Black to future for SAP NZ

By ADAM GIFFORD

A familiar face is back at the helm of SAP New Zealand, with Ian Black taking over as managing director after the departure of Viv Gurrey.

Black was SAP New Zealand's first employee in 1996, working with then managing director Geraldine McBride (who now heads SAP Australia and New Zealand) before crossing the Tasman in 1997.

More recently he has run SAP's operations in the Philippines and Indochina, where the company enjoyed significant market penetration during his watch.

SAP New Zealand is still recovering from the enterprise software slump of 2000 when it lost almost $3.1 million on revenue of $17.2 million, followed by a $3.4 million loss on $17.3 million revenue in 2001.

Gurrey left last month to spend more time with her young family. . Professional services director Karel Driessen has been acting managing director.

The winds of change sweeping through SAP are also reaching the top. Co-founder Hasso Plattner is due to step down as co-chief executive on May 9. Henning Kagermann will become sole chief executive.

Plattner, 59, will head the company's supervisory board.

A keen sailor, billionaire Plattner has strong links with Team New Zealand members, which led to SAP's sponsorship of the last America's Cup defence.

He was set to come to New Zealand for the regatta, but was becalmed in the Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro ocean race.

Last month, he handed control of technology development to Shai Agassi, who joined SAP with the acquisition of portal Top Tier.