People: General Electric Company (GE)

Michael A. Neal is Vice Chairman of General Electric Company; Chairman, GE Capital Services, Inc. With assets in excess of US$250 billion and net income of $5.6 billion in 2006, GE Commercial Finance is one of GE's largest "growth engines" and one of the world's largest and most profitable finance organizations. He is recognized for planning and implementing core organic growth strategies, and building GE Commercial Finance around the world. Neal joined GE in 1979, working on the company's industrial side. In 1987, he was named vice president and general manager of Vendor Financial Services and, just three years later, became general manager of Commercial Equipment Finance. Under his leadership, CEF became the world's largest supplier of middle-market financing and one of GE's most profitable businesses. Neal was a GE Capital executive vice president from 1994 through 1999, a period of enormous growth in GE's financial service businesses. In 2000, he was named president and chief operating officer of GE Capital. In 2001, he led the acquisition of Heller Financial Services, which at $20 billion in assets, was GE Capital's largest. He became President and CEO of GE Commercial Finance, based in Stamford, Connecticut, USA, in 2002. In 2005, Neal was named vice chairman of General Electric. GE Commercial Finance, with more than $250 billion in assets, offers businesses of all sizes an array of financial services and products worldwide. With particular expertise in the mid-market segment, GE Commercial Finance provides loans, operating leases, financing programs and other services. It also offers loans and financing leases for capital assets, including marine fleets, industrial facilities and equipment, and commercial and residential real estate. Commercial Finance also offers loans to, and investments in, public and private entities in many other industries. Mike Neal is a 1975 graduate from the Georgia Institute of Technology.