last=Carney |first=Tim |date=April 7, 2011 |title=Want to know how GE paid $0 income taxes? Think green. |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/want-to-know-how-ge-paid-0-income-taxes-think-green |access-date=September 3, 2020 |website=[[Washington Examiner]] |archive-date=February 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201023700/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/want-to-know-how-ge-paid-0-income-taxes-think-green |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2005, GE launched its "''Ecomagination''" initiative in an attempt to position itself as a "green" company.
GE is one of the biggest players in the wind power industry and is developing environment-friendly products such as hybrid locomotives, desalination and water reuse solutions, and photovoltaic cells. The company "plans to build the largest solar-panel-making factory in the U.S."<ref name=Carney/> and has set goals for its subsidiaries to lower their greenhouse gas emissions.<ref>{{cite press release|title=GE Launches Ecomagination to Develop Environmental Technologies; Company-Wide Focus on Addressing Pressing Challenges |publisher=General Electric |date=May 9, 2005 |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050509005663/en |access-date=January 15, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123134840/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050509005663/en |archive-date=January 23, 2012 }}</ref>

On May 21, 2007, GE announced it would sell its GE Plastics division to petrochemicals manufacturer SABIC for net proceeds of $11.6&nbsp;billion. The transaction took place on August 31, 2007, and the company name changed to SABIC Innovative Plastics, with Brian Gladden as CEO.<ref>{{cite news |last=Deutsch |first=Claudia |title=General Electric to Sell Plastics Division |work=The New York Times |date=May 22, 2007 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/22/business/22plastics.html |access-date=December 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417114603/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/22/business/22plastics.html/ |archive-date=April 17, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 2010, GE agreed to pay $23.4&nbsp;million to settle an SEC complaint without admitting or denying the allegations that two of its subsidiaries bribed Iraqi government officials to win contracts under the [[Oil-for-Food Programme|U.N. oil-for-food program]] between 2002 and 2003.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/27/AR2010072705785.html |title=GE to settle SEC charges of foreign bribery |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=January 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161219163159/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/27/AR2010072705785.html |archive-date=December 19, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 2017, GE announced that the company intends to close the [[Gender pay gap|gender gap]] by promising to hire and place 20,000 women in technical roles by 2020. The company is also seeking to have a 50:50 male-to-female [[Gender equality|gender representation]] in all [[entry-level]] technical programs.<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Reilly |first=Lara |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/ge-commits-to-placing-20000-women-in-technical-roles-by-2020-2017-2 |title='What if female scientists were celebrities?': GE says it will place 20,000 women in technical roles by 2020 |work=Business Insider |date=February 8, 2017 |access-date=February 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209035200/http://www.businessinsider.com/ge-commits-to-placing-20000-women-in-technical-roles-by-2020-2017-2 |archive-date=February 9, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2017, GE announced they would be closing research and development centers in Shanghai, Munich and Rio de Janeiro. The company spent $5&nbsp;billion on R&D in the last year.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gryta |first1=Thomas |last2=Lublin |first2=Joann S. |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/ges-new-chief-starts-making-cuts-starting-with-old-favorites-1508353939 |title=GE's New Chief Makes Cuts, Starting With Old Favorites |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=October 18, 2017 |access-date=October 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018230213/https://www.wsj.com/articles/ges-new-chief-starts-making-cuts-starting-with-old-favorites-1508353939 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On February 25, 2019, GE sold its diesel locomotive business to [[Wabtec]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://seekingalpha.com/article/4245730-general-electric-deed-done|title=General Electric: The Deed Is Done|first=Daniel|last=Jones|date=March 1, 2019|website=Seeking Alpha|access-date=August 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505054141/https://seekingalpha.com/article/4245730-general-electric-deed-done|archive-date=May 5, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

===CEO===
{{as of|2018|October|}}, [[John L. Flannery]] was replaced by [[H. Lawrence Culp Jr.|H. Lawrence "Larry" Culp Jr.]] as chairman and CEO, in a unanimous vote of the GE Board of Directors.<ref>{{cite web |title=H. LAWRENCE CULP, JR. NAMED CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF GE |work=GE Newsroom |publisher=General Electric |url=https://www.genewsroom.com/press-releases/h-lawrence-culp-jr-named-chairman-and-ceo-ge-284509 |date=October 1, 2018 |access-date=October 1, 2018  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001121240/https://www.genewsroom.com/press-releases/h-lawrence-culp-jr-named-chairman-and-ceo-ge-284509 |archive-date=October 1, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Charles A. Coffin]] (1913–1922)
* [[Owen D. Young]] (1922–1939, 1942–1945)
* [[Philip D. Reed]] (1940–1942, 1945–1958)
* [[Ralph J. Cordiner]] (1958–1963)
* Gerald L. Phillippe (1963–1972)
* [[Fred J. Borch]] (1967–1972)
* [[Reginald H. Jones]] (1972–1981)
* [[Jack Welch]] (1981–2001)
* [[Jeff Immelt]] (2001–2017)
* [[John L. Flannery]] (2017–2018)<ref>{{cite web |title=JOHN FLANNERY NAMED CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF GE |work=GE Investor Relations |publisher=General Electric |url=https://www.ge.com/investor-relations/sites/default/files/Press%20Release_GE%20succession_061217_0.pdf |date=June 12, 2017 |access-date=June 12, 2017  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112124524/https://www.ge.com/investor-relations/sites/default/files/Press%20Release_GE%20succession_061217_0.pdf |archive-date=January 12, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[H. Lawrence Culp Jr.]] (2018–2024)

===Corporate recognition and rankings===
In 2011, ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' ranked GE the sixth-largest firm in the U.S.,<ref name="Fortune 500: GE">{{cite news|url=http://fortune.com/fortune500/general-electric/|title=Fortune 500 2017|work=Fortune|access-date=June 14, 2017|year=2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614100930/http://fortune.com/fortune500/general-electric/|archive-date=June 14, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and the 14th-most profitable.<ref name="Fortune 500: IBM profit"/> Other rankings for 2011–2012 include the following:<ref name="Fast">{{cite web |url=http://rankingthebrands.com/Brand-detail.aspx?brandID=82 |title=GE rankings |publisher=Ranking the Brands |access-date=December 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603120405/http://www.rankingthebrands.com/Brand-detail.aspx?brandID=82 |archive-date=June 3, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* <nowiki>#</nowiki>18 company for leaders (''Fortune'')
* <nowiki>#</nowiki>82 green company (''[[Newsweek]]'')
* <nowiki>#</nowiki>91 most admired company (''Fortune'')
* <nowiki>#</nowiki>19 most innovative company (''[[Fast Company (magazine)|Fast Company]]'').

In 2012, GE's brand was valued at $28.8&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interbrand.com/en/best-global-brands/best-global-brands-2008/best-global-brands-2010.aspx |title=Best Global Brands Ranking for 2010 |publisher=Interbrand |access-date=February 15, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110212184731/http://www.interbrand.com/en/best-global-brands/best-global-brands-2008/best-global-brands-2010.aspx |archive-date=February 12, 2011 }}</ref> CEO [[Jeff Immelt]] had a set of changes in the presentation of the brand commissioned in 2004, after he took the reins as chairman, to unify the diversified businesses of GE.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Strategy, innovation, and change: challenges for management |date=2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-923990-0 |editor-last=Murray |editor-first=John A. |location=Oxford; New York |editor-last2=Markides |editor-first2=Constantinos |editor-last3=Galavan |editor-first3=Robert}}</ref>

Tom Geismar later stated that looking back at the logos of the 1910s, 1920s, and 1930s, one can clearly judge that they are old-fashioned. Chermayeff & Geismar, along with colleagues Bill Brown and Ivan Chermaev, created the modern 1980 logo.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chermayeff & Geismar logos {{!}} Geometric logo, Logo design inspiration, History design|url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/chermayeff-geismar-logos--549720698237459610/|access-date=2022-01-27|website=Pinterest|language=en|archive-date=January 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127102557/https://www.pinterest.com/pin/chermayeff-geismar-logos--549720698237459610/|url-status=live}}</ref> They, in turn, argued that even now the old logos look out of date, earlier they were good.<ref>{{Cite web|title=General Electric - Logo in EPS, PNG & JPG Formats|url=https://logoose.com/logo/General-Electric/40|access-date=2022-01-27|website=logoose.com|archive-date=January 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127101640/https://logoose.com/logo/General-Electric/40|url-status=live}}</ref> The changes included a new corporate color palette, small modifications to the GE logo, a new customized font (GE Inspira) and a new slogan, "Imagination at work", composed by David Lucas, to replace the slogan "[[We Bring Good Things to Life]]" used since 1979.<ref name="slogan">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/2003/01/16/cx_tm_0116video2.html|title=GE Drops Its Slogan|author=Tara Murphy|date=January 16, 2003|work=Forbes|access-date=August 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729124940/https://www.forbes.com/2003/01/16/cx_tm_0116video2.html|archive-date=July 29, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The standard requires many headlines to be lowercased and adds visual "white space" to documents and advertising. The changes were designed by [[Wolff Olins]] and are used on GE's marketing, literature, and website. In 2014, a second typeface family was introduced: GE Sans and Serif by Bold Monday, created under art direction by Wolff Olins.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boldmonday.com/custom/general-electric/|title=Bold Monday – independent font foundry of high quality type|website=Boldmonday.com|access-date=July 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722031557/https://www.boldmonday.com/custom/general-electric/|archive-date=July 22, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{as of|2016}}, GE had appeared on the [[Fortune 500]] list for 22 years and held the 11th rank.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://beta.fortune.com/fortune500/general-electric-11|title=General Electric|year=2015|publisher=[[Fortune 500]]|website=Beta.fortune.com|access-date=July 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709182309/http://beta.fortune.com/fortune500/general-electric-11|archive-date=July 9, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> GE was removed from the [[Dow Jones Industrial Average]] on June 28, 2018, after the value had dropped below 1% of the index's weight.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/dow-original-companies-2016-12 |title=GE is getting booted from the Dow Jones industrial average |last=Oyedele |first=Akin |date=June 20, 2018 |website=BusinessInsider.com |access-date=August 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803013955/https://www.businessinsider.com/dow-original-companies-2016-12 |archive-date=August 3, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>