Age or nationality was also not an issue in appointing the 60-year-old Swedish executive, Voser told reporters. Rosengren, the current CEO of Sandvik will turn 61, a month after taking over at ABB next March.

"Age didn't a play a role. What is important is the experience, it's the focus, it's the empowerment of people, it's the way a person drives the businesses. That is what is important, age is not," Voser told reporters.

"As he is 60 I am happy to say he is at least committed to a minimum of five years, that is what we are all looking for to drive the transformation of ABB forward over the next few years."

(Reporting by John Revill; Editing by Thomas Seythal)

Stocks treated in this article : Sandvik AB, ABB Ltd