Electrical People: Sullivan named EVP of ABB Electrification Products

ABB (Memphis, Tenn.): Franklin Sullivan is now executive V.P.  for ABB’s Electrification Products division in the United States. In addition, he assumes commercial leadership for the division across North America (Canada and Mexico). The division runs the low- and medium-voltage products businesses of ABB, for both ABB and Thomas & Betts branded portfolios. He will be based in Memphis.

Sullivan joined Thomas & Betts in 2010 after a long career in the electrical products industry in general management, operations, product management and marketing roles. He has led Thomas & Betts’ global sales and marketing activities as a senior vice president, based in Switzerland, for the last two years.

A company spokesperson said, “Franklin brings strong industry experience and a deep knowledge of the U.S. electrical market. Having led the efforts to achieve double-digit percentage growth of Thomas & Betts’ business outside North America, we are delighted to welcome him back to ABB in the United States.”

Charles Treadway, who currently heads the global installation products business of ABB and the U.S. Electrification Products division, will leave ABB at the end of February to pursue an alternative career opportunity. A successor for his global role will be announced in due course.

National Lighting Bureau (Shepherdstown, W. Va.):  Jim Yorgey,  Lutron Electronics Co.’s technical-applications manager, has been re-elected chair of the National Lighting Bureau, the independent, not-for-profit, lighting-education foundation sponsored by professional societies, trade associations, manufacturers, utilities, and agencies of the U.S. government.  Mark Lien, government and  industry relations director for Bureau-sponsor Osram Sylvania, was re-elected vice chair. Cary Mendelsohn (Imperial Lighting Maintenance Company), representing the interNational Association of Lighting Management Companies (NALMCO), was re-elected secretary/treasurer.

Physik Instrumente (PI) (Auburn, Mass.): PI, a solution provider in motion control and positioning components and systems, appointed Jess Sargent as Western Region field sales engineer for OEM customers. He has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Utah.

Bridgeport Fittings (Stratford, Conn.): Jim Connor has been named human resource V. P. His previous position was director of human resources. Connor has been with Bridgeport since 2006.

GE Energy Management (Atlanta):  Darryl Wilson has been named vice president and chief commercial officer, holding global responsibility for sales and marketing across the Energy Management (EM) portfolio. In addition, Agostino Renna has been named chief commercial officer for its Industrial Solutions business. They will focus on delivering solutions to meet customer and industry challenges in the 150 countries where Energy Management operates.

With 23 years of GE experience, Wilson joins Energy Management from GE’s Distributed Power business, a global supplier of power equipment and service, where he was vice president and chief commercial officer. As Industrial Solutions’ chief commercial officer, Renna will assume global leadership for its commercial organization and advancing progress as a digital industrial company. Agostino holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from McGill University. He is a frequent speaker at conferences and thought leadership events focused on global energy challenges.