DUBAI– The SAP User Group of the Middle East and North Africa (SUGMENA) has launched a new networking forum of senior-level executives from companies across MENA that are using SAP, with the objective to influence SAP’s strategic direction and alignment with market needs.
SUGMENA, a non-profit organization that all customers using SAP in the region can join as members, has a vision to collaborate and exchange experiences, knowledge, best practices, and industry expertise among peers.
The first launch of the C-Council took place at the recent 2014 SAP Forum and SUGMENA Annual Conference in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Dubai, UAE was a strong success, with overwhelming interest and response demonstrating joint commitment on behalf of SAP and its customers.
In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, SUGMENA was honoured to host Dr. Werner Brandt, Member of Executive Board of SAP AG and Chief Financial Officer, and Luka Mucic, Member of the Executive Board of SAP AG, Head of Global Finance, who has taken over the CFO role upon Brandt’s retirement as of 1 July. The global executives shared board insights at the launch of this exclusive C-Council.
“In support of the region’s businesses in their IT transformation and growth, the C-Council will drive discussions on key innovations like cloud integration and security, which are impacting customers at a rapid pace,” said William Khalil, Influence and Liaison Director, SUGMENA.
SUGMENA formed the C-Council following approval from the SUGMENA Board of Directors, in order to enrich the MENA region with a higher level of strategic discussions between the customer and SAP. SUGMENA pledged to continue its focus on management issues, and challenges operational in nature, under a different channel of communication. In the coming months, the C-Council will form and establish its charter and corporate governance.
“As the MENA region continues to grow, SAP welcomes the formation of the C-Council and looks forward to the open collaboration as we encourage and maintain an environment of innovation, simplification, and execution in the company,” said Sam AlKharrat, President, SAP MENA, and an Executive Sponsor of the SUGMENA C-Council.