Even with Shai Agassi leaving SAP, he is still one of my favorite guys on this planet.

Somebody even accused me of having a crush on the guy. And I admitted it ;-) .

Well okay, this is only a very small part of a larger truth. The much greater part is that I just think very highly of him.

There have been some comments posted on the Internet saying that it is a good thing for SAP that Shai left. I have to admit my annoyance at these writers. It is apparent they have never met Shai in person.

I have so many memories of the man during his time at SAP, and they are all good.
My favorite (personal) memory is running into him with his dad, Reuben Agassi, one evening in a hotel lobby in Herzliya, Israel, and having him come at me with outstretched arms, saying "Welcome to my home" and then re-introducing me to his father.
Maybe that's why I keep going back to Israel: I was welcomed!!!

I realize that this doesn't tell you that much about the man, but it does for me. He is warm, personable and ... welcoming. And that is what makes a company a great company in my book - when uplifting and motivating interpersonal behavior is part of it.

So in that sense, it is not good for any company when a top level manager who displays this behavior leaves. Do you get what I am trying to say? Companies are strong when people care about people within their walls.

There are a lot of warm people at SAP, and Shai was one of them. So it is a loss for SAP.

Shai is also very smart:
He was talking at Stanford in a recent Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders series - you can listen to the podcast.

So SAP suffered loss here as well when Shai left because it lost an incredible talent.

Finally, Shai can laugh and poke fun at himself.
Regrettably, the great video from the Geek Dinner in Davos disappeared from the web, but here is at least an interview with Shai in Davos so you can see him in motion.
I'll never forget an SAP event when Shai entered the stage in a Superman costume.

SAP suffered loss because a little bit of lightheartedness left with Shai.

SAP is still by far the best company on this planet, and it has my complete loyalty. But, boy, I do miss Shai.

And I sincerely hope that not only his brains, but also his positive personality get to shine in the future in many places and many ways!

P.S. To read about Shai's most recent adventures, you can go to his blog, The Long Tailpipe.
posted by Elke at 7:44 AM