Reginald H. Jones

Reginald H. Jones (11 July 1917 – 30 December 2003) was the chairman and CEO of General Electric from 1972 to 1981. Biography Jones was born in Stoke-on-Trent, England, United Kingdom. After graduating from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a brother of Phi Sigma Kappa, Jones joined the GE's Business Training Course in 1939. He spent his entire career with GE. In 1968, Jones became the company's chief financial officer, and was elected senior vice-president two years later, in 1970. He attained the top spot in 1972, serving as CEO until 1981. He was awarded the Vermilye Medal in 1978. Jones selected his successor, Jack Welch, based on the outcome of a succession contest. Jones' own account of that contest can be heard in an interview conducted with him by Prof. Gerald Zahavi (U-Albany, SUNY).