After 15 years, Gary C. Wendt retired from GE Capital Services and is now Executive Managing Partner of Global Opportunity Advisors (GOA). GOA provides management to private equity funds which will invest in Japan and other opportunistic international markets.

Gary Wendt is widely seen as turning GE Capital into a financial services giant. GE Capital, wholly owned subsidiary of General Electric Company, is a diversified financial services company whose activities include equipment management, mid-market financing, specialized financing, specialty insurance and consumer services. GE is a diversified manufacturing, technology and services company with operations worldwide.

Mr. Wendt joined – what was then GE Credit – as Manager of Real Estate Financing in 1975. He assumed positions of increasing responsibility and in 1984 was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer, and in 1986 Chairman and CEO.

Under Mr. Wendt's direction, GE Capital became General Electric's largest business venture with activity generating 40% of GE's revenue and income. This famed and high-powered executive turned GE Capital into a world-renowned financial powerhouse. Sales and net income increased in excess of 17% annually to reach $48 billion and $3.8 billion respectively in 1998. During the ‘90’s the company expanded its Global activities into 45 countries (from one in 1988) producing $1.2 billion of net income on $18 billion of revenues in 1998. Productivity within GE Capital increased by at least 7% per annum during Mr. Wendt’s 15 year term as leader of GE Capital even though the number of employees increased from 7,000 to 81,000 – with 45,000 located outside the U.S. – during the period.

In addition to his activities with GOA, he presently serves as a Director of Sanchez Computer Associates, EXL Inc. and IXL Enterprises and as an advisory director of Internet Capital Group.

He is a member of the National Board of Governors Boys & Girls Clubs of America; Chairman of the 21st Century Challenge for the New York Metropolitan Region; Trustee of the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Stamford and Campaign Chairman of its Capital Fund Campaign; Member of the Board of Directors and past Chairman of the United Way of Tri-State and the Stamford United Way Campaigns; Past Director and Chairman of The Regional Plan Association; past Director and Chairman of the Southwestern Mica Commerce & Industry Association of Connecticut (SACIA); past Trustee of Outward Bound USA

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin and the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, Mr. Wendt has received numerous awards including the 1997 Boys Club of New York Harriman Award; the 1996 Outward Bound Corporate Award; the 1996 Heart of Gold Society Award; the Boys & Girls Clubs of America 1994 Herbert Hoover Humanitarian Award; the 1993 National Ethnic Coalition Organization’s Ellis Island Modal; the 1993 SACIA Walter H. Wheeler, Jr. Business Leadership Award; the 1990 Distinguished Service Citation from the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; the 1990 National Conference of Christians and Jews National Human Relations Award; the 1990 Outward Bound Corporate Leadership Award; the SACIA 1990 Excalibur Award for Leadership; the 1990 Regional Plan Association Leadership Award.

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