Early Life
Hasso Plattner was born in Berlin, Germany, on January 21, 1944. He studied communications engineering at the University of Karlsruhe, earning a master's degree. He started his professional career at IBM in 1968.
Rise to Success
In 1972, Plattner and four colleagues left IBM to establish SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing) in Weinheim, Germany. The company was founded with the vision of creating standard software for real-time data processing. SAP's initial product was a financial accounting system, evolving into comprehensive enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. Plattner served as CEO of SAP until 2003 and later became the chairman of the supervisory board until May 2024.
Key Business Strategies
SAP's key strategies included the development of integrated software modules and centralized data storage. The company expanded globally, launching SAP R/3 in 1992, which facilitated the transition to a globalized economy. SAP also embraced cloud technology, with cloud services managing a significant portion of its client operations. SAP has continued to innovate, introducing SAP HANA and S/4HANA to revolutionize data processing.
Philanthropy
Plattner is a committed philanthropist, supporting various causes through the Hasso Plattner Foundation, established in 2015. He signed The Giving Pledge in 2013. His philanthropic efforts focus on education, conservation, and the arts. The Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) in Potsdam, Germany, and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford University are key initiatives. He has also supported HIV/AIDS research and cultural heritage.
