GE names national executives in U.S., Canada for its Trailer Fleet Services business

GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, OCTOBER 30, 2006-GE has promoted Brent Russell, of Charlotte, NC, to the role of national sales vice president for the company's Trailer Fleet Services business in the U.S., and appointed Bill Thomas of Mississauga, Ontario, as General Manager for the company's Canada business. Both will report to Bob Williams, senior vice-president of sales.

Brent Russell -- Russell formerly held a similar role for the Eastern Division of Trailer Fleet Services, and will now have increased responsibility for the entire region-based sales organization in the United States, including six regional sales managers and six regional market development managers. Russell is based in Charlotte, NC, and joined GE in 1991 with the GE Plastics - Polymerland business in Huntersville, NC, and later worked for the Company in Tampa, Fla. and Phoenix, Ariz. He held a series of sales and marketing positions of increasing scope, including field marketing leader for the southeast U.S.

In 1999, Russell joined the former GE Capital Fleet Services business in Pittsburgh, PA, as a regional sales manager and moved to Trailer Fleet Services in May 2002 as regional sales manager for the southeast. Russell earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Communications from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, and is a Six Sigma Black Belt.

Bill Thomas -- As national executive in Canada, Thomas will have responsibility for both sales and operations across the branch network of Trailer Fleet Services in the country. Bill joined GE in 1995, and comes to his new role with a wealth of experience in business development and sales management in both Canada and the U.S.

As Vice President for Core Sales & Business Development with GE Capital Solutions Vendor Financial Services division, Bill's team grew the core business across Canada by increasing customer touch time, structuring deals, aggressive use of GE cross-selling, investing in sales digitization, and productivity initiatives. Earlier, Bill was the vice president of Sales for GE Capital Fleet Services in Canada, and spent two years at Fleet's headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minn., successfully growing and managing their truck and trailer leasing and services business in the eastern U.S.

Bill earned a B.A. degree in History and Political Science from the University of Guelph, and a B.A. degree in Business Administration from the University of Windsor. He is a certified Six Sigma Green Belt, and has earned a number of business performance awards. Prior to joining GE, Bill also held a number of sales and marketing positions with Ryder Truck and Michelin Tire.

About GE's Asset Intelligence and Trailer Fleet Services

GE's Trailer Fleet Services business (formerly known as Transport International Pool, or TIP), is based in Wayne, Pa., and is a single-source provider for all aspects of trailer fleet management. For nearly 50 years it has been a recognized leader in over-the-road trailer solutions, which today includes everything from leasing, renting, financial services, insurance, maintenance, remarketing and asset tracking. GE's Trailer Fleet Services business has 135,000 over-the-road trailer assets, and operates a North American network of 100 branch locations, staffed by a sales and operations team of 900 employees. Its website is www.trailerservices.com.

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MEDIA CONTACTS FOR MORE INFORMATION:

GE, Trailer Fleet Services, Wayne, PA
Patrick Brennan, Media Relations Manager
484-254-0127 or patrick.brennan@ge.com