Florian Schneeberger, president of ABB Machine Automation, dies
28 April 2026 
Florian Schneeberger, president of ABB’s Machine Automation division and CEO of B&R Industrial Automation, has been killed in a road accident in Salzburg, Austria. Schneeberger, 55, died when a trolleybus left the road after the driver is thought to have suffered a stroke. He is survived by his wife and four children.
Schneeberger joined ABB in 2022 as chief technology officer for ABB’s machine automation division, B&R, and was appointed president of the division in November 2025. Earlier in his career, Schneeberger worked for Skidata and Philips Healthcare.
In a statement, B&R said: “Florian was a valued colleague, friend and CEO. He led the Machine Automation Division with great dedication, technical passion, and expertise.
“Those who knew Florian will remember him as an exceptional colleague, a trusted friend, and a deeply respected leader,” it added. “His visionary thinking, dedication and expertise drove a culture of innovation and strengthened our customer partnerships worldwide. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Florian embodied the values we hold dear – inspiring us to pursue excellence in both our work and our personal lives.”
Earlier in his life, Schneeberger was an accomplished yachtsman who was a World Cup champion for four years running from 1993-96, European champion in 1996, and earned fourth place at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996. He was a member of the Red Bull Tornado team.
He was also a passionate mountaineer who climbed Austria’s highest peak, the Großglockner, a few weeks ago.
