SAP SE has announced the appointment of Sebastian Steinhaeuser to the company’s Executive Board, where he will lead a newly created area called Strategy and Operations. This new unit will drive the execution of SAP’s strategy and simplify its internal operations. Additionally, the firm has confirmed the extension of Thomas Saueressig’s contract, the current head of Customer Services & Delivery, for another three years, until 2028.
Alongside these changes, SAP has unveiled the establishment of an Expanded Council, composed of key leaders from the company, including the new Chief Technology Officer (CTO), the Co-Chief Revenue Officers (CROs), and the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). This new structure aims to accelerate the company’s transformation and consolidate its “AI-first” and “Suite-first” strategy.
New Strategic Area for Execution and Operational Simplification
The Strategy and Operations unit will be key to SAP’s evolution, focusing on the implementation of its digital transformation and operational optimization. The inclusion of Global Marketing, led by the newly appointed CMO Ada Agrait, will facilitate a closer collaboration to enhance the digital experience for customers and partners.
According to Pekka Ala-Pietil盲, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of SAP SE, “Sebastian is not only a leader but the architect of a future where innovation creates impact”. He also underscored the importance of Thomas Saueressig’s renewal, highlighting his role in accelerating SAP’s customers’ transition to the cloud.
Since joining SAP in 2020, Steinhaeuser has held various positions, including Chief Strategy Officer, leading high-growth areas such as Business Transformation Management, Business Network, and Sustainability. In 2024, his role expanded to Chief Strategy & Operating Officer, taking on oversight of operations, business processes, IT, ecosystem, and business functions.
Prior to joining SAP, Steinhaeuser worked at Boston Consulting Group, where he specialized in digital transformation for large enterprises.
New Key Appointments in Leadership Structure
SAP has also announced other strategic changes in its management team:
馃敼 Philipp Herzig will take on the role of global CTO, while retaining his current position as Chief AI Officer. In this role, he will lead SAP’s technology strategy, driving innovation in Business AI and Sustainability.
馃敼 Jan Gilg and Emmanuel (Manos) Raptopoulos have been appointed as Co-Chief Revenue Officers (CROs), sharing the responsibility for the Customer Success organization.
- Gilg, currently President and CPO of Cloud ERP, will oversee SAP Americas and the global SAP Business Suite.
- Raptopoulos, Regional President of SAP EMEA, will be in charge of the EMEA, MEE, and APAC regions.
With this structure, SAP aims for a combination of product and sales expertise to enhance customer relationships and ensure long-term success.
The three executives (Herzig, Gilg, and Raptopoulos) will report directly to SAP CEO Christian Klein and will be part of the SAP Expanded Council.
The Expanded Council: New Strategy for Digital Transformation
The SAP Expanded Council will act as a strategic advisory body, ensuring the proper execution of its AI-based strategy and the integration of its suite of solutions. This council will include key leaders from the company, including:
- Ada Agrait (Chief Marketing Officer)
- Michael Ameling (General Manager, Business Technology Platform)
- Sebastian Behrendt (Head of Global Finance)
- Jan Gilg (CRO, Americas & Global Business Suite)
- Philipp Herzig (CTO)
- Thomas Pfiester (Head of Global Customer Engagement)
- Emmanuel Raptopoulos (CRO, APAC/EMEA/MEE)
- Monika Schaller (Chief Communications Officer)
According to the company, this approach will facilitate strategic decision-making and enable a more efficient execution of SAP’s plans.
A More Agile SAP Ready for the Future
All these changes will come into effect on February 1, 2025, consolidating a new phase in SAP’s transformation. With a strengthened management team and a clear focus on innovation and operational efficiency, the company aims to position itself as the undisputed leader in the enterprise software and AI-first ecosystem.
With over 50 years in the market, SAP continues to evolve to meet the needs of its customers and remain at the forefront of global enterprise technology.