SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of: February 2004
Commission File Number: 001-16429
ABB Ltd
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
N/A
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(Translation of registrant's name into English)
Switzerland
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(Jurisdiction of organization)
P.O. Box 8131, Affolternstrasse 44, CH-8050, Zurich, Switzerland
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(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, international: +011-41-1-317-7111
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes No X
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If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-________
This Form 6-K consists of the following:
1. Press release of ABB Ltd (the "Company"), dated February 27, 2004,
announcing that Mr. Fred Kindle has been appointed as the Company's new
chief executive officer and president effective January 2005.
Press Release ABB [Graphic omitted]
For your business and technology editors
ABB appoints Fred Kindle as new CEO
Zurich, Switzerland, February 27, 2004 - The Board of Directors of ABB Ltd
announced today that Fred Kindle has been appointed as the group's new chief
executive from next January. Kindle, the current chief executive of Swiss-based
technology concern Sulzer AG, will join ABB on September 1, 2004 and assume the
roles of president and CEO in January 2005.
As of January 2005, the current CEO Juergen Dormann will revert to a single role
as chairman of ABB Ltd.
"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."
His appointment follows a thorough and careful search and evaluation over the
past year for the next CEO, and after assessing a number of external and
internal candidates, ABB said.
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."
As CEO of Sulzer AG, Kindle led the company through a period of fundamental
strategic realignment. He will remain with the company until mid-2004.
Kindle, 44, 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.
He was elected to the board of directors in 2003.
Prior to joining the company he spent four years as a consultant with McKinsey
in New York and Zurich, and also worked with technology company Hilti AG. He has
dual Swiss/Liechtenstein citizenship.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable
utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering
environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100
countries and employs about 115,000 people.
A brief conference call with Juergen Dormann and Fred Kindle for journalists,
analysts and investors is scheduled to begin at 1000 CET. Callers should dial
+41 91 610 56 00. They are requested to phone in ten minutes before the
conference call.
For more information please contact:
Media Relations: Investor Relations:
ABB Corporate Communications, Zurich Switzerland: Tel. +41 43 317 3804
Thomas Schmidt, Wolfram Eberhardt Sweden: Tel. +46 21 325 719
Tel: +41 43 317 6568 USA: Tel. +1 203 750 7743
Fax: +41 43 317 7958 investor.relations@ch.abb.com
media.relations@ch.abb.com
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
ABB LTD
Date: February 27, 2004 By: /s/ HANS ENHOERNING
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Name: Hans Enhoerning
Title: Group Vice President,
Assistant General Counsel
By: /s/ FRANCOIS CHAMPAGNE
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Name: Francois Champagne
Title: Group Vice President,
Senior Counsel