Council Member Jeffrey Immelt to Lead President’s Initiative on Jobs, Competitiveness.

Jeffrey Immelt, Chairman and CEO of the General Electric Company and member of the Council on Competitiveness, announced today that he will lead President Obama's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.

In an op-ed published in the Washington Post, Immelt articulated his intention to make manufacturing and exports, free trade, and innovation the key areas of focus to create economic growth.

"The president and I are committed to a candid and full dialogue among business, labor and government to help ensure that the United States has the most competitive and innovative economy in the world," wrote Immelt.

Under his leadership, General Electric has been instrumental in a wide range of Council on Competitiveness initiatives, including the Energy Security, Innovation and Sustainability Initiative and the Technology Leadership and Strategy Initiative.

The offical announcement came during President Obama's trip to a GE plant in Schenectady, New York, where he discussed the issue of American competitiveness.