FAIRFIELD, CT - The General Electric Company today announced that Marc J. Saperstein has been named to the newly created role of vice president, corporate citizenship, to oversee GE's philanthropic and volunteer efforts.

Saperstein will oversee the GE Fund, GE's 50-year-old philanthropic foundation, as well as GE Elfun, GE's global organization of employees and retirees committed to improving communities through volunteerism. The GE family contributed more than $120 million to community and educational institutions last year.

In addition, Saperstein will help coordinate activities and liaise with other areas related to corporate citizenship, including communications, compliance, governance and employer of choice. He will report to Bill Conaty, senior vice president for human resources.

"Marc has a tremendous background in a variety of human resource jobs across the company," GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt said. "GE people are incredibly generous with their time and resources, and Marc is the right person to help focus and fortify their great work in communities around the world."

Saperstein, 53, has been with GE for nearly 30 years, most recently in senior human resources positions. Since 1999, Saperstein has been senior vice president of human resources at GE Capital. Prior to that, he was manager, global human resources at GE Medical Systems, where he was named a GE company officer in 1998. Saperstein earned a bachelor's degree in history and a master's in organizational behavior from the State University of New York at Binghamton.

Earlier this month, Saperstein earned a GE Chairman's Leadership Award for his outstanding efforts in 2002 to promote diversity throughout GE Capital.

In assuming responsibility for the GE Fund and GE Elfun, Saperstein will succeed Joyce Hergenhan who will retire from GE later this year after 21 years of service as a company officer.

The appointment is effective immediately.

GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified technology and services company dedicated to creating products that make life better. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, television programming and plastics, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. To learn more about GE, the GE Fund and Elfun, visit www.ge.com.

General Electric Company

General Electric Company

GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified technology and financial services company. GE operates in more than 150 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. GE works on things that matter. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE's approach to corporate citizenship and to business are driven by a common understanding of the role we can play….the best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest global challenges.

More from General Electric Company