Bold Names How SAP's CEO Is Remaking the European Tech Giant For The Age Of AI
Jan 30, 2026
Christian Klein, CEO of SAP who led its bold shift to cloud and AI, discusses steering a 50-year-old software giant through upheaval. He talks risk-taking, internal change, building an AI layer for enterprise processes, and why Europe should focus on applied AI in industries like manufacturing and utilities.
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The Risky Cloud Pivot That Shook SAP
- Christian Klein recounts the 2020 cloud pivot that triggered a 20% share drop and forced massive change across SAP.
- He says leadership, constant communication, and a supportive internal network were key to steadying the company.
Adoption Beats One-Time Sales
- Moving to cloud changed SAP's success metric from sales to customer adoption and satisfaction.
- Klein frames this as a mindset shift requiring embedding customer success into the company's DNA.
Engage Every Stakeholder Early
- Map and engage every stakeholder (employees, works council, partners, customers, investors) before transforming core business models.
- Use inside knowledge to navigate local labor rules and partner ecosystems during big change.