VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, MI - GE has announced the appointment of Vic Bhagat, 44, as site leader of GE’s Advanced Manufacturing and Software Technology Center -- a state-of-the-art information technology and research and development facility now open in Van Buren Township, MI.

“Vic is an outstanding leader with the technical depth and expertise needed to lead GE’s new technology center and help bring together talented, imaginative technical experts to drive innovation across GE," says Gary Reiner, GE senior vice president and chief information officer. “Vic brings more than 20 years of experience in technology solutions, innovation and global leadership to the role.”

Since the announcement of the new center in June 2009, GE has hired more than 20 employees and is expected to hire nearly 80 senior information technologists and engineers by the close of 2009. The center will expand to more than 1,100 GE employees over the next few years.

The center also will include a GE research and development facility that is part of GE’s Global Research network. It will house scientists and engineers developing next generation manufacturing technologies for GE’s leading renewable energy, aircraft engine, gas turbine and other high-technology products. Such work will include development of composites, machining, inspection, casting and coating technologies for GE’s Aviation and Energy businesses.

In addition to his role as site leader, Bhagat currently serves as chief information officer for GE Corporate Information Services, where he is responsible for delivering enterprise applications and services, IT centers of excellence and driving IT innovation for the company.

For more information on the center, visitwww.ge.com/amstc.