License in Applied Economics from the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) and an MBA from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL) in Belgium. Formerly: Continental Illinois Bank of Chicago; 18 years with Dow Chemical Co., Belgium, France, US and Switzerland. 2002-05, Chief Financial Officer, Europe, Baxter International. With ABB: 2005-13, Executive VP, and Chief Financial Officer; 2008, interim Chief Executive Officer and 2008 - March 2011, President, Global Markets. Vice-Chairman of the Board, UBS AG; Chairman of the Board, Syngenta AG . Member of the Supervisory Board, Louis-Dreyfus Company Int'l Holding B.V., Rotterdam. Chairman of the Foundation and Supervisory Boards, IMD Business School, Lausanne. Board member Vodafone Group Plc and Chairman Nomoko AG