INTERNATIONAL: Edlund takes over global communications at ABB

ZURICH: International engineering and technology group ABB has

appointed Bjorn Edlund as its new vice-president in charge of global

corporate communications.

The previous communications head, Volker Leichsering, retired last April

after seven years in the post. Since then, Edlund has filled the gap

left by Leichsering on a freelance consultancy basis.

In his new post, Edlund will report to ABB president and chief executive

officer, Goran Lindahl and oversee media relations, internal

communications, issues management and advertising.

ABB’s 15-strong communications team in Zurich headquarters will report

to Edlund. He will also be responsible for the group’s 200

communications staff worldwide, working particularly closely with PR

staff in ABB’s key markets: the UK, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Italy,

Norway and the US.

Edlund will work closely with ABB’s government relations and financial

communications divisions, which are handled respectively by head of

government affairs, Richard O’Toole, and vice-president, investor

relations, Manfred Ebling.

Edlund said: ’I want to build more value in ABB as an umbrella

brand.

That involves astute management of press relations and financial PR. Our

profile is high enough but if you look at how large companies are seen,

more sharpness is possible and necessary.’

ABB supplies technology and engineering services to sectors including:

power generation, distribution and transmission; oil, gas and

petrochemicals; industrial products such as air conditioning systems and

railways. It has a 50:50 joint venture with Daimler Benz which produces

rail systems, from signalling to locomotives.