Poor SAP Succession Causes Loss of Vital Technologist

Most companies think of succession as a CEO issue - and it is. But it spills out into other areas as well. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Shai Agassi, president of SAP's product and technology group, is leaving for other opportunities. He was considered one of the potential successors to CEO Henning Kagermann. But the latter just extended his contract through 2009, so Agassi is on his way out, probably looking for a place with greater career opportunities. Unfortuantely for SAP, this is not a run of the mill departure. Agassi, who joined in 2001, was head of a critical new technical direction for SAP: more flexible software that could use the Internet in better ways. In other words, he was in charge of the company's hope for the long-term future. Agassi may have lost out on the corner office, but guess who the real business loser is?