Meet the Chiefs: Kevin Gilroy, SAP
Kevin Gilroy is the senior vice president of Global Indirect Channels at SAP, where he is responsible for driving the company's global indirect revenue through its partner community and developing business opportunities for partners. Gilroy has served in his current position since 2012, and previously held the position of vice president responsible for leading channel and business development functions within SAP's SMB organization in North America. Gilroy has also held senior leadership positions at companies including Arrow Electronics, OnForce, and HP.
![Kevin Gilroy senior vice president of Global Indirect Channels at SAP Kevin Gilroy senior vice president of Global Indirect Channels at SAP](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt10e444bce2d36aa8/blt2d8c1d7c8f9695ba/652478577f88f57f50775247/SAP_Executives_2011_Kevin_Gilroy_0.jpg?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
Kevin Gilroy, senior vice president of Global Indirect Channels at SAP
Kevin Gilroy, senior vice president of Global Indirect Channels at SAP.
Gilroy: My first professional job was at HP as a financial analyst, and I had one of the best bosses in my career. She taught me how to challenge myself, how to be self-aware and how to understand where my strengths lie while also acknowledging where I could grow. I also learned that choosing the right team is important to complement one’s strengths as well as augment one’s weaknesses. She and I still keep in touch to this day.
The VAR Guy says: That is a great story! It is so important to have a mentor early in your professional career–it can have profound effects on an individual’s way of thinking and conducting business.
Gilroy: I have to say a Porsche 911. To me, it has the right amount of everything: style, simplicity and power.
The VAR Guy says: One of these sleek beauties will cost you a pretty penny, but with looks like that, we think a purchase is completely justified.
Gilroy: I went with my wife and three daughters to Barcelona, and it was such a great experience for all of us. We took a cooking class for the day, spent time at the beach, hiked in the mountains, roamed the city on foot, and took the time to absorb and learn as much as possible about the rich history and culture of the city.
The VAR Guy says: That sounds like an amazing vacation–we hope you also had time to try some of the city’s famous local cuisine!
Gilroy: Hands down it has to be “The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference” by Malcolm Gladwell. The idea is that anyone can take a small idea and turn it into something that has a major, positive impact. I talk with my team about it all the time to spark these types of ideas, regardless of what they are, and how they have the potential to become something bigger, something more meaningful.
The VAR Guy says: Canadian Journalist Malcolm Gladwell is a well-respected author and frequent pick for our Meet the Chiefs candidates. His other titles, including “Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking” and “Outliers: The Story of Success,” have also been acclaimed by critics and the general public.
Gilroy: When I was a teenager, I wanted nothing more than a 1973 Triumph TR6, and now I own one. I love to tinker with it and take it for a drive on the weekends when the weather is nice. It’s truly a classic.
The VAR Guy says: This is another great looking car–we bet you turn a lot of heads riding through town in this one.
Gilroy: I honestly don’t watch much TV, but I do watch “Morning Joe” every day. I find it to be incredibly informative, and I like the format as well as the balance of political insight and current events.
The VAR Guy says: This morning talk show is hosted by former Florida Congressman Joe Scarborough and co-hosted by Mika Brzezinski and Willie Geist. The show has been an MSNBC morning staple since 2007, replacing Don Imus’ show “Imus in the Morning.”
Gilroy: I wanted to be a cop, detective or FBI agent for the longest time, to the point where I actually pursued a degree in criminal justice. However, once I took my first business class, that all changed. My professor at the time, I’ll never forget, brought in 25 copies of the Wall Street Journal and taught us how to analyze and digest it from a perspective that wasn’t simply “reading.” The overall business insight, strategies and methods he taught piqued my personal and professional interest, and is what inspired me to pursue a business/finance degree.
The VAR Guy says: Your professor’s analysis of the WSJ sounds a lot like the techniques that The VAR Guy learned in journalism school! Perhaps you have a knack for the written word as well?
Gilroy: Oddly enough, it’s “The Godfather,” and not for all of the action-packed reasons one might think. I watch that movie and I see business as well as life strategy components to it, which fascinates me. When you strip everything away, it’s all about how your morals, ethics and values steer your decision making, which in turn affects your personal and professional lives through responsibility and ownership of your actions and how they impact others.
The VAR Guy says: A fantastic choice and a very insightful new way of looking at a classic film. We’ll definitely need to go back and re-watch this one with a more analytical eye to see some of the points you made for ourselves.
Gilroy: Oddly enough, it’s “The Godfather,” and not for all of the action-packed reasons one might think. I watch that movie and I see business as well as life strategy components to it, which fascinates me. When you strip everything away, it’s all about how your morals, ethics and values steer your decision making, which in turn affects your personal and professional lives through responsibility and ownership of your actions and how they impact others.
The VAR Guy says: A fantastic choice and a very insightful new way of looking at a classic film. We’ll definitely need to go back and re-watch this one with a more analytical eye to see some of the points you made for ourselves.
Kevin Gilroy is the senior vice president of Global Indirect Channels at SAP, where he is responsible for driving the company's global indirect revenue through its partner community and developing business opportunities for partners. Gilroy has served in his current position since 2012, and previously held the position of vice president responsible for leading channel and business development functions within SAP's SMB organization in North America. Gilroy has also held senior leadership positions at companies including Arrow Electronics, OnForce, and HP.
What is Meet the Chiefs?
Meet the Chiefs shines the spotlight on the channel’s head honchos and offers an opportunity to learn a little bit about the person beyond his or her company profile. Click on each photo to learn more about the channel chief you’re viewing.
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