In today’s rapidly evolving enterprise technology landscape, experience, adaptability, and strategic clarity define impactful leadership. When people search for Chris Salis SAP, they are often looking to understand my professional journey, my role at SAP, and the impact I have made across enterprise technology, procurement, and SaaS innovation.
I have always been deeply interested in technology and business applications. Early in my career, I was drawn to how enterprise systems could transform organizations at a scale. However, joining SAP was not something I initially imagined for myself. In fact, it felt like a long shot.
I, Chris Salis SAP began my professional journey after earning my bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. My first major role was at Adecco Employment Services, the world’s leading HR solutions provider.
There, I held several positions, including IT Procurement Manager, Senior IT Buyer, and Strategic Sourcing Manager. I managed global IT procurement across nearly 700 branch locations, oversaw supplier selection and contract negotiations, and helped drive a transformation of Adecco’s employment processes.
These early experiences built a strong foundation in procurement, sourcing, and operational leadership skills that would later become critical throughout my career.
After Adecco, I applied my strategic sourcing expertise at Gap Inc. as a Manager of Strategic Sourcing. I later joined eBay, where I worked as a Manager of Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, and Operational Excellence.
At eBay, my focus was on streamlining procurement operations and improving organizational efficiency at scale. In 2006, a pivotal opportunity emerged when I joined Business Objects, an SAP company. This marked the turning point that eventually led me to SAP.
At Business Objects, I served in several senior leadership roles, including Senior Manager of Procurement and Strategic Sourcing, Senior Director of Global Go-to-Market Process and Product Management, and ultimately Executive Director and Chief of Staff for the Office of the CEO.
During this time, I supported executive leadership priorities, managed SAP’s ecosystem and partner operations, handled corporate development and M&A initiatives, and led global forecast calls for a division exceeding $1 billion. I also owned C-level sales engagement following the merger of Business Objects and SAP.
In 2010, I officially joined SAP as Vice President and Head of Global Sales for SAP’s Line of Business Solutions for Procurement. This was a defining chapter in my career and central to why the keyword Chris Salis SAP continues to resonate today.
I was later promoted to Global Vice President and General Manager for Line of Business Solutions for Procurement and eventually became Global Vice President and Head of Portfolio for SAP’s Go-to-Market organization.
During my tenure at SAP, my focus was on driving growth, innovation, and speed to the market. I commercialized SAP’s digital business unit and introduced a new B2B/C SaaS business model. One of my proudest achievements was reducing the average time to revenue for innovations from 12 months to just 90 days.
I also repositioned products that were generating zero revenue and scaled them to $41 million in revenue. Under my leadership, SAP achieved four times SaaS revenue growth, 300% revenue growth in 2011, and the highest line-of-business quota performance in 2010–11. I helped launch SAP Sourcing, which became SAP’s first successful SaaS offering.
My work contributed to SAP’s Agile engagement framework, the assembly of a strong global product management team, and the strategic groundwork that led to SAP’s acquisition of Ariba for $4.3 billion in 2012. Post-merger, I served as the leader of Ariba and supported the growth of SaaS revenue to 75% of the portfolio.
Beyond SAP, I have continued to serve as a startup advisor and business strategy consultant. I enjoy helping early-stage companies navigate growth, strategy, and financial decision-making. My advisory work has supported startups in scaling from concept to sustainable revenue.
I also served as Managing Partner at Catapuult Consulting, where I helped enterprises develop procurement and spend management strategies while guiding startups toward their first million dollars in annual recurring revenue.
In 2022, I co-founded Secure Our Schools Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing school safety through technology. The foundation supports more than 250,000 K–12 students and focuses on active shooter prevention, medical emergency response, and comprehensive incident management solutions. This work reflects my commitment to applying technology and strategy for meaningful social impact.
When people search for Chris Salis SAP, they are often exploring more than a job title. They are looking at a journey shaped by procurement leadership, SaaS innovation, global go-to-market strategy, and a passion for building scalable business models.
From Adecco and eBay to Business Objects and SAP, my career has been defined by transformation, growth, and execution. Today, I continue to apply those same principles as a consultant, advisor, and strategic leader, helping organizations and individuals navigate complex challenges and achieve sustainable success.