SAP’s CEO, Bill McDermott, has lost an eye after a freak accident.
McDermott, who said he will continue to lead the German business software giant, revealed in a Facebook post on Thursday that the accident happened in July, while he was visiting his father on his 76th birthday.
“Unfortunately, during my stay I slipped and fell while holding a glass of water, and the injuries caused by falling on the broken glass were significant. I suffered facial fractures, severe lacerations, and extensive damage to my eye,” he wrote on the social network.
“After returning home from extensive surgery and a week’s worth of recovery time in the hospital, I had numerous additional procedures to repair the facial injuries and multiple surgeries to attempt to regain sight in my eye. Unfortunately, despite doing everything possible, the eye could not be saved and was removed earlier this week,” McDermott said.
“After a six- to eight-week healing period, I will be fitted with a prosthetic eye. Although this was not the outcome I had hoped for, I feel grateful, optimistic and hopeful.”
He said he has spoken to SAP chairman and co-founder Hasso Plattner and other company leaders and colleagues and it has been decided he will continue to lead the company.
“I have lost an eye, not my curiosity or my compassion. I am no less capable of leading SAP, nor any less committed to the audacious goals we’ve set for the company. Thanks to my family, my friends and my colleagues, my spirits are higher than ever.
“This is an important time for SAP, a company made up of thousands of talented, hard-working people that deserve the spotlight much more than I do. So, enough said. Thank you for your friendship and support. Now, it’s time for me to get back to work.”
McDermott was appointed as co-CEO of SAP in February 2010. In May 2014, he made sole CEO.
On a visit to South Africa in 2012, McDermott announced plans to pour money into Africa to ensure its business in key markets grows to US$1bn/year by 2017. The company would step up its investments in seven African markets — South Africa, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Rwanda. — © 2015 NewsCentral Media
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