Resignation from the supervisory board
SAP opens a new chapter without Hasso Plattner
May 15, 2024, 8:20 p.m
Listen to article
This audio version was artificially generated. More info | Send feedback
The annual general meeting marks the end of an era at SAP: the last co-founder, Hasso Plattner, is stepping down as chairman of the supervisory board. The 80-year-old looks back on a successful time. His successor is an old acquaintance.
A turning point at SAP: Hasso Plattner, the last co-founder, withdrew from the software company at the annual general meeting. The 80-year-old said they had achieved a lot together. SAP has developed into the most valuable German company and a world-class group. That fills him with great pride. He will continue to provide support and advice.
Plattner has been chairman of the supervisory board since 2003. He will be followed by former Nokia manager Pekka Ala-Pietilä, the company announced. Plattner founded SAP in 1972 together with Dietmar Hopp, Claus Wellenreuther, Klaus Tschira and Hans-Werner Hector.
SAP CEO Christian Klein once again praised the 80-year-old’s achievements. “SAP is the only world-class digital company in Europe.” He is a great visionary and has continually reinvented the company. The world and Germany could use more “Hasso”.
There had been turbulence over the personnel at the top of the supervisory board because Europe’s largest software company had surprisingly rescheduled Plattner’s successor. Punit Renjen was actually supposed to take up the post. In February it was announced that the group and the former head of the consulting firm Deloitte had decided to part ways by mutual agreement. SAP cited different ideas about the future role of the chairman of the supervisory board as the reason. Plattner said at the general meeting that this was the right decision.
With the Finn Ala-Pietilä, an old acquaintance returned to the Walldorf company. The former president of Nokia sat on the supervisory board of SAP from 2002 to 2021. During his introduction, Ala-Pietilä said that working on the control committee was teamwork. Nobody can keep the world running alone. Plattner and his wife hold over six percent of the shares in the software company.