John Francis “Jack” Welch Jr., University alumnus and the former CEO and chairman of General Electric, died at age 84 earlier this week, according to the Illinois News Bureau.

Welch earned a Ph.D  in chemical engineering in 1960, taking a position in GE as a chemical engineer shortly after, the News Bureau reported. Welch was selected as vice president in 1972 and as vice chairman and executive officer in 1979. At 45 years old, Welch became the company’s CEO in 1981.

Welch spent his time post-retirement teaching at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management as well as speaking and consulting. He also maintained close ties to the University, working to establish the James W. Westwater Professorship in Chemical Engineering in 1986, named after his former adviser.

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