Chris Salis SAP: From Procurement Desk to Boardroom & Startup

Chris Salis
4 days ago
3 min read

I’m Chris Salis, and if there’s one title I’ve worn proudly, it’s SAP Specialist. Growing up, I never imagined a tech career. Yet, life had other plans. In 2010, I stepped into SAP as Vice President and Head of Global Sales for Procurement Solutions. The path wasn’t linear, filled with challenges, learning, and growth, but each twist strengthened my resolve. From procurement desks to leading global teams, I, Chris Salis, learned that success comes from persistence and vision. This journey shaped who I am today. Let’s explore how it all unfolded.

From Adecco to eBay: Building the Foundation

After earning my degree from Purdue University, I began my career at Adecco Employment Services, the global HR powerhouse. There, I, Chris Salis SAP played a role in different aspects like IT Procurement Manager, Senior IT Buyer, and Strategic Sourcing Manager. Playing diverse roles across different fields has shown me that adaptability fuels growth and unlocks new opportunities. I managed procurement for 700+ branches and led major contract negotiations that reshaped how Adecco operated.

Next stop? Gap Inc., where I, Chris Salis SAP served as Manager of Strategic Sourcing. Then came eBay, where I honed my skills in Operational Excellence, pushing for smarter procurement strategies and driving greater efficiency.

Each role added a new layer to my understanding of global operations, strategic sourcing, and the kind of leadership that makes change happen.

Business Objects: The Spark That Lit the SAP Growth

In 2006, I, Chris Salis, SAP, joined Business Objects, an SAP company, as Senior Manager of Procurement and Strategic Sourcing. Eventually, I became Executive Director and Chief of Staff in the Office of the CEO.

There, I set executive leadership priorities, led strategic partnerships, and helped manage SAP’s ecosystem and partner development. It was also the first time I got my hands high-stakes sales strategy.

That’s when the SAP spark in me made me simplify the complex processes of Business to easy on. I, Chris Salis, SAP , believe embracing every challenge with passion motivates me to push boundaries and achieve greater success.

My Time at SAP: A Career-Defining Era

Joining SAP was stepping into a world I admired. Starting as VP of Global Sales for Procurement, I rose to Global VP and Head of Portfolio for Go-to-Market. I turned around declining revenues, launched SAP Sourcing—the first successful SaaS product—and helped quadruple SaaS revenue with 300% growth in 2011.

I repositioned zero-revenue products into a $41M portfolio and cut innovation time from 12 months to 90 days. Leading the $4.3B Ariba acquisition, I drove SaaS adoption to 75%. I built high-performance teams, embedded SAP Agile, and commercialized SAP’s Digital Business Unit, reshaping our business. These milestones were proof that with vision and persistence, transformation is always within reach.

Venturing Beyond: Catapult, Startups, and Strategy

I partnered with Catapult Consulting to advise enterprises on procurement and spend management. I also took a hands-on role in helping startups go from zero to $1M+ ARR—something I still love doing today.

As a startup advisor and strategy consultant, I , Chris Salis, help founders navigate their earliest challenges with clarity and confidence. My financial insights and operational experience give them the edge they need to scale intelligently—and sustainably. Because I believe that with the right guidance and grit, every great idea has the power to become a lasting success.

What Drives Me Today

I’m Chris Salis SAP, a specialist at heart with titles like procurement strategist, product manager, startup advisor, and nonprofit founder. SAP showed me that enterprise systems aren’t just tools—they’re engines of transformation. Today, I help startups grow and, when needed, improve their strategies to scale with purpose.

Together, we can turn ideas into lasting legacies—because real success is built on vision, resilience, determination, persistence, and the courage to grow.