ABB appoints new Business Area Presidents

ABB announced the appointment of Giampiero Frisio as the new President of its Electrification Business Area and Brandon Spencer as the new President of its Motion Business Area. Both will take over their new roles and join ABB’s Executive Committee on August 1, 2024.

ABB CEO Björn Rosengren said: “Both Giampiero and Brandon are proven leaders with strong track records in their current roles driving profitable growth in two of our largest Divisions. I am particularly happy that we are appointing internal candidates – this shows the strength of ABB’s pool of senior leaders. I am confident that they will build on the strong performance achieved in Electrification and Motion over the past years.”

Morten Wierod, CEO designate, added: “I am excited to work with Giampiero and Brandon also in their new roles when I take over as ABB CEO later this year. With them we will continue to have a strong Executive Committee that will drive ABB’s financial and sustainability performance.”

Giampiero Frisio, Division President Smart Power (Electrification Business Area) since 2018, will succeed Morten Wierod who, as announced previously, will become ABB’s new CEO as of August 1, 2024. Giampiero joined ABB in 1995 and has held numerous managerial positions in roles ranging from operations to marketing and sales. From January 2011 to November 2018, he was the Managing Director for Protection and Connection Business Unit, Electrification Products. He holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Pavia University in Italy. Giampiero is an Italian citizen.

Brandon Spencer, Division President Energy Industries (Process Automation Business Area) since 2020, will succeed Tarak Mehta, who as announced previously, will leave ABB to assume the role of CEO of Timken Group after more than 25 years with ABB. Brandon joined ABB in 2006 and has held a range of leadership roles with a focus on the energy sector. Between 2018 and 2020, he was Global Managing Director for ABB Process Industries. Prior to joining ABB, Brandon held various roles at Siemens Power Generation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Masters’ degree in Business Administration from the Crummer School of Business at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. Brandon is a US citizen.

As of August 1, 2024, ABB’s Executive Committee will consist of: Morten Wierod (CEO), Timo Ihamuotila (CFO), Carolina Granat (Chief Human Resources Officer), Karin Lepasoon (Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer), Giampiero Frisio (President, Electrification), Peter Terwiesch (President, Process Automation), Brandon Spencer (President, Motion) and Sami Atiya (President, Robotics & Discrete Automation). In addition, Mathias Gaertner will join the Executive Committee latest on Oct. 1, 2024, as General Counsel and Company Secretary.

Mehta left ABB

Earlier this year, ABB announced that Tarak Mehta, president Motion Business Area and member of the committee, has decided to leave ABB. Mehta has accepted the role as CEO of another company and will leave ABB at the end of July this year.

Tarak joined ABB in 1998 and has since then held a number of positions of increasing responsibility in the United States, Sweden and Switzerland. He joined ABB’s Executive Committee in 2010 and was appointed to his current position in April 2022.

“Throughout his 26-year career at ABB, Tarak has demonstrated exceptional leadership," said CEO Björn Rosengren. “As Executive Committee member and Business Area President, Tarak has contributed to achieving a record high operational EBITA margin in the past year in our Motion business and the Business Area is well-positioned to contribute to ABB’s higher financial targets going forward. Before that, he played a key role in further strengthening our leading position in the United States, ABB’s largest market, for our Electrification business.”

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to everyone I have worked with over the years. Thank you for your support, efforts, guidance and the results we have achieved together. It has been a wonderful journey of 26 years filled with challenges and opportunities as well as personal and professional growth. I wish the ABB team a continued bright future,” said Mehta.