ABB, the leading power and automation technology company, today announced two new key leadership appointments to its North American management team.

Joe Baker has been named Strategic Marketing Manager and will head overall marketing efforts for ABB Power Products and Power Systems divisions. Bruce Wittbrodt will succeed Baker as Local Business Unit (LBU) manager and will head the ABB Medium Voltage Products LBU in North America, effective September 1, 2008.

"Joe and Bruce have been key contributors in helping ABB achieve its overall strategy of improving energy efficiency, grid reliability and industrial productivity for our customers," said Greg Scheu, senior vice president and head of ABB Power Products in North America. "I look forward to working with both Joe and Bruce in their new roles."

Joe Baker will be responsible for helping ABB's Power Products and Power Systems divisions maximize new and existing growth strategies throughout North America. Working closely with the Power Products and Power Systems businesses, Baker and his team will focus on helping the various marketing segments provide sustainable growth that allow ABB to deliver full potential to its valued customers.

Baker has been with ABB since 1991, and most recently served as senior vice president and general manager of the Medium Voltage group in North America. He has also held other management positions within ABB North America, including head of the Switchgear and Medium Voltage Service groups, and marketing manager for Small Power Transformers.

Bruce Wittbrodt will focus on the strategic development and continued profitable growth of the Medium Voltage business unit, and meeting the needs of utilities and industrial customers seeking greater energy efficiency, reliability and intelligence for new and existing medium-voltage power equipment.

The Medium Voltage group, based in Lake Mary, Florida, produces power products such as switchgear, circuit breakers, instrument transformers, protective relays, reclosers and surge arresters, along with an array of services. Medium Voltage is a major LBU within ABB's larger Power Products division.

Wittbrodt joined ABB in 2005 and has served as the LBU Manager for ABB Low Voltage Systems in North America. Wittbrodt has a broad range of sales, marketing and engineering management experience, with more than 25 years of experience in the electrical and automation industries.

Tue Aug 05 11:48:00 CDT 2008