碰剥经悔贸昌大是 高级商务英语阅读 often-volatile financial revenues and hurting its vaunted price-earnings multiple.As Keith S.Sherin, GE's chief financial officer,notes:"If it starts to deliver over 50%of our earnings,that might have an impact on our multiple."Aware of that,Immelt says big industrial acquisitions will help him keep the capital unit to under 45%of GE earnings for at least the next three years. Then again,the multiple isn't looking so stellar these days.GE's stock is down almost one-third from its 52-week high,to about $41,even as the company continues to churn out yet more quarters of 15%earnings growth at a time when many rivals have tanked.That's still roughly 30 times earnings,down from 51,while financial institutions tend to trade around 20 times earnings.But is it a reflection on Immelt that the so-called Welch premium doesn't seem to be boosting the stock anymore?He won't speculate.Hey,the world will soon see how Jeff Immelt makes his mark. His priority is people,and the ones who don't get enough attention from GE,in his view,are the customers.He has spent the past nine months crisscrossing the globe to connect with key clients. He's passionate about the big ones,the little ones,the ones that got away.It's enough to make a guy known for knit shirts and no socks dig out a tie.What bowled over Delta Air Lines Inc. Chairman Leo F.Mullin wasn't Immelt's offer to fly down for dinner,something Welch never did.It was getting phoned during Delta's recent labor woes."He just called to say he thought I was doing well,"marvels Mullin."That meant a lot to me." DIVERSITY DRIVE.Immelt wants that personal touch to permeate GE's sales force.On the best days,he says,the salespeople now spend 30%of their time in front of the customer.Under Immelt, they'll be freed up to devote 70%or 80%of their days to customers,anticipating their needs and making sure that GE makes them money.GE now gets 41%of its sales outside the U.S.,and Immelt believes that to get to the customers,GE must become more like them--especially in the top ranks.That means more Chinese,more Indians,more blacks,more women.In short,not just white men. Diversity,in fact,is where many think Immelt may make his greatest immediate impact.Fujimori of Japan is the first foreign national to head a GE unit,and in a recent speech in Tokyo,Immelt promised there'll be"many more Fujis to come."He says he was"haunted"by a newspaper article 第7页共9页高级商务英语阅读 often-volatile financial revenues and hurting its vaunted price-earnings multiple. As Keith S. Sherin, GE's chief financial officer, notes: "If it starts to deliver over 50% of our earnings, that might have an impact on our multiple." Aware of that, Immelt says big industrial acquisitions will help him keep the capital unit to under 45% of GE earnings for at least the next three years. Then again, the multiple isn't looking so stellar these days. GE's stock is down almost one-third from its 52-week high, to about $41, even as the company continues to churn out yet more quarters of 15% earnings growth at a time when many rivals have tanked. That's still roughly 30 times earnings, down from 51, while financial institutions tend to trade around 20 times earnings. But is it a reflection on Immelt that the so-called Welch premium doesn't seem to be boosting the stock anymore? He won't speculate. Hey, the world will soon see how Jeff Immelt makes his mark. His priority is people, and the ones who don't get enough attention from GE, in his view, are the customers. He has spent the past nine months crisscrossing the globe to connect with key clients. He's passionate about the big ones, the little ones, the ones that got away. It's enough to make a guy known for knit shirts and no socks dig out a tie. What bowled over Delta Air Lines Inc. Chairman Leo F. Mullin wasn't Immelt's offer to fly down for dinner, something Welch never did. It was getting phoned during Delta's recent labor woes. "He just called to say he thought I was doing well," marvels Mullin. "That meant a lot to me." DIVERSITY DRIVE. Immelt wants that personal touch to permeate GE's sales force. On the best days, he says, the salespeople now spend 30% of their time in front of the customer. Under Immelt, they'll be freed up to devote 70% or 80% of their days to customers, anticipating their needs and making sure that GE makes them money. GE now gets 41% of its sales outside the U.S., and Immelt believes that to get to the customers, GE must become more like them -- especially in the top ranks. That means more Chinese, more Indians, more blacks, more women. In short, not just white men. Diversity, in fact, is where many think Immelt may make his greatest immediate impact. Fujimori of Japan is the first foreign national to head a GE unit, and in a recent speech in Tokyo, Immelt promised there'll be "many more Fujis to come." He says he was "haunted" by a newspaper article 第 7 页 共 9 页