GE and Danaher Announce Major Leadership Transitions and Strategic Realignment

Editor: Chocolate

After 24 years of service, I have decided to leave.

NO.1

Xiao Ying Duan Leaves GE

On May 6, GE’s official website announced that Ms. Duan Xiaoying, current President and CEO of International Operations, has decided to leave the company to embark on a new chapter in her life.

It also announced the appointment of Mr. Nabil Habayeb as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of International Operations, and Mr. Xiang Weiming as the new President of GE China, reporting to Mr. Habayeb. The appointments took effect on June 1.

According to reports, Nabil joined GE in the United States after graduating from school and has been with the company for 37 years. He has held various business and regional leadership roles in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Currently, he serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Middle East and is a board member of multiple educational institutions and companies.

Wei-Ming Xiang has been with GE for 28 years, holding leadership roles in marketing and sales, business development, and other areas across various business units in the United States and China. He will continue to serve as President of GE Aviation Greater China while concurrently assuming the role of President of GE China.

Xiang Weiming graduated from Northwestern Polytechnical University in China with a major in Aero-Engine Design. Before joining GE, he worked at the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Ltd. (AVIC).

Regarding Duan Xiaoying’s departure, Larry Culp, Chairman and CEO of GE, stated that during her 24-year tenure at GE, she delivered strong business growth across multiple vertical business units and regional markets.

“She possesses strategic vision and leadership. Under her guidance, GE established significant partnerships with customers and governments in China and other emerging markets, and deepened the localization of its business across all segments of the value chain,” said Larry Culp.

NO.2

Duan Xiaoying: GE's First Female CEO, Who Once Held Multiple Roles

Duan Xiaoying previously held multiple roles at GE and has now decided to leave the company.

In January 2019, Duan Xiaoying held multiple positions, serving as GE’s Senior Vice President globally, President and CEO of GE International, President and CEO of GE China, and President and CEO of GE Healthcare China.

According to GE’s official website, Duan Xiaoying joined GE’s Corporate Audit Department in 1996. In 2000, she was transferred to GE Plastics, where she successively served as Director of Six Sigma Quality Management for the Asia-Pacific region, Sales Director for Greater China of the Polycarbonate Resins business, Marketing Director for Greater China of GE Plastics, and Marketing Director for the Asia-Pacific region. In 2005, she was promoted to General Manager of the Asia-Pacific Polymer Division of GE Plastics.

In 2006, Duan Xiaoying became the President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Advanced Materials Group for Greater China, and subsequently served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Momentive Performance Materials Inc. for the Asia-Pacific region, which was spun off and restructured from GE.

In early 2010, Duan Xiaoying returned to GE. On October 18, 2010, GE Healthcare announced the appointment of Duan Xiaoying as President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Healthcare China, responsible for formulating and implementing the overall strategy for all of GE Healthcare’s businesses in China.

On July 3, 2014, GE announced the appointment of Duan Xiaoying as President and Chief Executive Officer of GE China. She is the first locally sourced CEO and the first female CEO in GE China’s history.

Starting in July 2019, Duan Xiaoying’s position underwent another change.

Ciel Blue Medical Devices confirmed with the China Communications Department of GE Healthcare that on July 8, 2019, there was a change in the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Healthcare China. Zhang Yihao, former Senior Vice President of Danaher Corporation's Dental Products Platform and President of China and Asia-Pacific Region, succeeded Duan Xiaoying.

After Duan Xiaoying was succeeded by Zhang Yihao as President and CEO of GE Healthcare China, she assumed the role of President and CEO of GE International.

Now, other positions held by Duan Xiaoying are also being filled by successors. As stated in the announcement on GE’s official website, Duan Xiaoying has decided to leave the company to embark on a new chapter in her life.

NO.3

Danaher Announces Major Personnel Changes

On May 6, Danaher’s official website also announced that the company would undergo a CEO succession.

Danaher Announces CEO Succession

According to the official website, on September 1, 2020, following the retirement of Thomas P. Joyce Jr., President and CEO of Danaher, current Executive Vice President Rainer M. Blair will succeed him as President and CEO of Danaher. Joyce will remain with Danaher as a Senior Advisor until February 28, 2021.

According to reports, Thomas P. Joyce Jr. began his career at Danaher in 1989 and has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since September 2014.

In 2010, Rainer M. Blair joined Danaher as President of Videojet for North America and Europe, and was promoted to President of SCIEX in 2011.

In 2014, Rainer M. Blair was promoted to Group Executive, and in 2017, he was elevated to Executive Vice President, with full responsibility for Danaher’s Life Sciences platform.

Thomas P. Joyce Jr. stated that under the leadership of Rainer M. Blair, the annual revenue of Danaher’s Life Sciences platform has increased from $2.4 billion in 2015 to approximately $10 billion today. He also helped lead numerous company integration efforts, including the acquisitions of Sciex, Pall, IDT, Phenomenex, and Cytiva.

It is reported that in 2018, Danaher’s business comprised four major segments: Dental, Life Sciences, Diagnostics, and Environmental & Applied Solutions, accounting for 14%, 33%, 31%, and 22% of total revenue, respectively. In 2018, Danaher’s total revenue was approximately $19.9 billion.

In 2019, Danaher's dental business, one of its four core segments, was spun off and conducted an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States. According to annual report data, Danaher's revenue reached $17.91 billion in 2019, a year-over-year decrease of 9.96%.