2023-08-29 14:14:20
New SAP Labor Director
Gina Vargiu-Breuer is to lead the difficult HR department at SAP.
Düsseldorf SAP has found a new labor director: Gina Vargiu-Breuer, who is responsible for global human resources at Siemens Energy, will take on the role from February 2024. She will succeed Sabine Bendiek, who is currently in charge of the “People & Operations” board department at the software manufacturer, and at the end of the year retires
The 48-year-old Siemens Energy manager is to “further advance the ongoing digital transformation on the HR side and provide decisive impetus,” explained the head of the supervisory board, Hasso Plattner, in a statement from SAP. In her role, she should also create “an even more efficient growth and learning environment”.
With the appointment, the Supervisory Board changes the structure of the management. Bendiek is Labor Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO) in one person. The 57-year-old is responsible for parts of the operative business, above all the optimization of processes – an important task for the specialist for business software.
However, there is internal criticism of the administration. According to corporate circles, the long-time boss of Microsoft Germany is concentrating on the operational business and giving little impetus in the human resources area. During the restructuring, in which 3,000 jobs will be cut, she seemed uninformed at times.
A course correction is now taking place: Gina Vargiu-Breuer, equipped with a three-year contract, is exclusively responsible for the human resources department. It was a conscious decision for a “full-blooded staffer,” says a person familiar with the vocation.
>> Read here: Head of HR Sabine Bendiek is leaving SAP
Strategy chief Sebastian Steinhäuser will take on the post of Chief Operating Officer in addition to his current role. He will report to CEO Christian Klein.
Vargiu-Breuer built up the human resources function at Siemens Energy after the spin-off from Siemens in 2020 and developed a strategy for “corporate transformation”, as reported by SAP in the announcement. In doing so, she closely involved managers and employees and made them “active co-creators”.
Software industry is new
The business psychologist previously worked for the Munich-based Dax group for around 17 years in various roles in human resources, including internationally. The software industry does not know her, but she has proven expertise, for example in the development of employees and the support of change processes.
SAP headquarters in Walldorf
Recently, the dissatisfaction among the employees of the software group has grown.
(Photo: Reuters)
SAP can use that. The Dax group is also going through a “transformation” – as it is always called internally. The software manufacturer, which has sold licenses for decades, is pursuing a “Cloud First” strategy under CEO Christian Klein. All business areas must align with this, from development to customer service. Sometimes it still gets stuck.
And the next technological upheaval is already on the horizon: With programs like ChatGPT, a new generation of artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged that is likely to change the technology industry significantly, for example through automation in software development. SAP is also currently dealing with this.
In the SAP announcement, Vargiu-Breuer emphasized that “long-term personnel management, an attractive working environment and highly motivated employees are a decisive factor”. Here, too, the manager should have a lot to do: There is a certain resentment among the SAP workforce, especially at the headquarters in Walldorf.
>> Read here: “AI will fundamentally change how people work with our software”
Although most employees consider the software manufacturer to be an attractive employer, trust in the board of directors is below average. Points of criticism include the salary increases, which have been well below inflation in recent years, and an austerity program that makes business travel and hiring more difficult.
Some classic HR issues are also currently up for debate. After the corona pandemic, management appealed to the workforce to be more present in the office again. In addition, the management is planning to return to a system with classic performance appraisals, “performance culture” is the internal buzzword.
The HR department is therefore in demand at SAP. However, the group will have to tackle many projects before Vargiu-Breuer begins. The appointment of an external candidate entails a long transition period. It should be at least nine months before the new head of HR takes office and is trained.
More: SAP employees give their board bad marks.
#Siemens #energy #manager #manager #SAP