John Francis "Jack" Welch Jr. (1935-2020) was an American business executive best known for his transformative role as Chairman and CEO of General Electric (GE) from 1981 to 2001. During his tenure, he grew GE from a $14 billion national company into a $490 billion global powerhouse. Welch's leadership was marked by a relentless drive, innovative management techniques, and a focus on making GE number one or two in every market it participated in. He earned the moniker "Neutron Jack" for his rigorous performance management system, which included eliminating the bottom 10% of employees annually.
Welch joined GE in 1960 as a junior chemical engineer after earning a PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the company's youngest CEO in 1981. After retiring from GE, Welch remained active in the business world as an advisor, author, and speaker. He co-authored a column for BusinessWeek with his wife, Suzy Welch, taught at MIT Sloan School of Management, and founded the Jack Welch Management Institute in 2009. Welch's legacy includes his focus on shareholder value, Six Sigma methodology, and a cut-throat, but effective, management style.