May 12, 2025
Why Jack Welch Was Right: The Enduring Power of Fix, Sell, Close to Maximise Portfolio Value
In 1981, shortly after Jack Welch became CEO of General Electric (GE), he issued a now-famous directive: Each of the company’s business units had to be number one or two in their markets; if not, they’d have to fix, sell or close it.
In this two-part series, we discuss why an objective Fix, Sell, Close assessment is a powerful strategy for businesses and investors looking to use their capital more effectively, and outline the benefits and potential scenarios for each option.
This first article focuses on the A&M approach to Fix, Sell, Close solutions, with a detailed examination of the “sell” route.
