SAP names research leader

Enterprise software giant SAP on Wednesday named Ike Nassi as its new senior vice president of research for the company's Americas group, where he will oversee the company's pursuit of emerging IT trends and help manage its research-related partnerships. Before joining SAP, Nassi had most recently served as chief technology officer at Firetide, a networking company he helped found in 2003 that specializes in wireless mesh infrastructure technologies.

Nassi has previously held roles in engineering and development at companies including Apple Computer, where he headed the gadget maker's Advanced Technology Group, as well as Cisco Systems, Digital Equipment and Encore Computer. The executive's academic record includes stints teaching and working under research appointments at Boston University, the University of California at Berkeley, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The company said that Nassi will be based at its SAP Labs in Palo Alto, Calif.