SAP AG has announced the appointment of S. Singh Mecker as the head of the Global Ecosystem and Partner Group (GEPG) for SAP AG. Mecker, as senior vice president of GEPG, reports directly to SAP Executive Board Member John Schwarz, and is responsible for leading all strategic and operational aspects of the SAP ecosystem and partner programs on a global basis. Leadership of the group is being transitioned to Mecker from Zia Yusuf, who will be leaving the company in November to pursue other interests.

"Singh is an ideal choice to continue moving our global ecosystem forward," said Schwarz. "We are tremendously grateful for the contributions made by Zia during his tenure with the company. I am confident that Singh's leadership skills, strategic knowledge and comprehensive experience will build on the success of the ecosystem and make SAP the leading partner of choice."

In Mecker's previous position as head of the Global Software and Technology Partner organization at SAP, he was responsible for managing all activities of SAP technology and software partners globally. In addition, he oversaw all business development activity with independent software vendor (ISV) and technology partners, including the global portfolio of third-party solutions driving revenue for SAP and its partners. Mecker has a long and distinguished career in enterprise software. Prior to joining SAP, he served as senior vice president of Global Solutions and Alliances for BearingPoint. Previously, he was CEO at Valdero Corporation (acquired by One Network). Mecker also has extensive prior corporate experience serving as a partner at KPMG Consulting and in various management roles at PeopleSoft and Oracle. Mecker holds a master's degree in industrial engineering and management from Virginia Tech, in the U.S., and a bachelor's degree in engineering from Punjab University, India.

Over the last several years, SAP has fostered a thriving network of communities, launched and grown the SAP® PartnerEdge(TM) program, formed strategic partnerships with services and system integrator partners as well as software and technology partners, and launched the SAP® EcoHub solution marketplace, among other innovative programs. Today, with nearly two million members in its SAP® Community Networks online communities and an integrated and robust portfolio of over 6,900 partners, the SAP ecosystem is widely recognized as an industry-leading network that continuously drives growth for SAP and additional value to SAP customers.