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Johannesburg - The chief executive of one of the world’s biggest enterprise software companies SAP has lost his left eye in a freak accident.
US-based Bill McDermott disclosed the news on Facebook on Thursday.
In 2012, McDermott visited South Africa where SAP services big corporate clients such as Standard Bank.
SAP has its headquarters in Germany and services 293 500 customers in 190 countries across the globe.
“In early July, I was visiting my 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,” said McDermott.
“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,” he said.
McDermott also said that after a six to eight week healing period, he 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.
McDermott joined SAP in 2002 to lead the company’s North American business.
The MBA qualified McDermott also served in senior executive roles with Siebel Systems and Gartner, and Xerox Corporation.
