Brad Surak

BS ’95, Computer Science, Purdue University

"Purdue grounded me in computer science theory and provided me opportunities to apply the theory in practice through various labs and student employment programs."

Brad Surak is chief operating officer of GE Digital and a founding member of the GE Digital executive team where his more than 20 years of technology industry leadership, computer software and analytics expertise, and executive management experience became a major asset to the longstanding company’s digital side.

Surak is responsible for the orchestration of GE Digital’s strategy and the integration of all software acquisitions. Recently, Surak launched a global network of digital foundries to engage with GE’s customers on their own digital industrial transformation and grow the industrial Internet ecosystem.

Before joining GE, Surak served as the general manager of Mobile Analytic Applications and was the chief operating officer of the Business Analytics Solutions unit at SAP where his focus on customers, innovation and execution led to the success of new, high growth product lines for the company. Earlier in his career, Surak was an executive at Business Objects, Cambridge Technology Partners, Ernst & Young LLP, as well as several startups.

Surak got his first taste of industry while still taking classes at Purdue. Off campus, he worked in the IT department of the Whirlpool Corporation where he was able to apply the concepts of what he was learning in the classroom to meaningful manufacturing challenges. One of his favorite classes was the Ubiquitous Computing course, which introduced him to the early applications of the Internet.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 2016 - Helped GE Digital eclipse $6 billion in revenue
• 2015 - Received General Electric’s Chairman Award for collaboration with GE Aviation, which resulted in more than $500 million in two years for the company
• 2012 - Began career at GE Digital