SAP appoints Ryan Poggi as managing director for UK and Ireland
The company veteran replaces Michiel Verhoeven to lead the software firm’s business operations in the region


SAP has announced the appointment of Ryan Poggi as managing director for the software giant’s UK and Ireland business, replacing the outgoing Michiel Verhoeven.
Reporting to the president of SAP EMEA north, Rohit Nagarajan, Poggi will lead the company’s UKI strategy and team of around 5,000 employees, placing a focus on driving customer value, and accelerating cloud growth, as well as the customer experience in the region.
No stranger to managing organisations and scaling high-performing teams across complex markets, Poggi has previously held various senior executive roles across EMEA and APJ regions since joining SAP in 2007 – including serving as COO of the UK and Ireland business.
He replaces Michiel Verhoeven, who is leaving the role after almost three years to become CEO at data automation platform provider Xceptor.
In an announcement, Rohit Nagarajan, president of EMEA north at SAP, said Poggi’s extensive experience in serving SAP customers made him an ideal replacement.
“We’re pleased to welcome Ryan back to the UK and Ireland,” he said. "He previously demonstrated his relevance and impact in serving the commitments of SAP’s customers, partners, and teams in this market.
“His solid expertise in the development of our cloud business, as well as his leadership skills, are all assets we need to consolidate the foundations of SAP UKI and maximise the opportunities ahead.”
Stay up to date with the latest Channel industry news and analysis with our twice-weekly newsletter
RELATED RESOURCE
Achieving software health in the microservices age
Tips and tricks for the new and emerging remediation methods
Most recently, Poggi held the position of chief operating officer for SAP EMEA north, playing an instrumental role in launching SAP’s RISE enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution across five markets.
During that spell, he also acted as interim managing director for SAP France, where he is credited with helping transform the business into a singular team operating across all board areas.
It’s also not the first time Poggi has worked for SAP’s UK and Ireland unit. Previously, he served as chief operating officer for the business, responsible for overall readiness and execution of its growth strategy.
Additionally, his back catalogue of roles includes include managing director for SAP Philippines, director of global strategic initiatives, legal and commercial director, and has led multiple line of business (LoB) organisations across Asia and EMEA.
“I’m delighted to be taking on this role at a hugely exciting time for the UKI business,” said Poggi. “We are privileged to have some of the most innovative customers and one of the most dynamic partner ecosystems here in the UKI.
“The opportunity ahead of us cannot be overstated; to be the UKI’s most trusted technology partner, by coming together as one ecosystem and driving customer value.”
Dan is a freelance writer and regular contributor to ChannelPro, covering the latest news stories across the IT, technology, and channel landscapes. Topics regularly cover cloud technologies, cyber security, software and operating system guides, and the latest mergers and acquisitions.
A journalism graduate from Leeds Beckett University, he combines a passion for the written word with a keen interest in the latest technology and its influence in an increasingly connected world.
He started writing for ChannelPro back in 2016, focusing on a mixture of news and technology guides, before becoming a regular contributor to ITPro. Elsewhere, he has previously written news and features across a range of other topics, including sport, music, and general news.
-
The race is on for Higher Ed to adapt: Equity in hyflex learning
Hyflex courses can improve student wellbeing and engagement, but only with meeting technology that leaves no one behind
-
Gen Z workers are keen on AI in the workplace – but they’re still skeptical about the hype
News Younger workers could lead the shift to AI, but only think it can can manage some tasks
-
The top trends shaping the future of the channel
News As part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, Westcon-Comstor has outlined some of the key channel growth drivers it expects to see in Q2 2025 and beyond.
-
Alteryx announces new chief marketing officer amid global expansion
News The former UserTesting CMO will lead Alteryx’ marketing strategy as it looks to expand its global footprint
-
HPE just announced huge changes to its channel programs
News HPE has announced the launch of HPE Partner Ready Vantage, a new unified channel program designed to help partners unlock new growth opportunities.
-
UiPath names Simon Pettit as new AVP for UK and Ireland
News The seasoned leader will spearhead region-specific transformation projects as UiPath looks to drive operational growth and customer engagement
-
Nasuni bolsters executive team with triple leadership hire
News The vendor has named a new CPO, CIO, and CISO as it looks to expand its global footprint
-
Keepit appoints new vice president for the UK and Ireland
News Former Veeam executive Dan Middleton will lead Keepit’s UKI business into its next phase of growth
-
Broadcom just announced huge changes to its VMware partner program
News The new, slimline initiative will enable a “stronger, more capable” partner ecosystem, the company said
-
Check Point bolsters attack surface protection with Veriti acquisition
News Veriti’s preemptive threat management exposure capabilities will be integrated into Check Point’s Infinity Platform