Senior overseas role calls SAP managing director

SAP New Zealand managing director Geraldine McBride is about to take up a promotion to a new senior position with SAP overseas.

The company is currently interviewing for her replacement, who will be announced at the end of the month, when the company will also confirm Ms McBride's new role.

Ms McBride has headed SAP's New Zealand operation for the past four years through a period of strong growth.

In 1996, when she was appointed from a sales role with SAP in South Africa, the enterprise software giant's combined New Zealand software and services revenues were around $15 million, with a staff of five.

Staff numbers are now at 50 and this year's revenue is estimated to be around $50 million - but that is modest growth compared to the preceding years.

She says compared to the United States and even Australia, New Zealand companies are slower to move to e-business.

"The ERP [enterprise resource planning] phase in New Zealand's IT market is now over," she said. "SAP has moved on with mySAP.com - and it is a good time for me to move on."