ServiceNow hires Salesforce exec Paul Smith to head up EMEA region

ServiceNow logo on the side of a white building
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Digital workflow specialist ServiceNow has announced the appointment of Paul Smith as its new senior vice president and general manager for the EMEA region, effective immediately.

The seasoned software-as-a-service (SaaS) executive joins the business from Salesforce, where he most recently held the position of executive vice president and UK general manager following several pan-EMEA roles.

"The best leaders and top talent want to work for companies like ServiceNow, where they can create the future,” said ServiceNow CEO Bill McDermott.

"We are thrilled to have Paul Smith join our team, serve our customers and lead our EMEA region to new heights on our journey to becoming the defining enterprise software company of the 21st century."

Smith's new EMEA patch includes many of ServiceNow’s most important markets and growth opportunities, with the workflow firm’s EMEA revenues increasing by 32% year-over-year in 2019. The region also achieved around a $1 billion revenue run-rate as of Q1 2020.

"ServiceNow is the workflow leader and one of the most exciting and innovative growth companies in the world," Smith commented. "The pristine nature of the single Now Platform gives ServiceNow that rare combination of scale with agility."

Smith began his career at Procter and Gamble but soon followed a passion for the technology industry with leadership roles at Microsoft and a number of startups. He joined Salesforce in 2012 to lead its EMEA Marketing Cloud Business, before going on to lead EMEA Cloud Sales until his appointment as EVP and General Manager for the UK and Ireland in February 2019.

"There are moments in your life when career-defining opportunities present themselves; ServiceNow is one of those for me," he added. "The talented workforce and commitment to customer and partner success sets it apart from other global brands. I’m thrilled to join and privileged to have the opportunity to lead the EMEA business during the next phase of growth.”

Smith succeeds the outgoing Phillip van der Wilt who held the position from January 2016 to July 2020. Under his leadership, ServiceNow said its EMEA business grew rapidly and established a strong foothold across EMEA.

"Many thanks to Philip for his leadership in growing our EMEA region over the past four years and establishing ServiceNow as a strategic partner to many of the world’s leading companies,” said Kevin Haverty, executive vice president of Worldwide Sales at ServiceNow.

Daniel Todd

Dan is a freelance writer and regular contributor to ChannelPro, covering the latest news stories across the IT, technology, and channel landscapes. Topics regularly cover cloud technologies, cyber security, software and operating system guides, and the latest mergers and acquisitions.

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