Pros
GEA is a very diverse company in terms of both the products it makes, customer applications and cultures. I have had the privilege to have worked for GEA in different countries and companies. I can honestly say that it is an extremely fair company, they do care about employees, and they try to do the right thing. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend people to join GEA, but go in with eyes open, it is a large and sometimes slow organisation, you have to make it happen - its full of opportunity and great people, but you need to be a networker, and be able to push yourself through the organisation otherwise you could find yourself for 20+ years stuck in one place. Recently set up matrix organisation is working much better than before, but you need to be able to work effectively in a matrix GEA has some really good people in it - and you don't have to look hard to find them.
Cons
Archaic IT infrastructure, and a real lack of people that understand how to use digital to drive customer experience. Lots of approval lines, unless you are the CEO of a division, you wont have any real power to decide things, everything is controlled in the center. High pressure to deliver, and not a lot of thanks when you do - no particular employee benefits of note - other than the minimum. It is not a 'fun' place to work, it is highly transactional, but you learn a lot at GEA and gives you room to grow.