Enrique Santacana became the new Region Manager, ABB North America and president and CEO of ABB Inc. USA, effective July 1, 2007. He replaces Dinesh Paliwal, who left ABB at the end of June to become president, chief executive officer and vice chairman of Harman International Industries, a Washington, D.C.-based manufacturer of audio products and automotive electronics systems.
Most recently, Santacana was ABB’s Region Division Manager for Power Products in North America. The $2 billion USD business develops, manufactures and sells products and services used in the electrical power industry. Santacana will continue to be based in Norwalk, Connecticut.
A member of the North American Executive Committee, Santacana has made a significant contribution to the turnaround in ABB’s business performance and culture change across the region. He first joined ABB in 1977 and has held a number of different positions in the USA.
Previously, Santacana served as head of ABB’s Power Technologies Division in North America. Additional positions held with ABB include Vice President and General Manager, Medium-Voltage Products, Vice President and Director of ABB Power T&D Company’s Electric Systems Technology Institute and Vice President and General Manager of the ABB Power T&D Company’s Electric Metering and Control Business Unit.
Santacana holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico, a Master of Engineering Degree in Electric Power Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a Master of Business Administration Degree from Duke University.
Paliwal’s new challenge will be shepherding Harmon International through its acquisition by private equity firms Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and GS Capital Partners in a deal valued at about $8 billion. That deal is expected to close in the third quarter of this year.
