SAP CEO: Who is the CEO of SAP?
June 16, 2025
SAP CEO: Who is the CEO of SAP?
SAP SE is Europe's largest software company and a global leader in enterprise applications. At its helm since April 2020 is Christian Klein, a rare example of an intern-turned-chief executive who’s led SAP through a sweeping transformation toward cloud, AI, and enterprise intelligence.
Company Overview: What is SAP?
Founded: 1972 in Walldorf, Germany
Headquarters: Walldorf
Employees: ~107,000 globally
2024 Revenue: €32 billion
Market Cap: ~€296 billion—Europe’s most valuable firm in 2024
Core Business: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), cloud platforms, business intelligence, supply chain, HR, analytics
SAP has evolved from a legacy on-premise ERP vendor into a cloud-first, AI-powered intelligent enterprise.
SAP CEO: Christian Klein – From Intern to CEO
Christian Klein joined SAP in 1999 as a 15-year-old intern. Over two decades, he rose through finance, operations, and executive leadership to become SAP CEO in April 2020.
Milestone | Description |
|---|---|
Born | 1980, Mühlhausen/Heidelberg, Germany |
Education | Degree in International Business Administration, Mannheim |
1999 | Internship in support/IT |
2011–2012 | CFO of SuccessFactors acquisition |
2016–2020 | COO, driving cloud transformation |
2019 | Co-CEO with Jennifer Morgan |
Apr 2020 | Sole CEO |
Contract | Extended to 2028; elected Executive Board Chair |
Leadership Style & Strategic Vision of SAP CEO
Christian Klein is known for his disciplined, data-driven approach and focus on long-term execution.
Cloud Shift: Migrating ERP customers to cloud via "RISE with SAP"
AI Integration: Introducing SAP Joule Copilot and agentic AI into workflows
Customer Co-Innovation: Emphasizing ROI through real-world implementation
Partner Ecosystem: Collaborating with AWS, Microsoft, Google, Databricks, NVIDIA
SAP Performance Under CEO Klein
Cloud & AI Investments: Over €1 billion committed to AI in two years
Joule Launch: AI Copilot deployed to 300M+ users, expected to handle 80% of transactions
Agentic AI: Intelligent automation in finance, HR, supply chain
Market Performance: SAP stock up 56% in 2024, making it Europe’s most valuable tech firm
🎥 Video Feature: Who is the CEO of SAP
SAP CEO on Business AI and Strategic Partnerships
Watch Christian Klein here.
FAQ: Who is the CEO of SAP?
Who is the current CEO of SAP?
Christian Klein, CEO and Executive Board Chair since April 2020, with a contract running through 2028.
What defines his leadership?
Operational discipline, long-term vision, and a customer-first approach to AI-driven business transformation.
What is Joule?
SAP’s enterprise AI copilot, embedded across its software suite to automate workflows and boost productivity.
How has SAP performed under his leadership?
SAP’s stock surged, cloud subscriptions outpaced expectations, and AI adoption has accelerated globally.
What makes Klein unique?
He’s a homegrown leader—joining SAP as an intern and rising to its top position—committed to transforming how global business runs.
Final Thoughts: The SAP CEO in Perspective
Christian Klein has led SAP through a multi-year transformation, positioning the company at the forefront of enterprise AI and cloud. With Joule, RISE, and strategic alliances, SAP under Klein is redefining how large organizations manage complexity. He represents a new era of operationally grounded, tech-savvy leadership in global enterprise software.