Know All About Christopher Salis: How He Shaped SaaS Growth?

In the world of enterprise technology, procurement innovation, and SaaS transformation, certain leaders stand out for their ability to connect strategy with execution at a global scale.

I am Christopher Salis, and my professional journey has been shaped by a deep interest in technology, business applications, and strategic growth. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with global enterprises, lead large-scale transformations, and contribute to the evolution of SAP, SaaS business models, and startup ecosystems.

Early Career Foundations and Professional Growth

My career began after completing my Bachelor’s degree at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. I joined Adecco Employment Services, one of the world’s leading HR solutions providers.  

At Adecco, I held several roles, including IT Procurement Manager, Senior IT Buyer, and Strategic Sourcing Manager. During this time, I managed global IT procurement operations across nearly 700 branch locations.

I, Christopher Salis, also led supplier selection and management processes and handled complex contract negotiations with vendors and strategic partners. This phase of my career laid the foundation for my understanding of procurement, sourcing, and operational transformation.

After Adecco, I brought my experience to Gap Inc., where I served as Manager of Strategic Sourcing. Later, I joined eBay as Manager of Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, and Operational Excellence.  

At eBay, my focus was on streamlining procurement operations and improving efficiency, which further strengthened my ability to align operational execution with business strategy.

Leadership Experience at Business Objects

In 2006, I joined Business Objects, an SAP company specializing in business intelligence and enterprise software. This was a pivotal moment in my career.

I held multiple leadership roles 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.

At Business Objects, I, Christopher Salis, worked closely with executive leadership to define priorities across SAP’s analytics and technology portfolio. I managed day-to-day operations for SAP’s ecosystem and partner organization, and supported corporate development initiatives.

Following the merger of Business Objects and SAP, I owned C level sales engagement, gaining valuable experience in enterprise leadership and global market execution.

My Time at SAP and Global Leadership Roles

In 2010, I joined SAP as Vice President and Head of Global Sales for Line of Business Solutions for Procurement. Over time, I was promoted to Global Vice President and General Manager for the same line of business, and later served as Global Vice President and Head of Portfolio Go to Market.

During my tenure at SAP, I focused on driving growth, innovation, and commercialization. I played a key role in reversing declining revenue trends and achieved the highest line of business quota in the 2010 to 2011 period.

My efforts contributed to four times SaaS revenue growth and a 300 percent revenue increase in 2011. I also launched SAP sourcing, which became SAP’s first successful SaaS offering.

One of my most significant achievements was commercializing SAP’s digital business unit and introducing a new B2B and B2C SaaS business model. I helped reduce the average time to revenue for innovations from twelve months to just ninety days.

Additionally, I repositioned zero-revenue products and grew them to forty one million dollars in revenue. My strategic framework supported SAP Agile methodology adoption and contributed to the acquisition of Ariba for 4.3 billion dollars in 2012, after which I became a leader within Ariba post merger.

Advisory Work and Strategic Consulting

Beyond SAP, I have remained active as a startup advisor and business strategy consultant. I work closely with emerging companies, offering guidance on financial planning, go-to-market strategy, and scalable growth.

My goal has always been to help startups move from concept to sustainable revenue while avoiding common pitfalls. This advisory work allows me to apply enterprise-level experience to early-stage innovation.

I later became Managing Partner at Catapuult Consulting, where I supported enterprises in spend management and procurement strategy development. Catapuult also focuses on guiding startups from zero to one million dollars in annual recurring revenue, aligning strategy with execution.

Commitment to Social Impact and Community Safety

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 through 12 students and focuses on active shooter prevention, medical emergency response, and comprehensive incident management solutions.

This initiative reflects my commitment to using technology and strategy to create meaningful societal impact.

Looking Ahead as Christopher Salis

As Christopher Salis, my career has been defined by transformation, growth, and leadership across global enterprises and startups alike. From procurement and sourcing to SaaS commercialization and advisory work, I have consistently focused on building scalable solutions and high-performing teams.

Today, based in San Mateo, California, I continue to provide SAP consultancy, strategic insight, and growth-focused guidance to organizations worldwide, driven by the same curiosity and passion that first drew me to enterprise technology.