Christian Klein
Summary
Christian Klein is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAP SE, a multinational software corporation based in Germany. He joined SAP in 1999 and has held various positions within the company. Klein became a member of the Executive Board in 2018 and served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) until 2021.
In October 2019, he was named Co-CEO of SAP SE but became the sole CEO in April 2020. As CEO, Klein is responsible for the strategic direction, management, and performance of SAP. He is focused on driving growth, innovation, and customer success. Klein holds a diploma in International Business Administration from the University of Cooperative Education in Mannheim, Germany. He is also a member of the Supervisory Board of Adidas AG.
Biography
Christian Klein is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAP SE, a multinational software corporation headquartered in Walldorf, Germany. Christian Klein was born in 1980 in Germany. He pursued his higher education at the University of Cooperative Education in Mannheim, Germany, where he obtained a diploma in International Business Administration. Christian Klein's career at SAP began in 1999 when he joined the company as a student. Over the years, he held various positions within the organization, gaining valuable experience and expertise in different areas.
In 2016, Klein was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of SAP, a role in which he served until 2021. As COO, he played a crucial role in overseeing SAP's global business operations and ensuring the efficient functioning of the company. In 2018, Christian Klein joined the Executive Board of SAP as the head of the Intelligent Enterprise Group. In this capacity, he had global responsibility for the development and delivery of SAP's core applications. He also held a cross-board area mandate for SAP's global business operations.
On October 11, 2019, Christian Klein was named Co-CEO of SAP SE, alongside Jennifer Morgan. This joint leadership arrangement was aimed at guiding SAP through a period of transition and transformation.
However, in April 2020, it was announced that Jennifer Morgan would depart the company, and Christian Klein would continue as the sole CEO of SAP SE. This decision was made to provide clear and focused leadership, particularly during challenging times. As the CEO of SAP, Christian Klein holds overall responsibility for the strategic direction, management, and performance of the company. He is dedicated to driving SAP's growth, innovation, and customer success.
In addition to his role at SAP, Christian Klein serves as a member of the Supervisory Board of Adidas AG, a publicly listed company based in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Christian Klein can be found on LinkedIn, where he shares professional updates and insights.
Vision
Christian Klein's vision aligns with SAP's overall strategic direction and goals. SAP aims to be a market leader in enterprise application software, helping companies of all sizes and industries run at their best by providing innovative solutions and driving digital transformation. Some key areas that may be part of Christian Klein's vision for SAP could include:
- Innovation and Technology Leadership: Fostering a culture of innovation and staying at the forefront of technological advancements to deliver cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of customers.
- Customer Success: Placing a strong focus on understanding and addressing customer challenges and providing them with solutions that drive business growth, efficiency, and competitive advantage.
- Digital Transformation: Helping organizations transform their operations and business models by leveraging intelligent technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, analytics, and cloud computing.
- Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility: Integrating sustainability principles into SAP's operations, products, and services, and making a positive impact on society and the environment.
- Collaboration and Partnerships: Building strong partnerships and alliances with customers, technology partners, and other stakeholders to foster innovation, co-innovation, and mutual success.
Recognition and Awards
References
Leadership - Christian Klein Chief Executive Officer (CEO) I SAP
From Teenage Intern to CEO of Software Giant: Christian Klein I C-Suite Spotlight
SAP CEO Christian Klein says there are more A.I. use cases coming down the pipeline I Youtube - CNBC Television
Christian Klein Chief Executive Officer SAP I Generation Unlimited
Christian Klein I Wikipedia
The New SAP: CEO Christian Klein Builds His Own Leadership Team I Acceleration Economy
Christian Klein CEO at SAP I The Org
Christian Klein CEO/Member-Mgmt Board, SAP SE I Bloomberg
Adidas - Christian Klein Chief Operational Officer SAP SE I Adida Group
Chief Executive Officer, SAP, Germany I World Economic Forum