Companies choose Salesforce because we are on a path together to innovate and grow as part of a trusted Ohana (“family” in Hawaiian). We work collaboratively not only to transform businesses, but also to make the world a better place. So, it’s no surprise that building relationships with our customers to envision their futures and achieve their goals is an important pillar of Salesforce. To do this most effectively, we need the best and brightest—and most accomplished—advisors to help our customers plot their course to success.

In that spirit, we’re thrilled today to announce that Ulrik Nehammer, most recently CEO of Coca-Cola Erfrischungsgetränke GmbH in Germany, will join the Salesforce Strategic Customer Advisory Team as senior vice president, reporting to me. An extraordinarily accomplished executive, Ulrik will work closely with Salesforce’s growing base of global customers to conceptualize and develop innovative digital transformation solutions. He will join Salesforce in January 2017.

Companies all over the world are trying to change their businesses because they are being disrupted by newer, more nimble enterprises. To win and retain customers, they’ll need to change how they interact and engage with their customers throughout their entire lifecycles—not only in adopting new technologies, but also in changing the cultures of their companies overall. I’m thrilled to have Ulrik join our team, as I know he is uniquely qualified to help our customers chart their success.

Ulrik brings more than 25 years of management experience covering sales, distribution, marketing and general management with both the Coca-Cola Company and bottling operations in seven different countries, and his responsibilities spanned more than 20 markets. During his tenure, Germany became the fastest-growing Coca-Cola business in Europe with an all-time-high market share and strong bottom-line improvement, including a full transformation of sales and customer relationships.

"I am very excited, and at the same time humbled, to join Salesforce,” Ulrik said. “I’ve been working very closely with the team over the last three years and have experienced first-hand what the implementation of Salesforce can do to accelerate business. From day one, on the customer side, I was impressed with the quality of the Salesforce team and its winning spirit. I look forward to becoming part of this great venture.”