Bill Mcdermott

Biography

Bill McDermott is chief executive officer and an executive board member of SAP, the world’s business software market leader with approximately 355,000 customers in more than 180 countries. He leads the company’s more than 87,100 employees and 2+ million person ecosystem in executing SAP’s vision and strategy to make the world run better and improve people’s lives.   Under Bill’s leadership, in 2014 SAP unveiled a strategy to help businesses of all sizes “Run Simple.” The company has placed an unrivaled focus on delivering a beautiful user experience and has built the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of solutions in the SAP Cloud powered by SAP HANA. Since 2010, Bill’s innovation-led strategy has resulted in expansive increases in customers, total revenue, market value and profitable growth.   Bill has more than three decades of experience in business technology. He joined SAP in 2002 to lead the business in North America and has steadily risen to his current role as chief executive officer. Before joining SAP, he served in senior executive roles with Siebel Systems and Gartner, Inc. He launched his business career at Xerox Corporation, where he rose to become the company’s youngest corporate officer and division president.     As captured in his nationally best-selling memoir, "Winners Dream," Bill got his start as a young entrepreneur running a small delicatessen business on Long Island, New York, at age 16. He is a passionate believer in engaging up-and-coming young leaders and has been recognized by organizations ranging from City Year to the American Australian Association, We Are Family Foundation, and the Children’s Aid Society of New York City. A frequent speaker on leadership topics, he was a 2014 keynote speaker at Leadercast, a movement focused on positively impacting the leadership landscape of the world. In 2016 was honored with the organization’s inaugural Leader Worth Following award.  

Research Interest

In addition to his SAP and civic commitments, Bill serves on the boards of directors of Under Armour; ANSYS, Inc.; and Dell SecureWorks. He regularly contributes original content to major international publications and blogs on topics ranging from innovation to the future of business.     Bill received his bachelor’s degree from Dowling College and his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.