Early Life
H. Lawrence "Larry" Culp Jr. was born in March 1963 and raised in the Washington, D.C., area. He is the son of a small welding company owner. Culp earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Washington College and later obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Rise to Success
Culp's career began at Danaher Corporation in 1990, where he worked at the subsidiary Veeder-Root. He became President of Veeder-Root in 1993. His career progressed at Danaher, and he was appointed as Executive Vice President in 1999, Chief Operating Officer and then CEO in 2001. During his 14 years as CEO of Danaher, the company's revenues and market capitalization increased fivefold. Culp joined the board of General Electric in April 2018 and was appointed as CEO in October 2018, becoming the first outsider to run GE in its 126-year history. Under his leadership, GE has been transformed, with the company splitting into GE HealthCare, GE Vernova and GE Aerospace.
Key Business Strategies
At GE, Culp implemented strategies to reduce debt, strengthen the balance sheet, and streamline operations, improving profit and market capitalization. He focused on lean principles to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost, to better serve customers. Culp has also been praised for his focus on high-quality products and customer satisfaction.
Philanthropy
Culp, along with the Culp Family Foundation, has demonstrated a commitment to philanthropy, supporting education, environmental conservation, and community development. In 2024, GE Aerospace launched the GE Aerospace Foundation with over $24 million in commitments. In October 2025, it was announced that GE Aerospace Foundation is launching a $30-million, five-year workforce skills training program.
