Christian Klein is the CEO of SAP, a leading software company specializing in enterprise resource planning (ERP) and other business management solutions. Having joined SAP in 1999, Klein has held various positions within the company and now leads its strategic direction, management, and performance. Under his leadership, SAP has experienced significant growth and successfully navigated a major shift towards a cloud-first strategy.
Who is the CEO of SAP?
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Christian Klein, born in 1980, is a German national who holds a diploma in International Business Administration from the University of Cooperative Education in Mannheim, Germany. He began his career at SAP in 1999 as a student and has since held various positions within the company, including Chief Financial Officer of SAP SuccessFactors, Chief Controlling Officer, and Chief Operating Officer. In 2018, Klein joined the SAP Executive Board as the head of the Intelligent Enterprise Group. He was named Co-CEO of SAP SE alongside Jennifer Morgan in 2019 and became the sole CEO in April 2020.
Under his leadership, SAP has undergone a significant turnaround, implementing a cloud-first strategy and expanding strategic relationships with leading cloud vendors. Klein's vision, courage, and decisiveness have been recognized as key factors in SAP's achievements, including the growth of its cloud business and flagship ERP offerings.
Work History
- SAP: Co-CEO, COO, and Member of the Executive Board (February 2020 - Present)
- SAP: CEO & Member of the Executive Board (February 2020 - February 2021)
- Adidas: Member of the Supervisory Board (February 2020 - Present)
- SAP: Chief Operating Officer & Member of the Executive Board (February 2018 - February 2021)
- SAP: Chief Operating Officer & Chief Controlling Officer (February 2016 - February 2017)
- SAP: Chief Controlling Officer, Head of Global Controlling (February 2015 - February 2016)
- SAP: Head of SAP Corporate Controlling (February 2013 - February 2015)
- SAP: CFO SAP Cloud and SuccessFactors (February 2012 - February 2013)
- SAP: CCO Products & Solutions (P&S) (February 2011 - February 2012)
- SAP: CCO Services and COO (February 2008 - February 2011)
- SAP: Senior Controller, Global Service & Support (GSS) Finance Team (February 2005 - February 2008)
- SAP: Controller, Global Service & Support Operations (February 2004 - February 2005)
- SAP: Business Unit Controlling Active Global Support (February 2002 - February 2003)
- SAP: Student (February 1999 - February 2002)
Education History
Christian Klein holds a diploma in International Business Administration from the Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) in Mannheim, Germany. DHBW is known for its unique dual education system, which combines academic studies with practical experience in partner companies. This educational background provided Klein with a strong foundation in business administration and management, which has been instrumental in his successful career at SAP.
When did Christian Klein join SAP?
Christian Klein joined SAP in 1999 as a student and has since held various positions within the company. He became the co-CEO of SAP SE alongside Jennifer Morgan in October 2019, and later assumed the role of sole CEO in April 2020. As of now, Christian Klein has been with SAP for over two decades, contributing significantly to the company's growth and success.