Power and automation technology group ABB on Friday announced that its South African CEO Carlos Poñe had been appointed CEO of the company’s United Arab Emirates (UAE) division and manager for Southern Gulf (UAE, Qatar and Oman) and Pakistan, with effect from February 1.
Outgoing Powertech COO Leon Viljoen would replace him as the new CEO for ABB South Africa and manager for Southern Africa, effective from March 1.
Poñe had been employed by ABB for 20 years, 14 of which he served as CEO for South Africa and manager for Southern Africa.
During this period, he also served as the chairperson of the ABB South Africa board of directors and was responsible for growing the company’s business in developing countries on the continent.
“I look forward to the challenge and opportunities that my new position will bring. At this time, I reflect on an amazing 20 years with ABB in Southern Africa and look forward to taking my experience of working in emerging markets to my new position,” he said in a statement.
Viljoen held a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the Rand Afrikaans University (now University of Johannesburg) and an MBA from Henley Management College, in the UK.