Enterprise software company SAP has appointed Matthias Medert as its new Global Head of Sustainability, with responsibility for sustainability strategy across internal and external global operations at the company.

In his new role, Medert will focus on key priorities, including environmental stewardship, exploring which sustainable practices will help SAP achieve net zero by 2030 across the value chain, and human rights across the company’s operations, supply chain, and product life cycle, as well as AI ethics, with the sustainability team overseeing the production of responsible AI solutions, according to SAP.

In a social media post announcing the appointment, Medert said:

“As I step into this role, my commitment is clear: to foster a sustainable future that benefits not just our company, but society and the planet as a whole. We will prioritize environmental stewardship, human rights, and AI ethics, while ensuring SAP’s continued success as a thought- and action leader for sustainability. Let’s inspire each other, drive impactful outcomes, and make sustainability the cornerstone of our legacy.”

Medert takes on the new role after 26 years at SAP, initially joining the company as a product manager, and holding a series of senior management positions in licensing and customer adoption, including most recently serving as SVP Global Adoption Insights & License Compliance, with a focus on the intersection of customer needs and compliance across regions. He will take on the role from Daniel Schmid, who has announced his decision to retire after 30 years at SAP, including 10 years as Chief Sustainability Officer.

In a social media post announcing his retirement, Schmid said:

“From my first day, it has been a privilege to shape our company’s sustainability journey – I’m proud to always highlight SAP’s role as both an Exampler and Enabler and why it’s not enough to have a sustainability strategy but a sustainable business strategy.”