Jeff Malehorn

Jeff Malehorn is the president and CEO of World Business Chicago (WBC), where he is responsible for the attraction, expansion, and retention of companies to Chicago. Malehorn leads the implementation of the Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs, which was produced by WBC at Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s request and is the outline for the city’s overarching economic development efforts. As head of WBC, Jeff reports to WBC chairman Mayor Emanuel and vice chairman Michael Sacks and works closely with WBC’s distinguished board of directors and the Mayor’s office. A 28-year GE veteran, Malehorn started his career in GE’s Financial Management Program after graduating from Penn State University. A GE Company officer since 2001, he served in leadership roles across many divisions of the company including GE Commercial Finance’s Global Financial Restructuring business, where he led teams buying distressed debt in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. He also led GE Real Estate’s European business for three years. Throughout his career, Malehorn has held positions in risk, portfolio and operations management as well as business development and process improvement with leadership roles in the Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, tristate area and southern California. Passionate about giving back to his community, Malehorn served as GE’s Chicago corporate citizenship leader, where he has fostered numerous corporate-civic partnerships. He was the executive sponsor for GE Capital’s Global Health Ahead program. He co-chairs the United Way’s Tocqueville Society and serves on the campaign cabinet, and co-chairs Workforce Chicago’s Business Leadership Group. He is the outgoing Metropolitan Chicago American Heart Association board chairman and is a board member for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Junior Achievement and was a founding Midwest Board member for BuildOn. He lives in Glencoe, Illinois with his wife, Laura, and two daughters.