SAP Shake-Up Continues, Shuffles Executive Board
SAP announces subsequent changes to its executive board and management structure in support of the recent appointments of Co-CEOs Jim Hagemann Snabe and Bill McDermott and the resignation of a second SAP executive. The shakeup of SAP management continues with the resignation of John Schwarz, an executive board member, responsible for SAP BusinessObjects, Ecosystem and Corporate Development at the Walldorf, Germany-based company.
Prior to his position at SAP, Schwarz was the CEO of Business Objects. During his tenure at Business Objects, Schwarz doubled the company's revenue to more than U.S. $1.5 billion, improved profitability, and oversaw seven strategic acquisitions, including Cartesis and Firstlogic.
Prior to Business Objects, Schwarz was president and chief operating officer of Symantec Corporation. While at Symantec, he played a key role in tripling business growth to more than U.S. $2.7 billion in revenue and was instrumental in the successful combination of Symantec and VERITAS.
The following changes to the SAP executive team will go into effect immediately:
- Gerhard Oswald, executive board member responsible for SAP Global Service and Support, has also been named chief operating officer, replacing Erwin Gunst, who stepped down for health reasons. Oswald's nearly thirty-year career at SAP has spanned the areas of support, consulting, education, custom development and quality control. He has been an Executive Board member since 1996. His contract has been extended until December 31, 2011.
-Peter Lorenz, executive vice president of Small and Midsize Enterprises (SME), has been named a corporate officer. He will continue to report to Co-CEO Jim Hagemann Snabe, overseeing the development of the SAP portfolio of SME solutions, SAP Business ByDesign, SAP Business One and SAP Business All-in-One.
"The new composition of the SAP Executive Board and management changes will support the leadership structure of the co-CEOs announced earlier in the week," said Hasso Plattner, chairman of the SAP Supervisory Board. "We regret that John Schwarz has decided to leave the company. He has been instrumental in achieving the successful integration of Business Objects into SAP in record time and helping to build out SAP's market leadership in business intelligence. We would like to thank John for his dedication and contribution to SAP and wish him well for his future endeavors."
For related content, see:
Surprise Resignation for CEO of SAP
Prior to his position at SAP, Schwarz was the CEO of Business Objects. During his tenure at Business Objects, Schwarz doubled the company's revenue to more than U.S. $1.5 billion, improved profitability, and oversaw seven strategic acquisitions, including Cartesis and Firstlogic.
Prior to Business Objects, Schwarz was president and chief operating officer of Symantec Corporation. While at Symantec, he played a key role in tripling business growth to more than U.S. $2.7 billion in revenue and was instrumental in the successful combination of Symantec and VERITAS.
The following changes to the SAP executive team will go into effect immediately:
- Gerhard Oswald, executive board member responsible for SAP Global Service and Support, has also been named chief operating officer, replacing Erwin Gunst, who stepped down for health reasons. Oswald's nearly thirty-year career at SAP has spanned the areas of support, consulting, education, custom development and quality control. He has been an Executive Board member since 1996. His contract has been extended until December 31, 2011.
-Peter Lorenz, executive vice president of Small and Midsize Enterprises (SME), has been named a corporate officer. He will continue to report to Co-CEO Jim Hagemann Snabe, overseeing the development of the SAP portfolio of SME solutions, SAP Business ByDesign, SAP Business One and SAP Business All-in-One.
"The new composition of the SAP Executive Board and management changes will support the leadership structure of the co-CEOs announced earlier in the week," said Hasso Plattner, chairman of the SAP Supervisory Board. "We regret that John Schwarz has decided to leave the company. He has been instrumental in achieving the successful integration of Business Objects into SAP in record time and helping to build out SAP's market leadership in business intelligence. We would like to thank John for his dedication and contribution to SAP and wish him well for his future endeavors."
For related content, see:
Surprise Resignation for CEO of SAP