Business software major SAP announced the elevation of Christian Klein, the current COO, to the SAP Executive Board effective Jan. 1, 2018 with additional responsibilities.
Christian Klein, 37, has served as COO of SAP since April 1, 2016. His role included optimization of internal processes, development of an automated and integrated IT infrastructure and controlling. Christian Klein joined SAP in 1999 as a student.
Christian Klein holds a diploma in international business administration from the University of Cooperative Education in Mannheim, Germany.
Christian Klein, who is chief operating officer (COO) of SAP, will retain his current role. In the new board area, Global Business Operations, he will continue to work enterprise-wide to build a high-performance IT organization as well as to achieve closer integration among all board areas.
Global Business Operations will coordinate the internal activities at SAP that support the Run Simple program, drive simplification and modernization of core business processes and align them with SAP’s cloud and platform strategy.
SAP is setting the course for its digital transformation and transition to a cloud company. The goal is to create a stronger organization that makes faster decisions, shows internal agility and flexibility and is ready to face new challenges in the technology industry.
“Despite his youth, he has the necessary background to make our organization and processes even faster, more efficient and ready for future challenges. His appointment is further evidence that SAP identifies young talent internally at an early stage and promotes them to management roles,” said Hasso Plattner, chairman of the Supervisory Board of SAP.
The Supervisory Board of SAP has extended Michael Kleinemeier’s Executive Board contract till December 31, 2019. Kleinemeier’s contract was due to expire end of October 2018. Kleinemeier is responsible for Digital Business Services (DBS) Board area.
