Business And Leadership: SAP boss unexpectedly quits, co-CEOs to step in

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SAP boss unexpectedly quits, co-CEOs to step in

08.02.2010
German business software giant SAP has been rocked by the news that its chief executive Leo Apothekar is to step down with immediate effect. The company is returning to split leadership.

The move comes amid alleged customer dissatisfaction and what analysts have claimed is a lack of strategic direction. Apothekar (pictured) was only in the role seven months.

SAP, a worldwide giant in the field of enterprise resource planning (ERP), is to return to split leadership with Bill McDermott, the company’s head of field organisation, and Jim Hagemann Snabe, head of product development, taking charge.

Apothekar was co-CEO along with Henning Kagermann, who retired last July.

SAP is one of the world’s biggest business software players and competes aggressively for blue-chip, government and SME business with players, like Oracle, IBM and Microsoft.

Customer dissatisfaction apparently stems from a controversial decision to raise fees unexpectedly in the US by 5pc.

The company was forced to back down after customers asked for performance indicators that would justify the increase in fees.

Last October SAP, which employs more than 900 people in Ireland, reinforced its commitment to the country, saying it is to invest a further €3m in a refit of its Dublin headquarters and that it anticipates an overall €1bn spend in Ireland over the next 10 years.

Pictured: SAP CEO Leo Apothekar

^{Photo - SAP}

Article courtesy of siliconrepublic.com