GE Healthcare names John Flannery CEO

Who: John Flannery, 53

New role: President and CEO of GE Healthcare. Flannery was previously the parent company's senior VP of business development. He succeeds John Dineen.

Previous work at GE: Flannery was GE's top M&A executive. He oversaw GE's purchase of Alstom's energy and transmission businesses in June and he was also involved in the spinoff of GE's retail finance arm and the sale of its appliance business to Stockholm-based Electrolux. He also served as president and CEO of GE India. GE Healthcare generates about $20 billion in annual revenue.

An outsider's view of the appointment: Though he has little healthcare experience, “John Flannery is definitely being brought in because he's a deal specialist. I think he's going to be tasked with bringing them into more of a 'yes' situation with more opportunities,” said John McLean of executive search firm Witt/Kieffer: McLean is managing partner of the firm's global life sciences practice.

GE's Immelt on Flannery's new role: “John has a track record of growing businesses with a special emphasis on global expansion,” GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt said in a written statement. “He has a deep understanding of GE's industrial businesses and strategy.”