Following through on plans to win more midsize businesses as customers, SAP AG has filled several key positions in its newly formed global small and medium-size enterprise (SME) unit.
Under the leadership of Hans-Peter Klaey, the new team aims to extend SAP’s position in the SME segment through a greater focus on customers and partners, and through an improved product alignment across the company’s internal business operations.
Among its other responsibilities, the team will be in charge of delivering the recently announced new version of SAP’s All-in-One business software targeted specifically at midsize companies. The new version is a scaled-down version of the company’s latest ERP (enterprise resource planning) application, mySAP ERP 2005, which includes its road map for enterprise SOA (services-oriented architecture).
The team will also oversee the delivery of a suite of hosted and on-demand business applications that SAP is currently developing for the midmarket. Customers will be able to set up and test the software on their own before deciding to make a purchase, using a “try, run and adapt” model.
Terrance Scerri has been appointed senior vice president of SME Indirect Channel, responsible for SAP’s PartnerEdge indirect channel program. He succeeds Donna Troy, executive vice president, who will leave the company to pursue other professional interests.
SME regional heads include Tom Kindermans, senior vice president SME in EMEA Central and Stephen Watts, senior vice president SME Asia Pacific. These appointments round out the regional leadership that includes Rodney Seligmann, executive vice president U.S. and North America, Luis Murguia, senior vice president Latin America and Toshifumi Kobe, vice president Japan.
Among the other appointments to the new global SME team are Michael Schmitt, senior vice president SME operations, Bobby Vetter, senior vice president SME Business Development, Emma Morice, senior vice president Midsize Enterprise Go-to-Market and Niels Stenfeldt, vice president SAP Business One.
SAP’s PartnerEdge channel business now serves 2,240 partners globally that have helped develop nearly 1,000 add-ons to SAP’s All-in-One software applications and its Business One application Currently, SAP serves more than 22,200 SME customers through its partner channel.