Veteran site expert Axel Angeli isn't known for shying away from controversy, most recently proven in his guest column "Shai is gone — Hurray!". Needless to say, this controversial entry into the Shai Agassi resignation aftermath has sparked quite a bit of debate and more than one set of raised hackles in the SAP world.

Naeem Hashmi, CRO of Information Frameworks, is another veteran expert with a few things to say about Shai debacle. His verdict is perhaps a bit less abrasive than Axel's, but there are certain similarities. Here's his guest column:

Tribute to Shai - Psychology of a Visionary

Almost two years back at the Sapphire '05, a few colleagues asked me: How were the keynotes? My reply: Most keynotes were as usual, but Shai Agassi's keynote was a 'recital'. I sensed then that the euphoria of NetWeaver implementation is wearing down the 'Mind of a Visionary.' Real implementation of NetWeaver, though will be a success, is a long proposition and the visionary mind of Shai just could not recite the same slides over and over, year after year to almost the very same crowd.  

Visionaries starve for new food for thought. Visionaries have a very small 'digestive' tract. They are eager to 'chew' the next unknown 'food for thought' even when present food is still being swallowed, so to speak. That's really my comment meant about Shai's Keynote at the Sapphire '05…  The energy, the excitement on Shai's face was not coming naturally from inside but was much like a directed recital.

A full scale Services Oriented SAP implementation will span several years of hard work with many years of co-existence with good, ol' R/3 modules. This long path was just too much of ESA regurgitation for a visionary mind. SAP now has a good platform and a solid module-oriented 'German-disciplined-team' that will provide rock solid SAP/ESA solutions in the years to come.

And for now, the 'Mind of a Visionary' is getting ready for his next swim in the uncharted waters of a more pressing challenge facing the world, the energy and climate change. And I am sure the 'Mind of a Visionary' will be back in full speed and ready to 'chew' long new 'foods for thought' and the outcome will make significant difference for the generations to come, much more than the ESOA.

Much as Shai is a likeable guy in person, perhaps it is best for SAP and its customers that things played out the way they did? Or will his departure mean that SAP's innovative streak has come to an end, to the joy and delight of the competition? You be the judge. Sound off below or send us an email — we're always interested to hear from you.

Matt Danielsson
Editor

Shai Agassi personally wrote a letter on the SAP Network Blogs that included an e-mail sent to all employees of SAP:

"I remember five years ago, on the day I joined the SAP board, one of you asked me in a town hall meeting 'why am I at SAP?' The answer I gave was that 'I came to SAP to work and fell in love with the company'."

"I will now move on to my next challenge in life, hoping to apply what I have learned at SAP to create solutions for various problems that affect us all as a global tribe. I truly hope that my next set of challenges will be able to match the immense experience I gathered through my years at SAP. I leave the company with a heavy heart, feeling that I leave a home, yet I also feel that I am not leaving the family SAP has become for me. I hope to play some role in our community, and stay close to all of you – I am now your biggest fan."

We will continue to update you on related news as it unfolds.

Eric Samuels
Assistant Editor 

SAP just released a statement confirming that Shai Agassi will resign, effective April 1, 2007. Hasso Plattner, chairman of the SAP Supervisory Board and company founder, had this to say:

"While we regret Shai's decision to leave, we congratulate him on his record of achievement at SAP. 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. 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 timeline. Given this, I made the recommendation to the Supervisory Board that we change our plans and now adjust SAP's executive management team responsibilities."

We'll keep you updated as this story develops, and will have something for tomorrow on SearchSAP.com.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Shai Agassi, president of SAP’s product and technology group and heir apparent to CEO Henning Kagermann, is set to resign from the company. SAP is refusing to comment on the report, according to Forbes.com.

According to the Wall Street Journal report:

“[…] in a move that could preface a management shuffle at the German software giant.

Shai Agassi, president of SAP’s product and technology group and architect of SAP’s Netweaver software, is leaving the company to pursue interests in alternative energy and climate change, says a person familiar with the move.”

If true, SAP is obviously in for a huge shake-up in its management team and probably needs to rewrite Kagermann’s succession plans. I wonder how Léo Apotheker feels right now…

Check back here and on SearchSAP.com for more information as this story develops.