Swiss engineering major ABB has appointed Bazmi Husain, currently heading the India operations, as its Chief Technology Officer.
A power and automation expert, Husain would take over as CTO from January 2016. Currently, he is ABB India's managing director.
Husain, who has been with the Swiss group for more than three decades, would report to CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer.
"As Chief Technology Officer, Husain will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of ABB's global R&D, which serves the entire company, its scientists and engineers, and for the R&D activities within ABB's divisions," it said in a statement today.
ABB spends USD 1.5 billion annually on R&D and employs some 8,500 technologists.
Heads of R&D at group and division level as well as ABB's venture capital arm, ABB Technology Ventures, would be reporting to Husain once he takes over as CTO next year.
In the new role, he would be based out of Bangalore and would also have an office in Switzerland.
Husain's successor would be announced in due course, the statement said.
ABB CEO Spiesshofer said that Husain's unrivalled know-how would drive technological innovation across multiple disciplines to support the group's profitable growth ambitions and the paradigm shifts in power and automation.
"Innovation is a key element of our next level strategy and Husain brings a unique combination of skills and experience to the role of CTO. He has an in-depth understanding of power and automation technologies, and a solid understanding of marketplace dynamics and customer needs," he added.
ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 1,40,000 people.
