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.
