Alexander Finger, Chief Technology Officer at SAP Switzerland, exemplifies strategic leadership and innovative thinking. With a career spanning over three decades, Alexander has consistently demonstrated his ability to drive technological advancements and business growth across various sectors.
Fascinated by the impact, data communication and the internet could have on society, he created one of the first internet service providers in Germany in the 1990s.
In his role at SAP Switzerland, Alexander champions the company's technical vision, effectively advocating it to customers, partners, and the market unit. He has been instrumental in embedding artificial intelligence into customer engagements, a move that has significantly enhanced the strategic value of these interactions. His leadership has not only fostered the growth of SAP solutions through partnerships with startups and universities but also pioneered changes in customer interaction by integrating immersive experiences, virtual reality, and design thinking into the SAP ecosystem.
Prior to his current position, Alexander served as a Industry Advisor in Customer Advisory at SAP Switzerland. During this period, he acted as an industry advisor for utility customers in Switzerland and was recognized as an innovation and compliance ambassador. His role involved leading presales and sales activities across various industries, as well as supporting partner enablement and business development initiatives.
From August 2022 to January 2024, he served as a Teaching Assistant at the Faculty of Law, Stiftung Universitäre Fernstudien Schweiz. In this part-time role, he supported master modules in International Private Law and Tax Law, providing assistance with coursework and master theses, thereby shaping the next generation of legal professionals who extend their knowledge next to their professional activities.
From August 2017 to February 2020, Alexander was the Chief Technology Officer and a member of the Board of Directors at cc energie. His tenure at cc energie was marked by a successful leadership turnaround and the strategic development of the IT team. He spearheaded initiatives such as the implementation of regulatory compliance tools and processes, the migration to SAP S/4HANA, and the setup of a new sourcing and competence strategy for all IT services. His efforts in implementing AI services and the SAP Cloud Platform significantly enhanced the company's technological capabilities.
Alexander's extensive experience with Swisscom Group, spanning from 2004 to 2017, further underscores his versatile expertise. As a Senior Business Development Manager, he played a crucial role in designing and setting up Swisscom's IT service offerings for the PME market, focusing on future digital solutions like payment APIs. His leadership in human-centered design and post-merger integrations was pivotal in driving the company’s strategic growth.
In his role as Head of Online Sales & Care for Small and Medium Enterprises at Swisscom, Alexander successfully established an online sales and care team, significantly increasing the self-care share in the SME segment. His initiatives doubled the self-care user base and tripled portal usage, contributing significantly to Swisscom's SME business. Alexander's ability to lead heterogeneous teams and his key contributions to the customer-facing online transformation strategy highlight his strategic vision and operational excellence.
As an Account Consultant for Large Account Management, Alexander demonstrated his sales acumen by winning back relevant outsourcing contracts and securing multiple high-value contracts. His role involved recruiting and managing bid and implementation teams, establishing a sustainable network of trust among customers, and supporting business lines for critical projects.
From April 2009 to July 2011, Alexander served as the Chief Information Officer and a member of the Board of Directors at Billag AG. His achievements include implementing a new workflow management system, leading the migration to a new legal collection system, and reducing IT costs by introducing state of the art systems to the Billag process land scape. His successful liaison with regulators ensured the legal and regulatory compliance of Billag’s IT systems.
Alexander's career began with roles such as IT Manager at Swisscom Hospitality Services, where he created the IT organization from scratch and led several small acquisitions. His early experience also includes serving as an Integration Project Manager at CPGmarket.com and a Product Manager at Deutsche Post AG, where he designed and implemented the company's free email service.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Alexander has completed his academic background next to his professional activities, holding since 2021 a Master of Law from Universitäre Fernstudien Schweiz with summa cum laude honors. He is also pursuing a Ph.D. in Law at the University of Fribourg, focusing on the limitations and effectiveness of internal control systems. His certifications include SAP Certified Development Associate, Human-Centered Design, Certified Scrum Master, and Project Management Professional.
Fluent in German, English, and French, Alexander thrives in multicultural and international environments. His publications on workflow and network management systems further attest to his expertise and thought leadership in the field.
As an early adopter of Linux (0.99.pl12), he grew into Unix and the open source scene, contributing to its development by supporting projects and briefly serving as a member of the board of /CH/OPEN.
Alexander Finger’s diverse experience, strategic vision, and innovative approach make him an invaluable asset to any organization looking to drive technological advancement and business growth. His proven track record of success in various leadership roles underscores his ability to deliver results and inspire change.