ASUG Exclusive: A Candid Conversation with SAP CEO Christian Klein

ASUG Exclusive: A Candid Conversation with SAP CEO Christian Klein

With the release of the Q3 earnings, there has been a lot of talk in the press surrounding SAP and its commitment to North America. SAP CEO Christian Klein will sit down with ASUG CEO Geoff Scott for a live discussion on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 12:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. CT.  

Geoff and Christian will discuss the following, and more: 

• The current state of the customer mindset in North America (cost pressures, uncertainty with COVID-19, prioritization of key projects, etc.)
• SAP’s strategy and how it will help customers achieve business outcomes
• Why SAP remains a key technology partner for North American customers
• Christian’s vision for SAP in 2–5 years
• Where customers should devote their time and attention to SAP’s product portfolio and why 

ASUG members will be able to submit questions for the live Q&A.

ASUG connects you to the people, resources, and road maps you need to succeed with SAP.

About Christian Klein:

Christian Klein is Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and member of the Executive Board of SAP SE. In his role as COO, Klein leads SAP’s transformation into an Intelligent Enterprise by focusing on business process simplification, global IT, product and services quality, portfolio and investment strategy, intelligent data and analytics, and value achievement through digital innovation adoption to the benefit of both customers and employees.

Prior to becoming CEO, Klein in addition to his role as COO was heading the Intelligent Enterprise Group, combining global responsibility for the development and delivery of SAP’s core applications with the cross-board area mandate for SAP’s global business operations. Klein’s Intelligent Enterprise Group drove SAP’s digital core development functions and product management. This included SAP’s flagship product SAP S/4HANA, SAP Digital Supply Chain, and managing SAP’s rich industry-specific portfolio.

Klein started his career at SAP in 1999 as a student. He held various positions in Active Global Support Operations, Services Operations, and Global Controlling, and served as Chief Financial Officer of SAP SuccessFactors (2011-2012). In 2014, he became Chief Controlling Officer and on April 1, 2016, he was named Chief Operating Officer. Since October 11, 2019, Christian Klein and Jennifer Morgan were Co-CEOs of SAP SE; on April 20, 2020, Christian Klein was appointed sole CEO of SAP SE.

Klein holds a diploma in International Business Administration from the University of Cooperative Education in Mannheim, Germany.

About Geoff Scott:

As CEO of ASUG, Geoff believes that the connections we make for our members have the potential to become career-defining relationships that inspire innovation and success for their organizations. His forward-thinking leadership prioritizes helping our members make the most of their investment in SAP technologies. To that end, Geoff works closely with customers, members, the SAP Executive Board, and the extensive partner ecosystem to amplify the voice of the SAP customer. Additionally, he enjoys the time he’s able to spend with our members at ASUG conferences, events, as well as in informal meetings.

Geoff has more than 20 years of leadership and technology experience, including seven years of extensive SAP implementation and operations experience. His background in the automotive, food, retail, and startup spaces brings valuable, broad-based experience to ASUG. Past positions include CIO for TOMS Shoes, where he led the implementation of SAP; CIO at JBS; and senior leadership positions at Ford Motor Company. Before becoming CEO, Geoff was an ASUG member and served on the board.

Geoff has served on a number of philanthropic boards and is the founding member of the Denver CIO Executive Council. He is a proud Spartan and alum of Michigan State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting as well as his MBA. In his spare time, Geoff is an avid sports photographer in his community and challenges himself to keep up his application development skills by creating apps for his own enjoyment and use. Connect with Geoff on Twitter @gscott16.