Celebrating 15 Years

Darryl Wilson

Strategic Global Executive & Entrepreneur

Darryl Wilson is a strategic business executive who has built highly successful organizations and led complex
transformations at General Electric businesses around the world for more than 25 years. A truly global leader who has managed dozens of multi billion-dollar P&Ls, acquisitions, integrations and restructurings. He has led and inspired significant product and process improvements that have had a material impact on performance. He has an exceptional ability to manage market volatility, complex technologies, competitive dynamics, and is adept at building

high-performance teams. Darryl was a Vice President and Corporate Officer of the General Electric Company.
Across his career, Darryl has developed a reputation for turning around, right-sizing and improving profitability at diverse technology, complex manufacturing and industrial distribution businesses, with impactful on-the-ground roles in Asia, Europe-Middle East and Africa, Latin America, Canada and the US. He built successful multi billion businesses from limited capacity in emerging markets and has grown market share across borders and cultures.

After leaving GE in 2017, Darryl founded The Wilson Collective, an investment and business advisory firm that invests in startup companies across several industrial segments and also provides management consulting services to distributed power, renewables and industrial clients. He serves on the NextEra Energy Board of Directors Audit and Compensation Committees. He serves on the GenServe, Inc Board of Directors and serves as a Strategic Advisor to both Wolong Electric Group and EXRO Technologies, Inc. He serves on the boards of the Dallas Federal Reserve (Houston Branch); Julia C. Hester House (Finance Chair); Indiana University Kelley School of Business and The Kinkaid School Board of Trustees (Finance and Diversity and Inclusion Committees). Darryl also sits on the Dallas Federal Reserve Board Energy Advisory Committee.

Darryl’s earlier roles were P&L leader roles across diverse business units in Ohio; Texas; Canada; Budapest, Hungary and Shanghai, China. He held broad CEO responsibilities for Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa understanding business and culture. As President & CEO of the $5B GE Aero Energy, he grew revenue and profit in the Aero Derivative gas power business that leveraged aircraft engine technology. As President & CEO of the $1.7B, GE Consumer Products EMEA, he led the turnaround of the lighting, fixtures, controls and appliances business with 12,000 employees in Hungary, Italy, Germany and the UK. As President and CEO of the $.7B GE Consumer and Industrial, Asia Pacific, he built capability and growth via joint ventures, strategic partnerships and regional organization design.

In his final GE position, Darryl was Vice President, Commercial in the GE Power division, leading global sales and marketing for a $38B provider of power generation, transmission, distribution and services. As he did in earlier roles, Darryl drove operating improvements while also restoring profitability by removing costs, focusing on core business segments and structuring the organization for optimal growth. As a member of the global integration team, Darryl led the commercial integration of six P&Ls and several multibillion-dollar acquisitions. Prior to his final role, Darryl was VP and Chief Commercial Officer, at GE Energy Connections, an $11B electrical protection, components and relays business, responsible for driving innovation and growth while also integrating the Alstom Grid and Software Solutions businesses.
Darryl joined GE in 1992, after earning an MBA in Marketing from Indiana University. He has a BA in Business Administration from Baldwin Wallace College in Ohio and began his career in the Executive Development Program at BP America in Cleveland, Ohio.

He has been active in many other community organizations; Darryl is a former Board Member and Executive Committee Member of the Greater Houston Partnership, The Houston Food Bank, The American Heart Association, The Dream Foundation, The East End Neighborhood Center and The Greater Cleveland Urban League. Darryl also served on several corporate boards representing General Electric affiliates, and joint ventures internationally. He was appointed by GE and the US Government to the US and Mexico Energy council. He has also attended Lazard board Governance training; National Association of Corporate Directors Board Diversity training; Russell Reynolds Board Seminars on Diversity; Cyber Risk and Audit.

Shape

Code of Conduct: Governing Data & Emerging Tech

Boards are no longer observers of emerging technology; they are stewards of how it’s governed. This panel goes beyond awareness to examine how directors can structure oversight, define accountability, and measure governance effectiveness in AI, data use, and digital innovation. Panelists will share practical strategies for building governance systems that ensure transparency, ethical decision-making, and responsible innovation at scale.

Your First Board Meeting: A Director’s Playbook

Designed for aspiring and newly appointed directors, this session offers practical guidance on how to step confidently into your first boardroom. Learn what to expect in early meetings, how to contribute with purpose, and how to quickly build credibility and trust among seasoned peers. Gain insight into board dynamics, unspoken protocols, and the critical questions new directors should be ready to ask and answer.

Tactics that Work: Case Studies in Navigating Shareholder Activism

In this tactical, director-focused session, participants will engage in case-based exercises to dissect real campaigns and pressure scenarios. From activist letters to proxy fights, explore how boards can craft strategic responses that reinforce governance integrity, protect corporate reputation, and align with long-term priorities. Walk away with actionable tactics and frameworks to strengthen board preparedness in the face of growing investor scrutiny.

Inside the Boardroom: Resilience Planning in Action

This interactive session places directors inside the boardroom during moments of disruption. Through tabletop exercises and real-world scenarios, participants will explore how boards can apply structured frameworks to assess geopolitical risk, anticipate threats, and make decisive decisions under pressure. Designed as a classroom-style session, this breakout provides practical tools to strengthen oversight and build a proactive board response strategy in an increasingly uncertain world.

Reputation & Response: How Boards Navigate Shareholder Activism

As shareholder activism intensifies, boards face mounting pressure to defend strategy, protect corporate reputation, and engage stakeholders with clarity. This panel brings together seasoned directors to explore how boards can respond effectively while maintaining credibility, board alignment, and stakeholder trust. Hear real-world insights on navigating activism in today’s high-stakes, high-visibility environment.

Navigating Global Markets: Trade, Tariffs, and Supply Chain Strategy

As global disruptions reshape business models, this panel will explore how boards can navigate the practical complexities of trade, tariffs, and supply chain shifts across regions. Panelists will share how directors are guiding companies through regulatory changes, sourcing challenges, and new market risks, while seizing opportunities for growth and operational agility.

Strengthening Oversight: Risk Management and Board Resilience

This keynote will equip directors to think globally about risk through the lens of geopolitical foresight, cross-border tensions, and long-term instability. Learn how boards can strengthen oversight and guide enterprise-wide resilience by anticipating disruption and embedding a proactive risk culture in a changing world.