Friday, March 30, 2007
Rift Over Co-CEO Caused Agassi to Leave SAP
Rift Over Co-CEO Caused Agassi to Leave SAP: "Agassi and Leo Apotheker, president of SAP's Global Customer Solutions & Operations, were front runners for the top spot at SAP.
And from the look of today's announcements—Apotheker was named deputy CEO, alongside Kagermann—the board was clearly considering a co-leadership role between Agassi and Kagermann. SAP executives stressed that it was this rift that led Agassi to give up his coveted role at SAP—and not the explosive legal claim brought by Oracle last week that alleges theft on a grand scale by TomorrowNow, SAP's subsidiary that provides third-party support for Oracle's applications.
'This has nothing to do whatsoever with Oracle,' said Kagermann. 'The proof is this meeting, which was issued before Oracle launched its broad attack.'
When asked about his thoughts as to whether Agassi would have been named to the top spot should his contract not been renewed, Kagermann responded strongly. 'I will not be pushed by anyone inside our outside of SAP to make comments about public positions,' he said. 'That's it. Period.'
Whatever the reasons behind Agassi's resignation—the reasons not outlined in a press release—SAP is clearly under pressure. Oracle's lawsuit, whether specious or not, is shedding a negative light on the company in what has been a tough year on the financial front."
And from the look of today's announcements—Apotheker was named deputy CEO, alongside Kagermann—the board was clearly considering a co-leadership role between Agassi and Kagermann. SAP executives stressed that it was this rift that led Agassi to give up his coveted role at SAP—and not the explosive legal claim brought by Oracle last week that alleges theft on a grand scale by TomorrowNow, SAP's subsidiary that provides third-party support for Oracle's applications.
'This has nothing to do whatsoever with Oracle,' said Kagermann. 'The proof is this meeting, which was issued before Oracle launched its broad attack.'
When asked about his thoughts as to whether Agassi would have been named to the top spot should his contract not been renewed, Kagermann responded strongly. 'I will not be pushed by anyone inside our outside of SAP to make comments about public positions,' he said. 'That's it. Period.'
Whatever the reasons behind Agassi's resignation—the reasons not outlined in a press release—SAP is clearly under pressure. Oracle's lawsuit, whether specious or not, is shedding a negative light on the company in what has been a tough year on the financial front."
