SAN JOSE — German high-tech entrepreneur Hasso Plattner emerged as the new face of the Sharks ownership group Wednesday with the announcement he has purchased shares of the team’s parent company from Kevin Compton and Stratton Sclavos.

Compton and Sclavos had served as the executive committee for Sharks Sports & Entertainment, though Plattner had been the majority shareholder since 2010.

Plattner, the retired CEO and co-founder of business software giant SAP, said that executive vice-president Malcolm Bordelon will continue to operate the business side of the operation while general manager Doug Wilson runs the hockey side of the organization.

“While this change does affect the individual structure of our ownership group,” Platter said in a prepared statement, “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.”

Plattner met with the players and coaching staff before they took the ice for a morning practice at HP Pavilion.

“I think it’s exciting to know he’s behind us the way he’s behind us,” Coach Todd McLellan said. “You could feel the passion he has for the Sharks, the community and the players when he spoke to the group.”

McLellan said the because Plattner has been part of the ownership group and a presence around the team, there was never a “now what?” moment.

“It’s not like somebody in New York City came in today and bought the team and nobody’s ever met him and doesn’t know what that individual may stand for or how he wants to approach the group,” the coach said.

Plattner has been a rival of Oracle founder Larry Ellison in both the business and yachting worlds. In addition The German entrepreneur has donated millions of dollars and raised even more to help fight HIV/AIDS in South Africa.

Compton and Sclavos issued a joint statement regarding their departure from the ownership group.

“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,” the statement read. “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.”

Plattner will represent the team on the NHL board of governors with Wilson and general counsel John Tortora continuing in the role of alternates.