FRANKFURT, Feb 12 (Reuters) - SAP chairman Hasso Plattner will not interfere in the German business software maker's day-to-day operations despite taking on a bigger role in restructuring the company, he told a German magazine.
'I am chairman and chief software advisor,' Plattner told Der Spiegel in comments from an interview to be published on Monday.
'The supervisory board has asked me to possibly increase my role in this phase of change,' said Plattner, who co-founded the world's biggest business software maker in 1972.
SAP announced a surprise management reshuffle on Sunday that saw chief executive Leo Apotheker quit and the company return to a co-CEO structure.
'I will not interfere in daily operations,' Plattner said, adding he will not sign contracts or lead negotiations with customers.
Plattner also told the magazine Apotheker had not been fired. 'We do not hold anything against him. I just did not see myself in a position anymore to bridge the gap in trust between SAP's management and staff, especially in Germany but also in Europe.'
Apotheker, who had been CEO for just over seven months, was replaced by board members Bill McDermott and Jim Hagemann Snabe.
SAP announced more changes on Thursday.
Gerhard Oswald will become Chief Operating Officer succeeding Ernie Gunst, who is leaving SAP for health reasons. John Schwarz, responsible for Business Objects, which SAP acquired in 2007, resigned.
UBS said in a note that Schwarz's departure may have a negative impact on staff at Business Objects.
'Investors are likely to worry his loss may affect morale in the ex-BOBJ operations,' UBS analysts said.
'Some investors may worry about the limited experience of the board and its workload,' the analysts also said, echoing similar remarks from earlier in the week.
Plattner had said on Monday that SAP had had its best years under a co-CEO structure and emphasized the new leadership team would not be a short-term solution, dispelling speculation that one of the two men would eventually become sole chief executive.
(Reporting by Nicola Leske; editing by John Stonestreet) Keywords: SAP/ (nicola.leske@thomsonreuters.com; +49 69 7565 1214; Reuters Messaging: nicola.leske.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
'I am chairman and chief software advisor,' Plattner told Der Spiegel in comments from an interview to be published on Monday.
'The supervisory board has asked me to possibly increase my role in this phase of change,' said Plattner, who co-founded the world's biggest business software maker in 1972.
SAP announced a surprise management reshuffle on Sunday that saw chief executive Leo Apotheker quit and the company return to a co-CEO structure.
'I will not interfere in daily operations,' Plattner said, adding he will not sign contracts or lead negotiations with customers.
Plattner also told the magazine Apotheker had not been fired. 'We do not hold anything against him. I just did not see myself in a position anymore to bridge the gap in trust between SAP's management and staff, especially in Germany but also in Europe.'
Apotheker, who had been CEO for just over seven months, was replaced by board members Bill McDermott and Jim Hagemann Snabe.
SAP announced more changes on Thursday.
Gerhard Oswald will become Chief Operating Officer succeeding Ernie Gunst, who is leaving SAP for health reasons. John Schwarz, responsible for Business Objects, which SAP acquired in 2007, resigned.
UBS said in a note that Schwarz's departure may have a negative impact on staff at Business Objects.
'Investors are likely to worry his loss may affect morale in the ex-BOBJ operations,' UBS analysts said.
'Some investors may worry about the limited experience of the board and its workload,' the analysts also said, echoing similar remarks from earlier in the week.
Plattner had said on Monday that SAP had had its best years under a co-CEO structure and emphasized the new leadership team would not be a short-term solution, dispelling speculation that one of the two men would eventually become sole chief executive.
(Reporting by Nicola Leske; editing by John Stonestreet) Keywords: SAP/ (nicola.leske@thomsonreuters.com; +49 69 7565 1214; Reuters Messaging: nicola.leske.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.