SAN JOSE, California -- Sharks Sports & Entertainment (SSE) today announced changes to the organization’s ownership group structure.

Majority owner Hasso Plattner has purchased SSE shares formerly held by investors Kevin Compton and Stratton Sclavos. Plattner, a member of the Sharks ownership group since SSE purchased the team from original owner George Gund III in Feb. 2002, has been the organization’s majority owner since 2010.

Plattner will serve as the team’s representative on the NHL’s Board of Governors. Sharks Executive Vice President & General Manager Doug Wilson and Executive Vice President & General Counsel John Tortora will remain Alternate Governors.

“While this change does affect the individual structure of our ownership group, it does not change the organization’s primary goal which is to build a team that is capable of winning a Stanley Cup each and every season,” said Plattner. “The team’s day-to-day operations will not be affected. All current Executive Team members will remain in place with Doug Wilson continuing to oversee all hockey operations and Malcolm Bordelon operating the business side of the organization.”

“Kevin and Stratton have been tremendous partners to work with over the last decade,” added Plattner. “Both have played vital and strategic roles moving our organization to the top tier of professional sports franchises. We want to thank them for everything they have done to help make the Sharks what they are today.”

Plattner’s passions in life are centered around business, science and sport. In 1972, Plattner co-founded software giant SAP AG, the world’s largest business software company. Since retiring from the CEO position in May 2003, he has been Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Chief Software Advisor. In these roles, Plattner concentrates on defining the medium and long-term technology strategy of SAP. Plattner is also a leading private patron of education and research in science and technology. In 1998, he founded the Hasso Plattner Institute for Software Systems Engineering (HPI) at the University of Potsdam in Germany, and expanded the HPI with a "School of Design Thinking" in 2007. In 2005, Plattner established the "Hasso Plattner Institute of Design" at Stanford University and founded Hasso Plattner Ventures, which operates three venture capital funds to support start-up companies in the IT sector – two located in Germany and the other in South Africa. Plattner received his Master's Degree in Communications Engineering from the University of Karlsruhe. In 1990, the University of Saarbruecken awarded him an honorary doctorate and, in 1994, he was granted an honorary full professorship.

In addition to being a life-long hockey enthusiast, Plattner is a keen sailor and enjoys golf and tennis. Recently, he participated in the 5O5 World Championship, a race for high-performance two-person sailboats.

Compton and Sclavos released the following joint statement:

“It’s been a great 11 years being involved with the San Jose Sharks and the NHL but we feel this is the right time for us to step away and focus on other avenues. Although we are no longer involved with the ownership group of the organization, we remain among the team’s biggest fans and will continue to be ardent supporters of the franchise. We want to thank all Sharks fans for their years of unbridled passion and continued support of the team.”