Former Chairman and CEO of GE Capital Services, Gary Wendt is currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Conseco, the insurance and financial services giant.

Wendt is widely seen as being responsible for turning GE Capital into a world-renowned financial powerhouse. Under his direction, GE Capital became General Electric's largest business venture with activity generating 40% of GE's revenue and income.

In 1975, Wendt joined what was then GE Credit, as a Manager of Real Estate Financing. He assumed positions of increasing responsibility: in 1984 he was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer, and in 1986, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. During his leadership in the 1990's, GE Capital expanded its global activities into 45 countries, up from just one in 1988.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin and the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, Gary Wendt has received numerous awards, including the 1997 Boys Club of New York Harriman Award; the 1996 Heart of Gold Society Award; the 1993 National Ethnic Coalition Organization's Ellis Island Medal; the 1993 SACIA Walter H. Wheeler, Jr. Business Leadership Award and the 1990 National Conference of Christians and Jews National Human Relations Award.

NOTE: Bio is as it appeared in the Forum playbill for "Anatomy of Power" on October 11, 2002.