SAP shareholders elected René Obermann as designated supervisory board chairman with over 99 percent approval at the annual general meeting. The 63-year-old will assume the role only in 2027. This ends a years-long search for a successor to Hasso Plattner.
SAP's annual general meeting in Düsseldorf elected René Obermann to the supervisory board on Tuesday. He received approval from more than 99 percent of shareholders. The appointment as designated chairman ends a prolonged transition after co-founder Hasso Plattner extended his term multiple times.
Obermann is a prominent figure in German business. He served as Deutsche Telekom CEO for seven years and led Warburg Pincus's European business until 2024. He will chair Airbus's administrative board until 2027.
Current supervisory board chairman Pekka Ala-Pietilä praised Obermann as "an esteemed personality who brings technological expertise, comprehensive market understanding, and experience in the German corporate governance system." Ala-Pietilä, 67, stood for re-election for another year to ensure "a smooth transition phase and proper handover."
