MENA Executive Board

As Managing Director of SAP Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Sergio Maccotta is responsible for all aspects of field operations across this vast region. His role includes strategic planning, operational excellence, sales and field operations, professional services and overall performance for the region. Maccotta has worked for SAP for over ten years, and during his tenure has focused mainly on sales management, with additional experience in business development and HR.

Maccotta began his career as an IT consultant in the aerospace sector at Alenia – Finmeccanica in Italy. In 1992, he joined the Milan-based Etnoteam, a leader in custom software development, where he supported customers in quality improvements for software development and ISO certification. After successfully supporting the launch of the new sales organization, Maccotta left Etnoteam and joined SAP Italy in 1996.

Maccotta is a native Italian with a degree in electronic engineering from the University of Genoa, Italy.

Kevin Scott is Chief Operating Officer for SAP in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), encompassing Marketing, Solutions, Pre-Sales, Industries, Value Engineering, and Business Operations. His key responsibilities include communicating the value of SAP solutions, facilitating technical excellence and positive return on investment for customers, as well as ensuring the efficient and smooth operation of SAP’s business in the MENA region.

Previously, he managed SAP’s Public Services business in South East Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and was responsible for serving customers in the Central, Regional and Local Government, Defence and Security, and Education and Healthcare sectors. Prior to joining SAP, Kevin held several management positions in Hewlett Packard both in EMEA and the Emerging Markets. He was responsible for the design and launch of the HP National Identification System (HP NIS) and represented the company at the World Bank and the European Union.

Kevin Scott holds a BSc from Sheffield Hallam University and a Masters degree in Business Administration from Warwick University, both in the UK.

As HR & Transformation Director for the Middle East & North Africa, Ghassan (Gus) Takkale’s key focus areas are to promote and advance SAP’s purpose and values, drive recruitment initiatives and develop corporate culture. His main responsibility is to ensure that SAP attracts top talent, and retains that talent through personal development and empowerment.

Prior to SAP, Takkale was the Regional HR Director for HILTI where he managed the HR function throughout the Middle East and Africa. His HR exposure spans from North America to the Middle East, in industries such as IT, FMCG and the Public Sector, working with blue chip firms and consulting companies like Arthur Anderson and KPMG. Takkale’s experience includes implementing new talent management initiatives, performance measurement programs and running leadership development workshops and team building seminars.

Gus Takkale holds a Business Degree from the University of Albuquerque New Mexico (USA) and a Management Diploma from the Toronto School of Business (Canada).

As Chief Financial Officer for SAP in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Peter Veenstra is responsible for the financial health of SAP’s operations in this region. Veenstra is charged with leading and implementing financial best practices, ensuring that corporate governance standards are met and helping to make sure that the operation runs in such a way as to promote maximum profitability and agility.

Veenstra joined SAP in the Netherlands in 2000 as Legal Counsel & Commercial Manager. He progressed quickly through the company through a variety of senior finance and administration roles, most recently being appointed as Chief Financial Officer for SAP in the Netherlands before joining SAP MENA to assume his position at the beginning of 2008.

Peter Veenstra has degrees in Business Economics and Law from Utrecht University in the Netherlands.