SAP grows two heads

Apotheker joins Kagermann in driving seat

By Kelly Fiveash • Get more from this author

Posted in Financial News, 2nd April 2008 16:20 GMT

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SAP today announced that the firm’s deputy CEO Léo Apotheker will assume co-responsibility for the business software firm, alongside CEO Henning Kagermann.

The move is seen as confirmation that Apotheker, who joined the company in 1988 and has held a number of key exec positions, will take full control of SAP when Kagermann vacates the spot next year.

SAP co-founder and supervisory board chairman Hasso Plattner all but confirmed the likely transition.

He said in a statement: "Henning Kagermann requested that the supervisory board appoint Leo Apotheker as co-CEO in order to prepare him as successor in the best possible way during the remainder of Henning's tenure."

The SAP board today gave the green light to that request.

Kagermann’s contract with the firm is set to come to an end in 2009, paving the way for Apotheker – who took on the deputy CEO role last year – as SAP’s potential new boss. ®

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