Marc Benioff

Marc Benioff is chairman and CEO of salesforce.com. He founded the company in March 1999 with a vision to create a Web-based software utility that would replace traditional enterprise software technology. Benioff is now regarded as the leader of what he termed “The End Of Software,” the growing idea that Web-based applications deliver immediate benefits at reduced risks and costs. Under Benioff’s leadership, salesforce.com has become the global leader of this new industry and SunBridge, the leading incubator in Japan, named Benioff Entrepreneur of the Year for his work in catalyzing technology change.

In 2004, Benioff co-authored Compassionate Capitalism, the first-ever best practices guide for corporate philanthropy that illustrates the success of the integrated model. The book was launched in conjunction with the World Economic Forum’s 2004 meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Previously, members of the World Economic Forum selected Benioff as a “Global Leader of Tomorrow,” one of 100 leaders in business, politics, and the arts committed to addressing social issues. Computerworld awarded Benioff an Honors Laureate for his visionary way of using information technology to better communities. In addition, Benioff received the Promise of Peace award from the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu for his work using technology as a means to further Middle East peace and the Bridge Award from the non-profit organization HEAVEN (Helping Educate, Activate, Volunteer, and Empower via the Net) for providing internet access to the underserved in America’s inner cities.