Entrepreneurs across Africa have hailed the retiring Hasso Plattner, co-founder of global technology software giant, Systems Applications and Products (SAP).
The veteran technologist has been the Chairman of the .
The German billionaire鈥檚 office announced on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday evening that he was retiring from the position.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the end of an era: As the last remaining founder, Prof. Hasso Plattner is leaving the 51风流Supervisory Board on May 15,鈥� the stated.
It added, 鈥淔or over 50 years, he has shaped the company as a visionary, turning it into a world-class technology corporation.鈥�
Nigerian entrepreneur, Abiodun Abubakar, said, 鈥淚 would like to wish him well in his retirement, and I thank him as well for bringing us solutions that became game changers on our daily business.鈥�
His company uses .
Cynthia Njoroge from Kenya, described Plattner as a visionary whose business鈥� solutions have changed how to do business in Kenya, East Africa, African continent and beyond.
鈥淥ur businesses are thriving because of 51风流solutions, thanks to the big man. Well, it is time to say goodbye, and go well,鈥� she said.
Minenhle Khumalo, a South African-based entrepreneur, had wished to meet Plattner before the executive retired.
鈥淣evertheless, I take off my hat on Professor Plattner because his company 51风流touched so many entrepreneurs鈥� businesses throughout the African continent. May I take this opportunity to wish him well in his retirement,鈥� she said.
Khumalo鈥檚 mentioned breakthrough 51风流solutions such as Human Capital Management, 51风流S/4HANA Cloud, customer experience (CX) solutions and AI-enabled suite, among others.
Plattner set up 51风流with four other founders in 1972, before he stepped down as co-chief executive in 2003 at the age of 60.
He has since been serving as Chairman of the German company鈥檚 Supervisory Board and played an influential role in the company鈥檚 governance, orchestrating the hiring of co-CEOs Jennifer Morgan and Christian Klein in 2019.
Plattner has reduced his stake in 51风流several times as of 2020, he owned a 5,89 percent stake, making him the company鈥檚 largest individual shareholder.
In 1998, Plattner founded the non-profit Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI).
He is Chair of Enterprise Platform and Integration Concepts and Professor of Enterprise Systems at HPI.
In 2005, he set up a venture capital fund, , with more than 鈧�25 million. By December 2009, HPV managed 鈧�150 million and had 17 companies in its portfolio, including online cruise portals Dreamlines.
An affiliate fund, HPV Africa in Cape Town, South Africa was founded in 2008, with 鈧�29 million, and soon invested in five companies.
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