Dive Brief:
- SAP CTO Juergen Mueller will step down effective Sept. 30 in the wake of "inappropriate" behavior during a company event, the software firm said Tuesday. SAP CEO Christian Klein will take over most of the Technology and Innovation Board oversight from Mueller, the company said.
- “I want to address an incident at a past company event where my behavior was inappropriate," said Mueller in a statement. "I regret being inconsiderate and sincerely apologize to everyone affected. I recognize my behavior at that moment did not reflect our values at SAP. I take full responsibility and believe stepping down is best for the company. I wish the team continued success.”
- As part of the change, SAP's Global Security & Cloud Compliance team will become part of the Customer Services & Delivery Board area led by executive board member Thomas Saueressig.
Dive Insight:
Mueller's departure, which SAP described as a mutual agreement, comes amid ongoing transformation at the Germany-based enterprise software giant.
In January, SAP announced a multibillion-dollar turnaround plan to bolster the company’s position as an AI provider and accelerate an ongoing shift to cloud-based software. The company expects the transformation will impact up to 10,000 roles, Klein said in July during the company's Q2 2024 earnings call.
Mueller, who joined SAP in 2013, played a key role in the company's creation of the SAP Business Technology Platform, a cloud-based suite of tools serving 23,000 customers. The platform is also helping infuse generative AI into operations, Klein said.
The company expects savings in the triple-digit million range thanks to the automation of internal processes through BTP's Generative AI hub, according to Klein. SAP also raised its projected operating profit for 2025, Klein said, citing the increased scope of its transformation program.
Prior to serving as CTO, Mueller was chief innovation officer at SAP for over two years. In April, SAP renewed Mueller's contract for a new three-year term, through 2027.
In an email Tuesday, an SAP spokesperson declined to provide further detail on the incident that led to Mueller's departure. The spokesperson also declined to say if the firm had plans to backfill Mueller's role.
