GE loves to boast that more than half its revenues come from outside the U.S. So it's no surprise that its youngest division chief ever is from Italy. The first non-American to run the company's $5 billion transportation business was personally tapped by CEO Jeff Immelt last July to head the business, based in Erie, Pa. (it makes locomotives and large vehicle engines) -- a role long considered a stepping stone to greater things within GE.

Mentor: Paolo Fresco, former top executive of GE International and chairman of Fiat.

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