The architect of a major refocusing of activities, ABB boss Björn Rosengren will leave his post on August 1st. He will be replaced by Morten Wierod, a 52-year-old Norwegian citizen, who has sat in the general management of the Zurich group since 2019, in charge of electrification activities.
Björn Rosengren has headed ABB since March 2020. Aged 65, the Swede will take definitive leave from the automation and electrification specialist at the end of the year after a transition phase, the multinational said on Friday, without specifying the details. reasons for departure.
Quoted in the press release, Chairman Peter Voser highlights Björn Rosengren’s role in restructuring ABB’s business portfolio and improving the group’s financial performance. The resigning CEO will pass on an “efficient, more profitable and faster-growing ABB”, he says.
A vast reorientation
Björn Rosengren took office when ABB had already concluded an agreement for the sale of the electrical networks division (Power Grids) to the Japanese Hitachi. After his arrival at the helm, the Swedish leader accelerated the reorientation by initiating a vast overhaul of activities, announced at the end of 2020. Three divisions have left ABB since then.
The Mechanical Power Transmission unit, known under the Dodge brand, and Power Conversion were thus sold, respectively to the American RBC Bearings in 2021 and to the Taiwanese Acbel Polytech in 2023. The cumulative amount of the two operations was around 3.5 billion dollars (3.08 billion francs at today’s rate). The Turbocharging division was outsourced and renamed Accelleron, before being listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange in October 2022.
Morten Wierod has worked for ABB since 1998. Before heading the electrification business, he headed the Motion unit. The future general manager holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering obtained in Norway.
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