Christopher Salis: Vision to Impact in SAP & Leadership

The journey to success isn’t a straight path; it's a series of moves, learning from failures, and transforming challenges into opportunities. Let me take you through my story, where vision met action and transformed businesses along the way.  I, Christopher Salis, never imagined I’d find myself in the heart of the SAP ecosystem, leading global teams and transforming enterprise solutions.

But looking back, every step I took in my journey from procurement roles in HR firms to strategic leadership in tech giants. They have paved the path to what would become the most defining chapter of my career. In this blog, I, Christopher Salis, have shared the insight of my journey, which was inspiring.

The Spark That Ignited My Journey

Fresh out of Purdue University, I kicked off my career at Adecco Employment Services. Managing IT procurement for nearly 700 branches was no small feat, but it taught me discipline, strategy, and the importance of scalable processes. I climbed from IT Procurement Manager to Strategic Sourcing Manager, where I negotiated contracts, managed vendors, and led a major transformation in how Adecco approached hiring. 

My curiosity and drive for innovation led me next to Gap Inc., and soon after, to eBay. There, I honed my ability to integrate strategic sourcing with operational excellence. But the real pivot came in 2006 when I joined Business Objects, then later transitioned into SAP after the acquisition. 

My Breakthrough Moment at SAP

When I, Christopher Salis, joined SAP in 2010, I took on the role of VP and Head of Global Sales for the Line of Business Solutions in Procurement. I still remember thinking, “This is it. This is the moment everything changes.” 

Within a few years, I was promoted to Global Vice President & General Manager, and eventually became Head of Portfolio for SAP’s Go-to-Market strategy. During this time, I led initiatives that fundamentally changed how SAP delivered value. 

• I commercialised the SAP Digital Business unit. 
• Launched new B2B and B2C SaaS business models. 
• Cut the average time to revenue from 12 months to 90 days. 
• Repositioned products from $0 to $41M in revenue. 
• Helped lead SAP to its acquisition of Ariba for $4.3 billion and later guided Ariba’s growth post-merger. 
• We achieved 4x SaaS revenue growth, and in 2011 alone, saw a 300% revenue surge. 

It was fast-paced, high-stakes work—and I loved every minute of it. 

The Mentor & Mastermind Behind Strategic Success

Even as I , Christopher Salis, dove deep into SAP's world, I never lost my passion for helping early-stage companies grow. Over time, I took on advisory roles for several startups, offering guidance in product strategy, financial modeling, and go-to-market frameworks. Many of those companies went on to become strong, sustainable ventures with real impact. 

Today, I continue that work through Catapult Consulting, where we specialize in procurement strategies and help startups scale in recurring revenue. 

Giving Back: Secure Our Schools Foundation

In 2022, I co-founded the Secure Our Schools Foundation, a nonprofit focused on using technology to create safer environments for K-12 students. We’ve already impacted over 250,000 students nationwide. Our mission includes: 

• Active shooter prevention 
• Medical emergency response 
• Incident management technology 

This work means a lot to me. After years in corporate leadership, I, Christopher Salis, wanted to channel my experience into something meaningful that keeps kids safe and gives parents peace of mind. 

Paving the Way Forward

From Adecco to eBay, from SAP to Catapult, my journey has been a constant drive to merge business with innovation. But the heart of it all has always been about people—building strong teams, guiding founders, and crafting solutions that stand the test of time. 

While I, Christopher Salis, am proud to be an SAP specialist, what truly fuels me is my role as a strategist, mentor, and contributor to something bigger than myself. This journey has taught me that success is about more than what we achieve; it’s about the impact we make along the way. And the best part? This journey is just beginning. 

Christopher Salis: Your Go-To Resource for Insights

https://chrissalis96.medium.com/biography-of-christopher-salis-70ac23653eb5 

https://christophersalis.bravesites.com/entries/general/Achieve-Business-Excellence-with-SAP-Expert-Guidance-from-Chris-Salis  

https://christophersalis.wordpress.com/2023/08/02/chris-salis-as-an-sap-expert/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissalis 

https://chrissalis96.medium.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/chris.salis.chrissalis/