A couple of weeks ago I met again with , the flamboyant deputy CEO of SAP, the largest independent software company. It was, again, a pleasant conversation. Apotheker has this rare combination of a German savvy, well articulated conversational executive, all summed up with a touch of French class and flirt.We had a mere 45 minutes for the interview, as Leo had a very busy schedule in front of him.

Miguel Cruz y Celis, the general manager of SAP Mexico, had arranged some meetings for him with important customers. I had the privilege of the only interview he conceded to the press. Leo is now a more relevant executive in the SAP ranks than he was two years ago when I first met him. Everybody thinks he will turn to be the next CEO, after Mr. Henning Kagermann steps down at the end of 2008. Leo has been with the German company for 23 years, and he is now running the company’s operations head-to-head with his colleague and friend Henning. After holding the role of President and General Manager of the French subsidiary from 1988 to 1991, he was appointed head of the Global Field Operations and global sales organization in May 2002, after serving two years as President of SAP EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) where he oversaw a period of dramatic growth in EMEA sales. Since 1998, he became a member of the Global Operational Management Team, a senior executive team leading all field operations and in July 1999, he was appointed to the Extended Executive Management Board of SAP AG, responsible for EMEA. When I asked him if his actual role as deputy CEO was a kind of training as to become the next CEO, I felt embarrassed with the bold response: “I don’t need any training. I am 54 years old and have been an executive for many years. Henning and me are a team, we can interchange roles. His contract expires in 2009 and the board won’t announce his successor until the end of next year”. Point made.

Monicami | Dec.21.2007 | My digital life |