ZURICH, Switzerland - Fred Kindle will become the next chief executive officer of ABB Group, replacing Jurgen Dormann next year. Kindle, currently chief executive of Swiss-based technology company Sulzer AG, will join ABB on September 1, 2004 and formally take over as CEO in January 2005.

Dormann, who has been CEO since September 2002, will revert to the singe role of chairman in January. He had already announced that his successor would be named during the course of this year.

"The board of directors is very pleased that Fred Kindle has agreed to take on this challenging and exciting task," said Dormann. "I and my fellow board members are convinced that he will provide the right leadership, and we look forward to working with him."

Kindle said, "I look forward to my new task at ABB. The know-how and commitment of the people at ABB, the reputation of the ABB brand, and the strong global market position of the company provide an excellent foundation for an exciting and successful future."

Kindle has been with Sulzer AG since 1992. In 1999 he became responsible for Sulzer Industries, before being appointed CEO of Sulzer AG two years later.

Publication date: 03/08/2004