Cristina Palmaka

President, SAP Latin America and the Caribbean

Cristina Palmaka was named president of SAP Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in July 2020. With more than 30 years of experience in the IT industry, she is known for her strategic approach in leading strong teams with a focus on customers’ innovation and successful business outcomes. She is also a thought leader, passionate about the impact and potential of technology in society. As president of SAP LAC, Palmaka leads a team of more than 5,000 employees focused on enabling customers of all sizes and industries to obtain value from SAP's range of technology solutions to transform and grow their business.

Most recently, Palmaka was president of SAP Brazil for nearly seven years, having built the subsidiary into one of SAP’s top performing globally. Prior to joining SAP, she held various senior executive roles with major IT players in the Brazilian market, including Microsoft, HP, and Philips. Her leadership skills, business acumen, and strong relationships have been instrumental in helping businesses innovate, grow and develop throughout Brazil and beyond.

Palmaka has garnered multiple awards and recognition in the marketplace, including being named as one of the top CEOs in Brazil by Forbes magazine. She is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, wellness in the workplace, and STEM. She is a board member for nonprofit Junior Achievement, which focuses on youth education, and a council member of Arcos Dorados.

Palmaka received her MBA from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (Brazil), holds a master’s in international business and marketing from the University of Texas (United States), and has a degree in accounting from the Fundação Álvares Penteado (Brazil). She is based in São Paulo, where she lives with her husband and daughter. As an advocate of mental health, she keeps focused by running and training for marathons when possible.