SAPinsider Technology Executive Forum Issue 1 2021

I n the year 2021, many companies are focused on building a digital platform that can support technologies like analytics, automation, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to help them become more agile in the face of disruption. Ingevity is a specialty chemical company based in Charleston, South Carolina currently undergoing an SAP S/4HANA business transformation initiative as part of its 2021 agenda. Since joining Ingevity, the company’s VP of IT and CIO, Michael Mullis, says it's been a busy ride as the company figures out what the future needs to look like. The year 2021 includes the next big phase for Ingevity from a technology perspective, and the company is finding that it’s not only about technology upgrades — it’s also about organiza- tional redesign. Here's what Mullis had to say about where Ingevity is today, how he helps prevent burn-out among his employees when undergoing a migration remotely, and his thoughts on SAP’s new RISE offering. Q. Tell us about your current SAP landscape. Today Ingevity runs a 20-year-old, heavily cus- tomized version of SAP ECC 6.0. It was originally designed for a different industry and implemented by our former parent company, which was a paper manufacturer, so the system has been tailored over the years to meet the needs of the chemical industry. Executive Q&A with Michael Mullis, VP of IT and CIO of Ingevity Michael Mullis, VP of IT and CIO, Ingevity An Insider Look at Ingevity’s SAP S/4HANA Business Transformation SAPinsiderOnline.com 36