Gerhard Oswald has been a member of the Executive Board of SAP AG since 1996. He is responsible for the areas of global service and support and custom development. His organization is responsible for the innovative service and support offerings relating to SAP's new software solution for midsize companies, SAP Business ByDesign.

Oswald joined SAP in 1981 where he was instrumental in the development of the sales support network for SAP R/2, responsible for quality control. He then assumed responsibility for quality control in the critical SAP R/3 enterprise software development project. From 1987 until 1993, Oswald was a member of the project management team responsible for the conception, development, and delivery of SAP's flagship enterprise resource planning software SAP R/3.

Following the completion of this project in 1993, Oswald was appointed to the SAP Extended Management Board. In 1994, he assumed responsibility for the SAP R/3 Services division. Two years later, in 1996, he was appointed a member of the Board.

Oswald began his career at Siemens AG, as an applications consultant for SAP R/2 business processes from 1977 to 1980. He studied business administration at the University of Mainz, Germany.