A private advisory practice for organisations running SAP

Independent, practical support to help you navigate complex SAP transformations, resolve difficult project situations and make better decisions.

WHY SAP LEADERS TRUST ASHLEY


Ashley brings a rare blend of SAP escalation leadership and commercial negotiation expertise — the kind executives rely on when transformation programs come under pressure. His experience includes:

  • Lead Negotiator at Accenture supporting complex technology and transformation programs across international markets.

  • Former Head of Commercial Escalations at SAP across Asia Pacific and UK/Ireland, personally involved in more than 160 S/4HANA escalations.

  • Former Dispute Resolution Executive at IBM resolving more than 500 major escalations across large-scale technology programs.

  • Deep expertise in SAP commercial constructs, vendor–system integrator dynamics, and executive-level alignment under pressure.

  • First-hand understanding of every side of the table — vendor, system integrator, customer, contracts, and delivery.

  • Independent, commercially balanced, and pragmatic trusted by leaders navigating complex transformation environments.

Ashley’s particular strength lies in restoring alignment where it has begun to fracture — between client, vendor, system integrator and other key stakeholders.

He understands how commercial constructs, delivery pressure, executive expectations and contractual obligations interact — and how misalignment between them can quietly destabilise a program long before it becomes a formal dispute.

Independent, commercially balanced and pragmatic, he is trusted by leaders navigating high-stakes transformation environments.

THE REAL PROBLEM


Transformation programs rarely fail because of technology. They fail when alignment is lost — between strategy and execution, business and technology, commercial expectations and reality.

  • Misalignment.

  • Unclear commercial constructs.

  • Hidden scope and customisation decisions.

  • Underestimated data and cutover risks.

  • Governance that breaks under pressure.

SERVICES

I work directly with organisations and leaders, providing independent, practical support through three core services:

> Transformation Alignment

I work alongside your transformation team throughout the program to maintain alignment between strategy, execution and business outcomes.

I get inside the transformation and work directly with project leaders, stakeholders, business teams and third parties.

My role is to:

  • Identify areas of misalignment

  • Challenge assumptions and decisions

  • Test whether strategy and execution remain connected

  • Facilitate difficult conversations where alignment is at risk

  • Help the people involved resolve issues

  • Maintain alignment as the transformation evolves

This is an active, ongoing role, tailored to the needs of the transformation and its leadership team.

> Problem Project & Escalation Management

Experienced intervention when a transformation needs to get back on track.

I work directly with leadership and the teams involved to understand, negotiate and resolve complex project and commercial issues.

I can provide support across:

  • Commercial escalations and disputes

  • Contractual and scope issues

  • Change requests and competing expectations

  • Client and system integrator disputes

  • Difficult stakeholder situations

  • Project resets and recovery

  • High-stakes negotiations

  • Executive-level escalation management

I become part of the team working through the issue — bringing an independent perspective, practical experience and the ability to have the difficult conversations required to reach resolution.

> Mentoring

A confidential, experienced sounding board for transformation leaders.

One-to-one mentoring based on my experience managing complex transformations, commercial negotiations, escalations and disputes. Bring me the situation you are dealing with and we work through it together.

I provide:

  • An independent perspective

  • Challenge and constructive questioning

  • Practical guidance based on real experience

  • Support preparing for difficult conversations and negotiations

  • A sounding board for important decisions

  • Ongoing support as situations evolve

There is no prescribed programme.

You bring the situation. We work through it together.

About Ashley Saltzman

I have spent more than 25 years resolving high-stakes escalations and troubled transformation programs.


Today, as Accenture’s Strategic Negotiator in its Global Resolution Excellence Centre, I’m called in when a major program is in trouble — facing commercial escalations or disputes that the project team can’t resolve on their own.

Over my career at Accenture, SAP, IBM and MYOB, I’ve led the negotiations and resolution of multi-million-dollar escalations and rebuilt critical relationships under intense pressure.

As SAP’s former Head of Commercial Escalations across Asia Pacific Japan and later the UK & Ireland, I have guided executive teams and resolved the commercial challenges of more than 160 S/4HANA troubled programs.

Before that, at IBM, I negotiated the resolution of over 500 major escalations across Australia and New Zealand.


Known as “the man who defuses bombs,” I am the person leaders turn to when a transformation becomes politically sensitive, commercially tense, or at risk of derailing.

My purpose with the Inner Circle is simple: to share my skills and experience with the leaders who need to know but are rarely taught — so they can handle these situations with confidence.

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Want to know more?

Contact Ashley here to discuss The Inner Circle service for you.

Read Ashley’s contribution in the 2026 ANZSAP Magazine out now:‍ ‍

Available at all major online book stores

Driven by curiosity and built on purpose, this is where bold thinking meets thoughtful execution. Let’s create something meaningful together.