What Happened to William R. McDermott?
William R. McDermott is a prominent American business executive currently serving as the Chairman and CEO of ServiceNow, a position he has held since late 2019. Prior to this, he was the CEO of SAP, where he significantly grew the company's market value and led its transition to cloud computing. McDermott is known for his customer-centric approach, leadership in enterprise software, and strong focus on artificial intelligence in his current role.
Quick Answer
Bill McDermott is currently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ServiceNow, a leading digital workflow company, a role he assumed in November 2019. Under his leadership, ServiceNow has seen substantial growth, tripling its full-year revenues and cementing its position on the Fortune 500 list. His contract as CEO was extended through at least December 31, 2030, effective January 1, 2026, signaling continuity in the company's strategic direction, particularly in the realm of AI-driven enterprise software.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Born in New York City
William R. McDermott was born in New York City and grew up in Amityville, Long Island.
Purchased Amityville Country Delicatessen
At the age of 16, McDermott bought the Amityville Country Delicatessen for $7,000, an early entrepreneurial venture that helped fund his education.
Began Career at Xerox
McDermott launched his professional career as a sales representative at Xerox Corporation, where he spent 17 years.
Became President of Gartner
After his tenure at Xerox, McDermott served as the president of Gartner, Inc.
Joined SAP America as CEO
McDermott was appointed CEO of SAP America, marking his entry into the German software giant.
Appointed Co-CEO of SAP AG
McDermott became co-CEO of SAP AG alongside Jim Hagemann Snabe, beginning a period of significant transformation for the company.
Became Sole CEO of SAP SE
McDermott became the first American to serve as the sole CEO of SAP SE, leading the company through a period where its market value increased from $39 billion to $163 billion.
Published 'Winners Dream'
His memoir, 'Winners Dream: A Journey from Corner Store to Corner Office,' became a national bestseller, chronicling his rise in the business world.
Stepped Down as SAP CEO
McDermott announced his resignation as CEO of SAP, ending his nearly decade-long tenure at the helm.
Appointed CEO of ServiceNow
Shortly after leaving SAP, McDermott joined ServiceNow as its President and Chief Executive Officer, aiming to accelerate the company's growth.
Named Chairman of ServiceNow Board
McDermott's role at ServiceNow expanded as he was also named Chairman of the Board, in addition to his CEO responsibilities.
ServiceNow Extends CEO Contract to 2030
ServiceNow announced an amendment to McDermott's employment agreement, extending his tenure as CEO through at least December 31, 2030, effective January 1, 2026.
Purchased $3M in ServiceNow Stock
McDermott made a significant open-market purchase of over $3 million worth of ServiceNow stock, his first major personal acquisition in years, signaling strong confidence in the company's future.
Announced Partnership with Cohesity
ServiceNow, under McDermott's leadership, partnered with Cohesity to deliver real-time recovery for enterprise AI agents, enhancing resilience and governance in AI workflows.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
William R. McDermott's career is marked by a consistent trajectory of leadership in the technology sector, transforming major enterprise software companies. He began his professional journey at Xerox, where he spent 17 years, rising to become the company's youngest corporate officer and division president. Following stints at Gartner and Siebel Systems, McDermott joined SAP in 2002, initially as CEO of SAP America.
A pivotal period in his career was his tenure at SAP, where he became co-CEO in February 2010 and then the sole CEO in May 2014, becoming the first American to lead the German software giant. During his leadership, SAP's market value surged from $39 billion to over $160 billion, driven by a strategic shift towards cloud computing and numerous acquisitions. McDermott's focus on customer relationships and business model innovation was widely recognized, and he authored the national bestseller, "Winners Dream: A Journey from Corner Store to Corner Office," in 2014.
In October 2019, McDermott announced his decision to step down from SAP, citing the opportune moment for a leadership transition. Shortly thereafter, in November 2019, he was appointed President and CEO of ServiceNow, an enterprise cloud computing company. His move to ServiceNow was driven by the company's growth potential and its transformational platform. Under his guidance, ServiceNow has experienced rapid organic growth, becoming one of the fastest-growing enterprise software companies in history and more than tripling its full-year revenues.
As of March 2026, McDermott continues to serve as Chairman and CEO of ServiceNow, a role he assumed in October 2022. His leadership is heavily focused on positioning ServiceNow as the "AI control tower" for business reinvention, integrating AI across every workflow and aiming to become the AI Defining Enterprise Software Company of the 21st Century. In December 2025, ServiceNow extended his contract as CEO through at least December 31, 2030, reinforcing the company's commitment to his strategic vision.
Recent activities in early 2026 highlight his continued confidence and strategic direction. On February 27, 2026, McDermott made a significant personal investment, purchasing over $3 million worth of ServiceNow stock, signaling his belief that the market may have undervalued the company's AI potential. Furthermore, in March 2026, ServiceNow announced a strategic partnership with Cohesity to deliver real-time recovery for enterprise AI agents, emphasizing the importance of governance and resilience in AI workflows, a key initiative championed by McDermott. He has also been vocal in rebutting the narrative that AI will cannibalize traditional software revenue, instead emphasizing enterprise AI as a multi-trillion-dollar growth driver.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if William R. McDermott made different choices?