Laviec Elected to Second Term as CFM President and CEO

September 7, 1998

Gerard Laviec has been elected by the CFM International Board of Directors to a second three-year term as the Company's president and chief executive officer, effective September 1, 1998.

CFM International is a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran Group) of France and General Electric of the United States.

"The last three years have been some of the most dynamic in CFM's history," said Laviec. "During that time, we've certified and launched two new engines into service, experienced record years in terms of orders, and have faced the challenge of more than doubling our production rate over the last two years.

"During the next three years, CFM will be shaping its future by looking at new ways to do business in a volatile market, as well as defining the technologies that will help keep our customers profitable well into the next century. It is an exciting time at CFM, and I'm very happy to have the opportunity to be a part of it."

As president, Mr. Laviec is responsible for the overall results of the CFM56 engine programs and the profitability of the company, as well as the development of the worldwide market, negotiation of sales, and customer satisfaction. He also serves as the general delegate for Snecma to the United States and Canada, representing the Snecma (Safran Group) group in all aspects of the business.

Mr. Laviec, a graduate of INSA Lyon, a French engineering university, originally joined Snecma in 1963 and returned in 1965 after serving one year of military service as a flight officer with the French Air Force. From 1965 to 1976, he served in a variety of increasingly responsible positions, including test engineer on Snecma's (Safran Group) ATAR military engine program and as, first, a development engineer on the M45, a 50/50 joint venture with Rolls-Royce and, later, the certification manager for the engine program.

From 1976 to 1978, Mr. Laviec served as Snecma's (Safran Group) CFM56 Product Support Engineering Manager before becoming the Military Engines Product Support Manager in 1979. Between 1985 and 1990, he served as Deputy General Manager of Commercial Engines, as director of the CFM International S.A. Product Support Business Operation and as the Concorde Engine Project Manager. Just prior to his selection as CFM President, Mr. Laviec served as the CFM S.A. Marketing and Sales Senior Vice President and as chairman of Shannon Engine Support.

Mr. Laviec's many accomplishments at Snecma (Safran Group) include the creation and management of the Company's Product Support Business Operation, establishing Snecma (Safran Group)/GE cooperation for the CFM56 product support organization, and the creation of Snecma's (Safran Group) new Montereau plant, which encompassed overseeing the building and administration of the facility.

Jamie Jewell



Mobile:
+1 513.885.2282

jamie.jewell@ge.com

Charles Soret



Mobile:
+33 (0)6.31.60.96.79

charles.soret@safrangroup.com

Perry Bradley



Mobile:
+1 513 375 2597

perry.bradley@ge.com

Talal Ahmed Almahmood


+973 173 3819


talal.almahmood@gulfair.com