A shift in leadership is underway at SAP Germany, signaling a potential strategic recalibration within the software giant. According to reports in the Handelsblatt, citing company sources, Sven Mulder will be stepping down from his position as Managing Director of SAP Germany at the turn of the year. Dirk Häußermann, currently holding a senior leadership role in the Middle and Eastern Europe region for SAP, will assume Mulder’s responsibilities.
The appointment of Häußermann, whose prior experience includes significant sales roles at IBM and Informatica and a stint as Co-CEO of German software company Atoss until 2024, is being portrayed by SAP as a move to bolster customer focus. Alex Kläger, President of SAP’s Middle and Eastern Europe operations, lauded Häußermann as “a very experienced leader with a strong customer orientation”. However, the change raises questions about the direction SAP intends to take with its crucial German subsidiary.
While SAP increasingly emphasizes its global operations, the German Landesgesellschaft remains critically important. It represents SAP’s second-largest market, trailing only the United States, boasting a staggering €5.36 billion in revenue for 2024 – a nine percent increase year-on-year – and employing approximately 6,000 individuals. The managing director’s role carries significant weight, overseeing both sales and operational activities.
The departure of Mulder, who has steered the German branch for a considerable period, alongside the incoming emphasis on aggressive sales expansion championed by Häußermann, could signal a shift in strategy. Critics suggest this might indicate a move away from the traditionally collaborative approach favored by Mulder, potentially prioritizing short-term revenue gains over long-term relationship building. Furthermore, some analysts are questioning whether the focus on a sales-driven leader reflects a broader anxiety within SAP regarding competitive pressures in the German market, particularly from emerging cloud-based solutions. The transition will be closely watched as SAP navigates a dynamic economic landscape and strives to maintain its dominance in the enterprise software sector.
