From a $7,000 deli to leading a $156 billion tech giant

Wars & Conflicts · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: After purchasing a local delicatessen for $7,000 at age 16, Bill McDermott embarked on a remarkable business journey. The American executive later transformed SAP SE, overseeing a massive increase in the company's market value from $39 billion to $156 billion during his influential tenure as CEO.

Bill McDermott's career trajectory is defined by rapid scaling and significant market influence. After using his deli profits to fund his undergraduate studies at Dowling College, he pursued advanced management studies at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and the Wharton School of Business. His professional ascent included roles at Xerox and Gartner before he moved into executive leadership at Siebel Systems. He is the grandson of Hall of Fame basketball player Bobby McDermott. His early business venture helped finance his undergraduate degree. Following this, he completed an executive program at the Wharton School of Business.

His most significant impact occurred during his leadership at SAP SE. Appointed CEO of SAP America in 2002, he eventually became co-CEO in February 2010 and the first American CEO of the company on May 21, 2014. From 2010 to 2018, SAP's market value rose from $39 billion to $144 billion while he led the firm. By the time he departed the company on October 10, 2019, the company's market value had reached $156 billion. During his leadership, SAP completed several major acquisitions, including Sybase in 2010. In 2016, he was named Manager of the Year by Handelsblatt.

McDermott's influence extends across the technology sector. In November 2019, he joined ServiceNow as CEO, succeeding John Donahoe. He held the position of the third highest-paid S&P 500 CEO in 2021, with total pay exceeding $162 million in equity plus $3.5 million in cash and other benefits. He also serves on the boards of Zoom Communications and Figma, and has been recognized for his civic leadership and business acumen by organizations like Glassdoor and Handelsblatt. He currently sits on the board of Zoom Communications. Additionally, he serves on the board of Figma.

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