CEO, ServiceNow – 2019-present | CEO, SAP – 2014-2019
This serial software CEO has his fair share of channel admirers, with those who put him in their top five variously characterising him as “influential”, “charismatic” and “humble”.
After quadrupling SAP’s revenues as its CEO between 2014 and 2019, McDermott has been credited with transforming ServiceNow “from the business that ran IT to the company that is defining how the world works” (see bottom).
Leadership style
In a Chief Executive article, McDermott has written about the necessity of transparency and humility in leadership. Channel leaders who nominated him spoke of his ability to “create an amazing culture no matter what organisation he works for”, and focus on listening to employees.
Low points
While SAP CEO, McDermott in 2015 lost an eye after falling down the stairs while carrying a glass. “My accident changed my life for the better,” he said two years later, however.
Killer quote
“AI is helping [customers] increase productivity, take out costs, and grow revenue. This is the iPhone moment for the enterprise.” (from Fortune interview, September 2023)
What our panellists said about McDermott
Vince DeLuca, CEO, Six Degrees
“Bill is known as the man who went from the ‘corner store to corner office’ after purchasing a local delicatessen business in Long Island, New York at the age of just 17. His extraordinary journey to becoming the first American CEO of SAP, where he grew the company from $39bn to $156bn, is a testament to his unique ability to tell a compelling company story with an infectious, positive tone. Both at SAP and now as CEO of ServiceNow, Bill has demonstrated that a focus on listening to employees, bringing people with him, and customer loyalty are the keys to success, and I recognise and applaud the work he’s doing in revolutionising the enterprise software market through the power of AI.”
Chris Gabriel, Chief Marketing Officer and VP of Innovation – UK Executive, NTT Data Business Solutions
“Bill’s vision and execution in pivoting ServiceNow from the business that ran IT to the company that is now defining how the world works. It is hard to name a more influential, charismatic and impactful leader in our industry.”
Jenni Riley, Co-Founder, ITARMI
“It’s his ability to create an amazing culture no matter what organisation he works for. He is a humble man with a great vision and I find him really inspirational. He is actually my number 1 if it was my choice.”
How did IT Channel Oxygen compile The Century’s Greatest Vendor Leaders? See here
