SAP AG (SAP)’s Bill McDermott, who becomes the German company’s sole chief executive officer today, is counting on the leadership change to speed decision-making at the software maker trying to accelerate growth.

Having product road map, sales and personnel actions dealt with by a single CEO lets SAP make “quicker” decisions, McDermott said at a breakfast with reporters today before the company’s annual shareholder meeting in Mannheim, Germany. He said SAP is also looking to foster new leadership in Silicon Valley, underscoring the region’s importance to the company.