SAP Switzerland with new heads at the top

These days, SAP Switzerland is making new appointments to various management positions. "With these new appointments, we are well positioned to support our customers and partners with innovations and proven expertise on their way to becoming highly competitive, sustainable companies," says Michael Locher-Tjoa, Managing Director SAP Switzerland, commenting on the personnel changes. "With the new position of Chief Sustainability Officer, we are also putting our strategy of broad-based commitment to a sustainable economy into action at SAP in Switzerland."

Newly created function of Chief Sustainability Officer

The newly created function of Chief Sustainability Officer is part of SAP's sustainability strategy. Behind it are various measures to reduce the carbon footprint, shift supply and value chains to circular processes to avoid waste, protect the planet and preserve biodiversity on Earth, and incorporate ESG (environment, social, governance) dimensions into financial reporting, according to the company. The new chief sustainability officer (SCO) is Sebastian Kaczynski, who SAP says is a professional "who has followed his passion for sustainability and has been working on innovations to solve sustainability problems since his student days." At both RWE and innogy, Kaczysnki was responsible for developing data-driven business models for a more sustainable energy system. During his more than six years at SAP, he held various roles in innovation, consulting and presales.

As CSO of SAP Switzerland, Sebastian Kaczynski aims to leverage SAP's expertise in sustainability, ecosystems and technologies to effectively support customers on their journey to smart and sustainable businesses. "At SAP, we believe that companies need to put sustainability at the heart of their business strategies and integrate sustainability data into their end-to-end processes. This is the only way they can gain the insights they need to transition to a more inclusive, regenerative, and net-zero economy and act accordingly," Sebastian Kaczynski specifies. He lives near Zurich, loves beautiful hiking and climbing trips, and is involved as a mentor and coach for disadvantaged people.

Alexander Finger is new Chief Technology Officer

The role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of SAP Switzerland will be assumed by Alexander Finger. He succeeds René Fitterer, who is taking on new responsibilities within SAP. Technology, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit have accompanied the new CTO since he started his working and professional life. In 1995, in an early phase of the Internet, he founded one of the first Internet service providers in Germany. The phase as a company founder was followed by positions at Deutsche Post and Geneva-based CPGmarket.com, and then many years at Swisscom, where he held various consulting and management positions. A good two years ago, he joined SAP Switzerland, where he looked after customers from the energy industry and initiated numerous forward-looking projects as an innovation ambassador.

Alexander Finger says he sees digital transformation with SAP as a tool for achieving sustainable success. "This requires close interaction with those people at our customers who work on the two axes of innovation: in the context of continuous improvement on the one hand, and in the area of disruptive innovation on the other," he elaborates. "Both groups have a need for technological innovation. We are properly positioned when SAP is the natural partner for business development." To achieve this, his central task is to communicate SAP's strategy and vision, as well as to actively seek dialog with customers, partners and colleagues.

Alexander Finger has been devoting himself to studying law part-time since 2015, graduating with a master's degree in 2021. Since November, he has been working on his doctorate at the University of Fribourg on the topic of "Internal Control Systems". After many years in France, Alexander Finger now lives with his wife in bilingual Murten. He likes to spend his sparse free time sailing and in the south of France.

Robert Kehrli: Newly responsible for SMEs at SAP Switzerland

The business unit that looks after SMEs and partner management has a new head in Robert Kehrli. He replaces Simon Hammer, who has accepted a new challenge outside SAP after four years in this position. Robert Kehrli brings 20 years of sales and management experience. Since 2016, he has held various management positions at SAP Switzerland, most recently that of Head of Business Technology Platform, where he ensured significant growth. Previously, he held various sales, support, consulting and management roles at IBM, Hewlett-Packard and its successor organization HPE. After an apprenticeship as an electromechanic, he continued his education until he earned a master's degree in business information systems.

In his new role, Robert Kehrli has made it his mission to drive the digital transformation and the development into an intelligent, sustainable company with the help of SAP technologies together with the partners in the SME segment. "A particular concern of mine is to lead and accompany our customers in the SME segment into the cloud together with our partners," emphasizes Robert Kehrli. "With our powerful team, we can generate innovative projects with real added value and serve customers and partners unbureaucratically, quickly and efficiently."

In addition to his professional activities, Robert Kehrli is heavily involved in the local soccer club, where he coaches the women's team and junior teams. Then, when he still has time besides his family, he enjoys skiing and golfing. Robert Kehrli is married, father of three adult children and lives in Zugerland.

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