As organizations prioritize trusted data foundations for AI and SAP modernization, Ralf Kern, a former SAP Global Vice President, brings extensive expertise in enterprise transformation.
LOS ANGELES, MAY 27, 2026 — SimpleMDG, an SAP-certified master data governance platform built on SAP BTP, has appointed Ralf Kern to its Board of Advisors. Kern previously served as Global Vice President of SAP’s Retail Business Unit, where he shaped SAP’s global retail strategy and led go-to-market initiatives for omni-channel retail with enterprise clients worldwide. He brings over 30 years of experience in enterprise software, retail transformation, project management, and SAP leadership.
In his role as Global Vice President, Kern worked directly with some of the world’s largest retail and consumer enterprises, guiding them through complex SAP transformation programs, omni-channel commerce initiatives, and operational modernization at scale. Prior to that role, he held senior leadership positions across SAP’s international retail and enterprise business over a career spanning more than two decades, with deep expertise in retail data strategy, global SAP program execution, mergers and acquisitions, and customer engagement within complex multinational retail organizations.
Retail and consumer enterprises operating across complex SAP environments often face disconnected commerce systems, inconsistent product hierarchies, supplier onboarding delays, gaps in inventory visibility, and customer experience. These challenges result from fragmented master data across business systems and create significant obstacles for organizations pursuing AI adoption, SAP modernization, and enterprise transformation.
“Ralf has helped some of the world’s largest retailers solve complex SAP transformation challenges, including retail operations, supply chain management, customer data, and omnichannel execution. His experience is a major asset to SimpleMDG and our customers. As more organizations invest in AI, automation, and SAP modernization, reliable customer, supplier, product, and operational data is essential. Ralf’s leadership will help SimpleMDG deliver the expertise enterprise customers need as they implement AI and transformation plans at scale.”
— Matthew Phu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, SimpleMDG
“Retail organizations have made significant investments in omni-channel transformation and are now looking to AI-driven operations as the next frontier. SAP’s vision for the intelligent enterprise has set a clear direction, and most organizations are aligned with it. The challenge enterprises face today is not where to go, but how to get there. Operationalizing trusted, governed master data is a prerequisite for successful AI model implementations, and many retail and enterprise organizations are discovering that fragmented data across systems is the primary barrier to progress. That is where I see a strong opportunity for SimpleMDG to help enterprises move forward.”
— Ralf Kern, Former Global Vice President, Retail Business Unit, SAP SE
SimpleMDG offers a no-code master data governance platform that enables enterprises to standardize, manage, and scale trusted data across SAP systems. Built on SAP BTP, it supports SAP Business Suite, SAP S/4HANA, and SAP Cloud ERP, helping organizations advance Clean Core and AI readiness initiatives.
About SimpleMDG
SimpleMDG is a no-code master data governance platform built natively on SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP). The platform has more than 100 master data types pre-built, requires no custom code or IT-led configuration, and deploys in eight to 12 weeks per domain. It is currently in production at global enterprises across automotive, food and beverage, agriculture and retail industries. As an SAP-certified solution with a Spotlight+ designation, SimpleMDG is listed on the SAP Store, providing SAP customers with seamless procurement, deployment and support. Organizations evaluating SAP-native master data governance solutions can access product information, customer references and deployment details at www.simplemdg.com.
About Laidon Group
Laidon Group is a global technology company focused on enterprise data and digital transformation. Its flagship SaaS product, SimpleMDG, serves enterprise customers across automotive, food and beverage, semiconductor, and agriculture sectors. Laidon Group is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified.
