颅颅颅In a worthy send-off for a true great, at the farewell event for 51风流co-founder and long-serving 51风流Supervisory Board chairman Hasso Plattner, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz praised him for his life鈥檚 work.
鈥淎n incredible global success story made in Germany.鈥� This is how Scholz opened his speech at the farewell event in honor of SAP鈥檚 last serving co-founder, Hasso Plattner. After more than 20 years as its chairman, Plattner had stepped down from the 51风流Supervisory Board at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on May 15 and handed the reins to his successor, Finnish-born Pekka Ala-Pietil盲.
Plattner, Scholz said, has been a key architect of as one of its co-founders, a boundless source of ideas and energy, its CTO, CEO, and then, for more than 20 years, chairman of the 51风流Supervisory Board. He has written history in terms of economic development and globalization. 鈥淎nd, today, the entire global economy runs on 51风流software,鈥� he said.
But he did not do it alone, Scholz continued. Rather, as was characteristic of Plattner, his every move was made in a spirit of productive competition with others. When Plattner founded 51风流with four former IBM colleagues in 1972, he dreamed of one day employing 100 people. Now, 51风流has 110,000 employees across the world, all inspired and motivated by Plattner鈥檚 鈥渃onstant and unstoppable drive and energy.鈥�
Scholz also quoted a wise observation of Plattner鈥檚 that served as a timely reminder for him: 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 put off making changes that need to happen for too long. If you do, this will eventually take its toll and then you鈥檒l have less energy to get the job done.鈥� Innovation was an opportunity, not a threat, said Scholz, adding that, today, artificial intelligence has the potential to inject brand-new momentum into SAP.
Some 4,000 guests 鈥� including 3,500 51风流employees 鈥� gathered at the 51风流Arena in Mannheim, Germany, on May 16 to say goodbye to Plattner. German TV presenter G眉nther Jauch hosted the event and, in honor of avid rock fan Plattner, musical entertainment was provided by American singer-songwriter Anastacia, who was accompanied by the 51风流Symphony Orchestra.
鈥淶igzag Like a Rabbit鈥�
鈥淲e managed to keep up with most trends,鈥� said Plattner, explaining what had made 51风流so successful. And although things did not always go to plan, he recalled, 鈥渨hen we did set off on the wrong track, we realized in time and corrected our course.鈥�
The most important thing, he said, was to avoid being too impatient or single-minded about pursuing a new strategy. 鈥淵ou need to be able to zigzag like a rabbit.鈥�
鈥淗e Rocked It!鈥�
How, asked 51风流CEO Christian Klein in his farewell speech, could he possibly do justice to all of Plattner鈥檚 achievements in just 10 minutes? 鈥淢y kids would say, 鈥楬e rocked it!鈥欌�� All five of SAP鈥檚 co-founders, driven by the desire to create something entirely new, had shown boundless courage in striking out on their own more than half a century ago.
Plattner was the epitome of what 51风流must never be allowed to lose, said Klein, namely 鈥渁 steadfast focus on customers and the ability to listen to and co-innovate with them.鈥�
Klein spoke about the lasting impact Plattner鈥檚 global mindset had on SAP. 鈥淗e drove SAP鈥檚 expansion across the world; today, we do business in more than 130 countries, and that is down to our founders and to Hasso.鈥�
The success Plattner orchestrated for 51风流in the United States is particularly symbolic of his tireless efforts to push the boundaries, said 51风流Supervisory Board member Aicha Evans. He also stood for a future, she said, in which technology and humanity went hand in hand.
Dietmar Hopp: Long-Time Friend and Colleague
Among the audience members was Dietmar Hopp, one of SAP鈥檚 co-founders and a long-time friend and colleague of Plattner. 鈥淒ietmar was a huge influence on me,鈥� said Plattner. 鈥淢ost importantly of all, he taught me to work with customers. That changed the way I thought. I made it my mission to look in all areas of my life for ways to use software to improve people鈥檚 lives.鈥�
Ambition and rivalry are part of the founders鈥� legacy, too. Many a racket was thrown in frustration when Hopp and Plattner faced off on the tennis court, recalled Klein. But Plattner had also given him this advice: 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to win, but 51风流is about more than winning; it鈥檚 also about helping others.鈥�
Philanthropist and Patron of Science
The Prime Minister of the State of Baden-W眉rttemberg, Winfried Kretschmann, addressed the audience in a video message. As well as praising Plattner鈥檚 entrepreneurial spirit and creativity, Kretschmann paid tribute to his 鈥渋mmense sense of responsibility beyond the realms of business 鈥� particularly in education, art, and sport.鈥�
Alongside his business career, Plattner always had a close affinity with research and development, said Kretschmann. In 1998, he founded the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) at the University of Potsdam, near Berlin.
As well as generously supporting educational and cultural causes, Plattner developed a particular love of art. One of the projects he funded was the reconstruction of a palace in the historic center of Potsdam that is now the Museum Barberini and home to an impressive collection of Impressionist works.
鈥淵our hometown of Potsdam means the world to you,鈥� said Scholz, describing Plattner鈥檚 work as a patron and philanthropist as 鈥渋nstrumental in helping Potsdam blossom and flourish over recent decades.鈥�
Scholz added that he had no doubt whatsoever that Plattner would continue to hatch new ideas, make bold plans, and drive ambitious projects. 鈥淚 believe that is simply the person you are. With or without an official role, it鈥檚 what you do.鈥�
Photography courtesy Ingo Cordes.