Erwin Gunst is Labor Relations Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of SAP AG and has been a member of the SAP Executive Board since July 1, 2008, leading the office of the COO. He is responsible for company operations and process efficiency. Additionally, Gunst is responsible for global human resources and labor relations, SAP internal information technology (IT), and the management of all SAP Labs worldwide.

Previously, Gunst served as president of SAP's EMEA region, directing all aspects of field operations across the organization. He assumed the role in March 2007, when both EMEA regions (Central and NEWS) were merged into one. In 2006, Gunst was appointed a corporate officer of SAP AG and subsequently was named a member of SAP's Executive Council.

Gunst returned to SAP in 2004 as president of SAP EMEA NEWS after leaving the company in January 2002 to take a sabbatical. Prior to that, he was appointed to the SAP Extended Management Board in April 2000, responsible for the German and Swiss markets. Between 1993 and 1999, Gunst served as Managing Director of SAP subsidiaries in Belgium, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Gunst joined SAP in May 1988, initially serving as international controller for SAP International in Biel, Switzerland, before being promoted to director of Finance and Controlling in 1990.

Before joining the company, Gunst served as an audit assistant at Touche Ross and later as a financial analyst with Telex Computer Products.

Gunst holds a degree with distinction in commercial engineering from the Free University in Brussels. He speaks English, German, French, and Dutch.

Erwin in the Media
SAP's New COO Erwin Gunst has a mission: as SAP's new chief operations officer he wants to leverage the company's performance and to enhance internal and external processes. Walk the World SAP employees around the world, including Ernie Gunst, SAP corporate officer and president of EMEA, take to the streets to raise funds for the World Food Program and awareness for the hungry of the world.