Dave Calhoun
Encyclopedia
David L. Calhoun is the Chief Executive Officer of The Nielsen Company (formerly VNU Group B.V.) He was appointed to this role in August 2006 and is based in Connecticut
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Prior to joining Nielsen, Calhoun served as Vice Chairman of General Electric Company and President & Chief Executive Officer, GE Infrastructure. Before that, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Aircraft Engines; President and Chief Executive Officer of Employers Reinsurance Corporation; President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Lighting; President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Transportation Systems; and Chief Executive Officer of GE Transportation.
Calhoun graduated from Virginia Tech in 1979, where he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon
fraternity. Joining GE upon graduation, he completed the GE Financial Management Program, and in 1981 joined the GE Corporate Audit Staff. He held positions of increasing responsibility, and in 1986 was named Manager of Programs and Planning for the GE Corporate Audit Staff.
After managing GE Capital marketing programs for leveraged buyouts, Dave was appointed staff executive at the GE Corporate executive office in 1989, and later that year moved to GE Plastics, where he was named Manager of Marketing for the Americas.
He subsequently was named Vice President of GE Corporate Audit Staff and was elected an officer of General Electric Company. In 1994, he rejoined GE Plastics, as President of the Pacific region.
Appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Transportation Systems in August 1995, Calhoun was then named President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Lighting in 1997. In 1999 he was named President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Employers Reinsurance Company. He joined GE Aircraft Engines in July 2000 and was named President and Chief Executive Officer in December 2000.
Dave is the co-author of a book with Rick Kash titled, How Companies Win. He also sits on the Board of Directors of The Boeing Company, Medtronic, Inc. and Caterpillar, and is a member of Virginia Tech’s Pamplin Advisory Council, which advises the university on student and alumni issues.
In December 2003 he was named President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Transportation. He was appointed GE Vice Chairman and President and CEO of GE Infrastructure, the largest of six GE business units, in July 2005.
Dave is the co-author of a book with Rick Kash titled, How Companies Win.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
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Prior to joining Nielsen, Calhoun served as Vice Chairman of General Electric Company and President & Chief Executive Officer, GE Infrastructure. Before that, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Aircraft Engines; President and Chief Executive Officer of Employers Reinsurance Corporation; President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Lighting; President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Transportation Systems; and Chief Executive Officer of GE Transportation.
Calhoun graduated from Virginia Tech in 1979, where he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon is a fraternity founded at Yale College in 1844 by 15 men of the sophomore class who had not been invited to join the two existing societies...
fraternity. Joining GE upon graduation, he completed the GE Financial Management Program, and in 1981 joined the GE Corporate Audit Staff. He held positions of increasing responsibility, and in 1986 was named Manager of Programs and Planning for the GE Corporate Audit Staff.
After managing GE Capital marketing programs for leveraged buyouts, Dave was appointed staff executive at the GE Corporate executive office in 1989, and later that year moved to GE Plastics, where he was named Manager of Marketing for the Americas.
He subsequently was named Vice President of GE Corporate Audit Staff and was elected an officer of General Electric Company. In 1994, he rejoined GE Plastics, as President of the Pacific region.
Appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Transportation Systems in August 1995, Calhoun was then named President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Lighting in 1997. In 1999 he was named President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Employers Reinsurance Company. He joined GE Aircraft Engines in July 2000 and was named President and Chief Executive Officer in December 2000.
Dave is the co-author of a book with Rick Kash titled, How Companies Win. He also sits on the Board of Directors of The Boeing Company, Medtronic, Inc. and Caterpillar, and is a member of Virginia Tech’s Pamplin Advisory Council, which advises the university on student and alumni issues.
In December 2003 he was named President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Transportation. He was appointed GE Vice Chairman and President and CEO of GE Infrastructure, the largest of six GE business units, in July 2005.
Dave is the co-author of a book with Rick Kash titled, How Companies Win.