Life goes on without Shai

“Today,” as the expression goes, “is the first day in the rest of your life.”

The old saw works for the corporate life and even companies. Monday, April 2, marks the first day in the rest of SAP’s life, but it’s a life they’ll be starting anew today without Shai Agassi.

In a software-side headline-making retirement on a level with say, Andre Agassi, Shai Agassi was reportedly miffed over the extension of CEO Henning Kagermann’s tenure as head of SAP. (Indeed, an official statement from SAP board chairman/co-founder Hasso Plattner stated that “With the extension of Henning’s contract to 2009, it became apparent that Shai was not comfortable committing to a 10- to 15- year period, which was not in keeping with his personal career time line.”)

Agassi tendered his resignation on Wednesday, and before you could say, “You can’t quit; you’re fired,” SAP had, in businesspeak, “realigned executive board responsibilities.” Agassi and SAP quickly came to a “mutual agreement” which involved the former executive board member leaving “to more quickly commit himself to his personal agenda of environmental policy and alternative energy sources, and other issues.”

That “more quickly” specifically meant today.

Perhaps as a sop to those many who recognize the Shai Agassi name, SAP PR wackily stated that “In making this announcement, SAP confirms its commitment to the company’s current product and platform strategy, and its dedication to the success of SAP customers and partners.”

“While we regret Shai’s decision to leave, we congratulate him on his record of achievement at SAP,” said Hasso Plattner, Chairman of the SAP Supervisory Board and company founder. “Shai drove the company’s successful platform strategy, led innovation that helped SAP grow and continue market leadership, as well as set the stage for the future of business software. I had shared with Shai my plan that he should become successor to Henning Kagermann as a co-CEO for SAP…”

“We have a strong development and product leadership team in place, we’ve made remarkable progress along the roadmap to enterprise SOA, and have a clear vision about new opportunities for volume business in the midmarket,” said Kagermann.

Said Agassi, “I will remember my time at SAP as one of the most satisfying periods of my career, and it has been my great pleasure to work with such outstanding and passionate people at SAP. I look forward to new opportunities, and working on issues that are important to me, including alternative energy and environmental policy issues, as well as the future of Israel.”

A more personal message from Agassi can be read on his blog.

Shai will be stay on the SAP bubble as a special consultant to the office of the chairman of the supervisory board on technology, innovation and competitive trends. Agassi founded a number of firms before joining SAP, including TopTier Software and TopManage, software development companies both bought out by SAP.

CRMchump wishes Agassi all the best of luck – especially if the man is serious about applying some of that business head and creative thinking to environmental issues – and good luck to his former company after the loss.

Optimistic thoughts, SAPpers!