Regional IT Manager ME and central Asia
Mitsubishi Corporation
Total years of experience :33 years, 6 Months
Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) is Japan's largest general trading company with over 200 bases of operations in approximately 80 countries worldwide. Together with its over 500 group companies, MC employs a multinational workforce of approximately 60, 000 people. MC has long been engaged in business with customers around the world in virtually every industry, including energy, metals, machinery, chemicals, food and general merchandise.
• Work with TOK and London office for the ME overall projects, planning, design and implementation of IT projects.
• Work very close with business managers and office’s GM to achieve company KPI’s.
• Work with 19 offices in ME for IT budget, design, planning and implementations for the new IT projects.
• Migrate all ME users email system from Lotus Notes to Microsoft outlook (exchange).
• Migrate to office 365.
• Change the IT infrastructure in all offices.
• Establish a good relationship with NDA and SLA with the local IT support providers in the region.
• Evaluate and develop the current IT systems, infrastructure, and ERP.
• Establish IT policies and procedures.
• Establish business continuity plan for the entire region.
• IT audits, and action plan.
• Support and provide 1st Level and 2nd Level support to the MC Middle East Region Offices and Subsidiaries, as required for IT Hardware, Software and Network.
• Provide end-user training on IT and IT Security matters; maintain appropriate training records.
• Establish IT helpdesk and hire the IT engineers.
• Relocate some offices to a new location.
Highlights & Achievements:
• Developed, deployed and maintained the ISP infrastructure for three different companies.
• Instrumental in devising the tier II data center which is N+1 as well as implementing the Microsoft AX ERP and Hits HR System including its policies, process and user manual
• Effectively managed to get a discount of 65% on the purchase of equipments.
• Played a pivotal role in formulating budgeting plans for the next 5 years.
Key Responsibilities:
• Spearheading the IT department, managing all IT infrastructure and systems, as well as resolving issues related to IT and corporate products with an aim to maintain and enhance business relations.
• Analyzing business requirements, managing the IT’s access control and CCTV cameras, identifying technical solutions, in addition to scheduling changes and approving implementation of changes to produce functional specifications for the same.
• Managing the technology transfer and customization of turnkey IT solutions for the organization, aided by a team of engineers, technical support specialists, database administrators, system analysts, technicians, etc.
• Evaluating and identifying organizational goals to establish operating procedural standards, and recommending IT infrastructure requirements and upgradations to ensure acceptable levels of security, disaster management and data recovery plans to maintain integrity of the corporate IT network.
• Coordinating with various departments, liaising and negotiating with vendors, suppliers and external outsourcing agents with respect to pricing, deadlines, maintenance and timely execution of day-to-day operations.
• Upgrading IT infrastructure, formulating quality assurance standards and procedures, as well as suggesting new upgraded products for better performances and efficiency.
Highlights & Achievements:
• Devised alternative solutions to continue unhindered operations and maintain zero downtime for two consecutive years.
• Played a crucial role in establishing the helpdesk of 7 engineers for proffering outstanding and prompt technical support by responding within 5 min.
• Efficiently led negotiations and achieved a discount of 75% from Cisco and other lead suppliers including Microsoft, HP, Dell, Riverbed, NetIQ, Sony, Polycom and Hits.
• Proficiently managed the yearly IT budget of 17 Million AED by executing several business development initiatives.
• Designed and managed WAN infrastructure as well as IT helpdesk.
Key Responsibilities:
• Led a team of 6 IT engineers in effectively handling and managing the overall operations of an IT department.
• Prepared all project schedules and plans, issued full schedules of work to client/involved parties for approval, assigned all required resources to the project, and monitored actual project progress against agreed schedules and plans to ensure completion within specified time/budget.
• Performed resource estimation for project team resources, assigned tasks, delegated authority and motivated team members to work together on the project. Provided updates/adjustments to project plan as necessary to ensure project continues to meet key deliverables.
• Interfaced with and trained all levels of end-users and data analysts to prototype possible approaches to problems and translate raw data into informative information for management.
• Monitored and tracked project status/progress and reported the same to the upper management. Recommended processes to improve quality and efficiency of the projects.
• Ensured technical solutions meet overall company policies, procedures and frameworks.
• Drafted IT strategy documents, created business continuity plans and prepared related reports/documents for submitting to the Board of Directors.
Highlights and Achievements
• Modified corporate IT policy in all countries and used VPN; thus saving the company USD 6 million per year.
• Established IT department and hired IT engineers in 9 countries.
• Trained users to adhere to IT policy and designed the user manual.
• Prepared budget for 9 different countries.
Responsibilities
• Spearheaded and successfully managed the migration of the email system from cc-mail to exchange 5.5.
• Successfully moved Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Paris Office to Dubai temporarily. Moved the Dubai MEA temporary office to the final office including all the electromechanical work and followed with ETISALT to move the lease line and the PRI line.
• Installed a new VoIP telephone system and connected all the offices and saved about USD 500000/year Moved from nt4 to AD 2000.
• Designed and implemented the following:
- Disaster recovery plan
- e-room system to share heavy document
- RSA system to secure email access from outside
- anti-virus system and a virus-free system for more than 5 years
- access control with time attendant with finger print for the offices and server rooms
• Managed the migration from exchange 5.5 to exchange 2003.
• Designed and selected the auto backup system and HR system.
Key Achievements & Responsibilities:
• Outperformed corporate targets for every consecutive year; simultaneously rocketed the annual sales targets from 80, 000 to 270, 000 pounds by conceptualizing novel business development plans.
• Publicized the IT Hardware Components/Systems amongst corporate clients across Egypt.
• Boosted up the company’s revenue generation and established a strong market presence by fostering cordial relationships with the top management of varied multinational companies.
• Acted as Corporate Ambassador; discovered new areas of customers by penetrating new markets and formulated various strategies based on competitor analysis and market intelligence to maximize opportunities in existing markets.
Previous Professional Experiences:
• Feb '99 - Sept '99: Branch Manager, Micro Max, Egypt.
Key Achievements & Responsibilities:
• Amplified the company’s annual sales from 0 to AED 380, 000.
• Spearheaded the successful opening of the company’s branch in Cairo, efficiently established and managed the commercial operations of the company by implementing novel systems, policies and procedures.
• Supervised the overall commercial management of the company’s branch operations related to strategic planning, financial, sale & marketing, personnel, information technology, legal compliance and P&L performance functions.
• Sept '97 - Dec '98: Data Management Specialist, Alpha Omega Group, Egypt.
Key Achievements & Responsibilities:
• Instrumental in augmenting the company’s annual sales by strategizing business development efforts to outperform corporate targets every year.
• Efficiently achieved the forecasted revenue budgets and company's profitability by liaising with the area sales manager.
• Kept close tabs on market dynamics, trends and competitor strategies. Collated information & formulated strategies to optimize performance parameters/business outputs. Submitted reports to the upper management to facilitate further decision making.
Previous Professional Experiences (Continued):
• 1996 - 1997: Systems Administrator, General Dynamics Land System, Egypt.
Key Achievements & Responsibilities:
• Analyzed project inception plan and created a schematic layout considering key quantifiable parameters for IT projects encompassing - reviewing project constructability, scope of work, project profitability, cost estimates, benefit analysis & return on investment as well as scheduling; planned, developed and implemented project work breakdown structure, tracked budget and controlled expenses.
• Devised, implemented and maintained technology standards, IT systems & procedures and network security policies as per technical needs of all departments.
• Managed the overall IT departmental budget of 2 Million and generated weekly/ monthly reports for submittals to the general manager.
• Performed troubleshooting of LAN/ WAN set-up and maintained connectivity for users, diagnosed production problems and effected corrective measures to ensure optimum network performance & reliability.
• Evaluated/ identified organizational requirements to establish operating procedural & infrastructural standards for computerization, recommended infrastructure (hardware/ software) requirements in addition to upgradations to ensure acceptable levels of security, disaster management and data recovery plans.
• Kept abreast of latest technological advancements, provided secure access to remote system users, recruited and trained personnel for various information technology.
• 1989 - 1996: Data Management Specialist, Alpha Omega Group, Egypt.
Key Responsibility:
• Oversaw major activities pertaining to the assembling and maintenance of hardware and software as well as network system management.