Microsoft’s VP for its Azure cloud platform has jumped ship to join SAP in the role of chief technology officer.
Quentin Clark replaces Vishal Sikka, the man widely seen as the brains behind SAP’s in-memory database HANA. Vishal Sikka was appointed Infosys CEO last year.
Clark will be responsible for the future direction of SAP’s technology, and will report to executive board member Bernd Leukert.
"I am very pleased to have Quentin join SAP," said Leukert. "He is not only an impressive technologist who thrives on pursuing a meaningful vision but at the same time a passionate leader.
"He enjoys taking a full view of business, technology, product, team and customers. I am sure that Quentin will significantly contribute to shaping and executing our technology strategy and turning opportunities into innovation."
Clark was at Microsoft for 20 years, and most recently held responsibility for the design and delivery of Microsoft’s data platform products. Thios was in addition to the transformation of the data platform to the cloud, delivering the first wave of Microsoft Azure’s Data Platform products.
Sikka appeared at Oracle’s OpenWorld 2014 event in San Francisco in September, where he emphasised his new firm’s strong partnership with Oracle technology, despite his history with rival SAP.
