"The merging of these divisions reflects a change in the marketplace. We see process and discrete manufacturing converging, and as a result, customers are looking for greater synergy in this extended value chain," Paliwal said. "This merging increases our opportunity to serve our customers' power and automation needs, better and faster than ever before."

Paliwal, 44, has more than 24 years of industries experience. He began his career in 1979 with Ballapur Industries, India, and after joining ABB in 1985, served a number of industries customers in engineering, sales, marketing and management positions in Australia, China, Singapore, Switzerland and the United States.

In 1994, Paliwal became head of ABB's multi-industry business in China, which included several joint ventures. In 1998, he became head of ABB's global Pulp, Paper, Metal and Minerals business, and then named to head the Process Industries division in 2001, which serves cement, chemical, life sciences, marine, metals, minerals, mining, petroleum, pulp & paper and turbocharging customers.

The new Industries division will additionally serve automotive, consumer, electronics and discrete manufacturing customers.