Hungary’s SAP scandal continues: new details emerge about the dismissal of the local managing director

The Hungarian SAP scandal keeps unfolding: according to sources from Telex, Szabolcs Pintér, the managing director of the Hungarian subsidiary of the German-owned multinational SAP, was abruptly dismissed last summer. Although he was not part of a shocking, sexist employee chat group, he was held responsible for allowing such a group to exist and for employees having access to it through their work devices. Pintér has sued the company, just like several other dismissed employees.

The Hungarian SAP scandal exploded in summer

In August came the bombshell: the multinational would be freeing itself of the entire Hungarian senior management. This claim was quickly corrected — “only” four Hungarian employees were let go, including managing director Szabolcs Pintér. Pintér had worked for the Hungarian subsidiary since 2007 and had managed it since 2019.

• SAP scandal in Hungary: check out our first article covering the topic.

Late summer rumours spoke of prostitutes at company events. These were swiftly denied, as was the claim that all top managers had been fired. The dismissed employees included the managing director, the marketing head (not part of senior management), a sales representative, and an event organiser.

Telex investigated the scandal’s background thoroughly, speaking with many insiders and former employees. They also interviewed the former managing director, who revealed little about the reasons. According to Pintér, false claims were used to justify his dismissal, questioning both his professional credibility and personal integrity. The company never challenged the media stories. For this reason, he and two former colleagues initiated legal action against SAP; the fourth dismissed employee did not sue, as they were not directly employed but loaned to SAP Hungary.

The local investigation stems from a global corruption probe

Insiders revealed that the Hungarian firm came under scrutiny of the US law firm Paul Hastings LLP as part of a larger probe into previous corruption scandals in Africa, the Caucasus, and Southeast Asia. The firm was hired to conduct a full company audit, identify issues, and implement improvements. SAP had been penalised by the US Department of Justice with fines and asset forfeiture totalling over USD 222 million, but avoided escalating legal actions by agreeing to the probe.

The investigation began in 2024 and reached the Hungarian subsidiary by July 2025. Surprise checks targeted 10 to 15 employees, with company phones and laptops thoroughly examined. Chats and emails going back ten years were reviewed, uncovering plenty of compromising evidence, according to Telex.

Sexist memes, harsh language, and offensive remarks about women in the chat

The issue wasn’t employees using work devices for private matters, but the presence of “inappropriate, harsh, and sexist memes and comments” in some chats conducted in a company context. Those implicated were interviewed under intense conditions, described as similar to police interrogations by Telex sources. Some employees and managers spoke limited English despite it being the company’s official language. Due to circumstances, few dared request translators, and many didn’t fully understand the stakes.

The investigation concluded with four employees dismissed, including the managing director. Although Pintér was not a chat member, the parent company blamed him for allowing such a group to exist within SAP.

The dismissals were met with confusion inside the company, and the annual SAP NOW AI Tour Hungary event was cancelled. The three dismissed employees who are suing are set to initiate labour lawsuits. This will be the first case of its kind in Hungary.

Several sexual harassment cases at SAP

But that was not the first SAP scandal in History. Last year, a severe sexual assault case hit SAP’s US subsidiary when former employee Ashley Kostial made her story public. In 2024, Jürgen Müller, the former chief technology officer, resigned after allegations of inappropriate behaviour at a company party in Berlin. These scandals may explain the unusually strict approach taken in Hungary.

SAP Hungary Ltd. has been operating in Hungary since 1997, now employing 1,700 to 2,000 people. It is a key player in the local business IT sector, serving clients ranging from small businesses to publicly listed corporations and state organisations. Its Budapest headquarters also serves as an important international innovation hub, with the company winning multiple employer awards over the years.