Mumbai: Dinesh Paliwal, president, global markets and technology and member of the group executive committee, has resigned from the ABB Group and will leave at the end of June.

Paliwal will now assume responsibility as chief executive officer (CEO) of US-based audio equipment maker Harman International Industries.

ABB said Paliwal was appointed chairman of ABB in 2004, and guided and supported the Indian operations through a period of significant growth.

ABB officials said the company said its executive committee and colleagues regret his departure.

Affiliates of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and GS Capital Partners have acquired Harman for about $8 billion.

Dr Sidney Harman, the 88-year-old founder and executive chairman of Harman International, had served as interim chief executive since the retirement of Bernard Girod in December.

Harman is the parent company behind an array of brands including Harman Kardon, JBL, Mark Levinson and Infinity. The business is organised into automotive OEM, consumer and professional groups.