Education
He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in economics as well as a Master’s degree in business administration and engineering from the University of Stuttgart.
He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in economics as well as a Master’s degree in business administration and engineering from the University of Stuttgart.
He took up the role on 15 September 2013, succeeding Joe Hogan. Previously, Spiesshofer had headed ABB’s Discrete Automation and Motion division, which includes the company’s robotics, power conversion, motors and drives businesses. Spiesshofer was born in Aalen, in the southwestern German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg.
From 1991 to 2002, Spiesshofer worked for AT Kearney management consultants, rising to become the managing director of AT Kearney International, during which time he ran consulting businesses in industries including oil and gas, utilities, telecommunications and automotive, in Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Spiesshofer joined ABB in 2005 as Executive Committee member responsible for strategy development. In 2010, he was appointed Head of Discrete Automation and Motion, one of ABB’s five divisions.
There, he led the acquisition of Baldor Electric, the largest maker of industrial motors in North America. lieutenant was ABB’s biggest acquisition to date with a purchase price of $4.2 billion.