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"Diversity is a strategic imperative for GE. Every day we get better at creating opportunities for the best and brightest from around the world to work at GE and live out their dreams."

Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO
GE

Lloyd Trotter
2001 Achievement Award

A new millennium leader is able to produce not just under the best conditions but any condition. The highest-ranking African-American executive at one of the world's best-run companies, Lloyd Trotter is consistently demonstrating grace under pressure and leadership in the midst of extraordinary circumstances.

Mr. Trotter joined GE in 1970 as a service engineer and rose through the ranks under the guidance of corporate leadership guru Jack Welch. As President and CEO of GE Industrial Systems, he manages a multi-billion dollar company employing more than 40,000 workers in 90 major manufacturing facilities and 250 sales and service offices worldwide. Widely respected for his ability to hit GE's aggressive annual earnings targets and grow the company's market share, the company has even named a cost-saving process after him, the "Trotter Matrix."

Along with his sound business acumen, one of Mr. Trotter's enduring legacies at GE is his leadership in developing African-American managers. He has built diversity into GE through activities such as the African American Forum, which he founded. The Forum annually convenes some 2,000 African-American managers worldwide for workshops on business growth and personal development. Mr. Trotter also spearheaded GE's support of Colin Powell's "America's Promise" campaign to provide one million hours of volunteer service annually. GE met their goal a year ahead of schedule.

A 1972 graduate of Cleveland State University, Mr. Trotter was recently honored by his alma mater as a Distinguished Alumnus.