GE Separates Lighting from Industrial in Reorganization, Moves Industrial to Atlanta

Clarification: GE Industrial Solutions will continue to be headquartered in Plainville, Conn., but will now be reporting to GE Energy in Atlanta.

After considering a sale or spin-off of its Louisville, Ky.-based Consumer & Industrial division, General Electric Co., Fairfield, Conn., has changed course and realigned some of the units to better position them for growth. The change, which includes moving its industrial operations to GE Energy in Atlanta, took effect Jan. 1.

GE Lighting remains in Louisville and now falls under a new business called GE Home & Business Solutions, led by GE Senior Vice President Charlene Begley, who reports directly to GE Chairman Jeff Immelt. The business unit includes both the appliances and lighting businesses — operating under the name GE Appliances and Lighting. GE Home & Business Solutions also will include GE Security and GE Intelligent Platforms. Jim Campbell, president and chief executive of C&I, will continue to lead GE Appliances and Lighting and its 27,000 employees worldwide.

The company said it decided to keep the C&I operations and refocus them on energy-efficient products.

“The new alignment provides greater high-level leadership focus on Appliances and Lighting with the goal of accelerating and broadening the growth plans for the business, including looking at actions and investments that could lead to greater leadership in energy-efficient appliances, the smart home and in the dramatically changed lighting industry,” said GE spokeswoman Kim Freeman.

The Industrial segment will be merged with GE Energy's Industrial Services operation in Atlanta to form a new unit called Industrial Solutions. Combined, the new business will seek to offer a more complete package of product and services to industrial and commercial customers with much greater global reach, the company said.

“This move is consistent with GE's strategy of aligning its businesses into an organizational structure that simplifies the company and positions businesses for growth and efficiency,” Freeman said. “The Industrial operation brings to Energy a strong array of low- and medium-voltage products, strong customer relationships and an expanding global reach.”

GE Industrial has approximately 11,000 global employees, 43 plants and distribution centers that will move to GE Energy.