SAP Taps Microsoft Vet to Lead Central and Eastern Europe as Buyback Continues

SAP has appointed Hermann Erlach as the head of its Central and Eastern Europe region, tapping a former Microsoft Austria executive to lead operations across 24 countries.

Erlach arrives with leadership experience gained at US rival Microsoft's Austrian business. The appointment is part of broader organizational surgery at SAP, which has agreed on job security through the end of 2028 with its works council.

The company is also pressing ahead with its capital-return program, having picked up a further 590,000 shares valued at EUR 108,368,601.00, lifting the cumulative volume to 8,895,886 shares.