Christopher Salis: Journey Through SAP and Scalable Growth

A successful career in technology and enterprise leadership is rarely built overnight. It evolves through experience, adaptability, and a deep understanding of how businesses operate at a scale. My professional journey has taken me across global organizations, leadership roles, and strategic transformations.

I have always driven a passion for technology, procurement, and business innovation. From enterprise consulting to startup advisory and social impact initiatives, my work has focused on creating measurable growth and long-term value.

I am Christopher Salis, and my career reflects years of hands-on experience in enterprise software, procurement strategy, SaaS commercialization, and global portfolio leadership.

Early Career and Educational Foundation

I earned my bachelor's degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, which laid the groundwork for my career in procurement and technology-driven business operations. Shortly after graduation, I joined Adecco Employment Services, a global leader in HR solutions.

At Adecco, I held several roles, including IT Procurement Manager, Senior IT Buyer, and Strategic Sourcing Manager. I, Christopher Salis, managed the IT procurement program for global corporate operations and nearly 700 branch locations.

My responsibilities included supplier selection, contract negotiations, and vendor management. These efforts led to a complete transformation of Adecco’s employment and procurement processes and gave me deep exposure to large-scale operational management.

Expanding Procurement Leadership at GAP and eBay

Following my tenure at Adecco, I, Christopher Salis, joined Gap Inc. as a Manager of Strategic Sourcing, where I applied procurement strategy in a global retail environment. I later moved to eBay, serving as Manager of Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, and Operational Excellence.

At eBay, my focus was on streamlining operations and improving efficiency. This role strengthened my ability to align procurement strategy with fast-paced, technology-driven business models.

Business Objects: A Strategic Turning Point

In 2006, I joined Business Objects, an SAP company specializing in business intelligence and enterprise software. This role marked a major shift in my career and prepared me for executive leadership at SAP.

At Business Objects, I held positions including Senior Manager of Procurement and Strategic Sourcing, Senior Director of Global Go-to-Market Process and Product Management, and Executive Director and Chief of Staff for the Office of the CEO.

I supported executive leadership priorities, managed SAP’s Ecosystem and Partner Organization, and worked closely on corporate development and M&A initiatives.

I also led global forecast calls for a division exceeding $1 billion in revenue and managed C-level sales engagement following the SAP acquisition.

Leadership Journey at SAP

In 2010, I officially joined SAP SE as Vice President and Head of Global Sales for SAP’s Line of Business Solutions for Procurement. This marked the beginning of my most influential leadership chapter.

I was later promoted to Global Vice President and General Manager for the same line of business, and then to Global Vice President and Head of Portfolio for SAP’s Go-to-Market. During this time, I commercialized SAP’s digital business unit and introduced a new B2B and B2C SaaS business model.

One of my key achievements was reducing the average time to revenue for innovations from 12 months to just 90 days. I also repositioned zero-revenue products, growing them from $0 to $41 million in revenue.

My teams delivered 4x SaaS revenue growth, achieved 300% revenue growth in 2011, and recorded the highest line-of-business quota in 2010–11.

I launched SAP Sourcing, which became SAP’s first successful SaaS offering, and my strategic framework supported SAP’s adoption of Agile methodology. My work contributed to the $4.3 billion acquisition of Ariba in 2012, after which I led Ariba post-merger and helped grow SaaS revenue to 75%.

Consulting, Startups, and Strategic Advisory

After SAP, I became Managing Partner at Catapuult Consulting, where I worked with enterprises on spend management and procurement strategy. Catapuult also supports startups in scaling from zero to one million dollars in annual recurring revenue.

Alongside consulting, I have served as a startup advisor and business strategy consultant, helping early-stage companies build strong financial foundations, scalable business models, and effective go-to-market strategies. As Christopher Salis, I bring enterprise-level discipline to entrepreneurial environments.

Social Impact and Community Engagement

In 2022, I co-founded the Secure Our Schools Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving school safety through technology. The foundation supports over 250,000 K–12 students and focuses on active shooter prevention, medical emergency response, and comprehensive incident management solutions.

Closing Perspective

Today, my work continues to center on strategic growth, technology leadership, and meaningful impact. Whether advising startups, supporting enterprises, or contributing to nonprofit initiatives, I remain committed to building solutions that scale effectively and responsibly. My journey as Christopher Salis is defined by transformation, execution, and the belief that technology, when applied strategically, can drive lasting change.