Our Take:
- Juergen Mueller, SAP’s CTO, will leave the company by the end of September due to inappropriate conduct at a past company event, for which he issued a public apology.
- Mueller joined SAP in 2013 and became CTO in 2019, playing a central role in the company’s cloud strategy and leading the “business technology platform.”
- SAP CEO Christian Klein will take over most technology responsibilities, while Thomas Saueressig will manage global security and cloud compliance.
- Mueller’s exit highlights ongoing cultural concerns at SAP, including prior reports of harassment, bullying, and misconduct at company events.
Mueller’s resignation follows his admission of inappropriate behavior, a move he described as taking responsibility and doing what is best for the company. His leadership was critical to SAP’s cloud computing expansion, and in April 2024 his contract had been extended to 2027, signaling prior confidence in his role. His departure, coupled with recent exits of other executives like Scott Russell and Julia White, could raise questions about stability in SAP’s leadership team. Meanwhile, SAP’s stock remains stable despite these internal issues, up 43% year-to-date, indicating investor confidence in the company’s broader strategic direction.
