Re Directorate

ABB Ltd
21 November 2001




Jurgen Dormann succeeds Percy Barnevik as chairman of ABB


Zurich, Switzerland, November 21, 2001 - Percy Barnevik announced that he is 
leaving his position as Chairman and Board member of ABB. Jurgen Dormann, 
presently a Board member of ABB and Chairman of the Management Board of Aventis,
has been elected by the Board as its new Chairman.

'After five years as chairman of ABB I have decided co resign and open up for a 
new chairman to prepare nominations to the Board at the upcoming Annual General 
Meeting of Shareholders in March next year. I also with my departure take my 
share of responsibility for the less good performance of ABB in recent years,' 
Barnevik said in a statement.

'ABB is well positioned both in products and markets and I believe fully in the 
present management and strategy. I am convinced that ABB, under the leadership 
of CEO Jurgen Centerman, will show a strong development in coming years,' 
Barnevik: added.

Dormann stated: 'ABB is undergoing important changes that will bring it to a 
stronger position.' He pointed out that Barnevik had been with the company for 
22 years, eight years as CEO of ASEA, nine years as CEO of ABB and the last five
years as non-executive chairman.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a global leader in power and automation technologies that 
enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering 
environmental impact. ABB has 160,000 employees in more than 100 countries.

Barnevik, born 1941, is Chairman of the board at Investor, AstraZeneca and 
Sandvik, and a member of the board of General Motors.

Jurgen Dormann, born 1940, is Chairman of the Management Board of Aventis, and 
was earlier the Chairman of the Management Board of Hoechst AG.  He is a member 
of the boards of IBM and Allianz.

 
For more information please contact:

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ABB Corporate Communications, Zuriche
Thomas Schmidt,
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