Head of Corporate IT
Alfardan Group
Total years of experience :41 years, 3 Months
. Technical vision utilizing digital transformation to complement the business vision, creating and adhering to solid IT practices, and spearheading the direction for the company’s technologies.
. Technology strategy and prioritization, strategic planning to achieve business goals by identifying and prioritizing deployment initiatives and setting timetables for the evaluation, and deployment of all technology based services.
. Established state of the art Data Center and Disaster Recovery sites fully virtualization, and Hyper-Converged infrastructure.
- Assessment of current environment and practices and applying best practices within IT operations, and software deployment.
. Organizational structure, alignment, and responsibilities
. Governance processes of direction and control to ensure that objectives are achieved, risks are managed appropriately, and the organization’s resources are used responsibly.
. Monitor, evaluate, and select technologies that can be applied to future products & services.
. Development and execution of an enterprise-wide information security plan that protects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the company’s data and servers.
. Establish department standards of performance and vendors service level agreements.
. Technology financial budgets and decisions regarding technology purchasing to assist the organization in staying competitive and growing financially.
Formulated and implemented a cost cutting strategy, by adapting a consolidation and centralization plan that realized over 35% Savings in IT Operational Expenses in the first 12 months. The plan achieved the following objectives:
- Data Center consolidation: a Total of 5 Data Centers reduced to one.
- Centralized infrastructure: Downsized the Server farm by 60%, commissioned an MPLS Network with FOC backbone instead of segmented network connections. Network cost reduced by 18% while improving bandwidth and reliability by 200%.
- Enterprise Business Applications unification: Implemented a single ERP (Oracle) solution to replace multi-ERP and legacy Financial and HR Solutions.
- Adapted Unified Communications solutions, Instant Messaging, and collaboration to enhance employee productivity and reduce communication costs
- Implemented Shared Services Model for IT Management and Governance.
Provided direction on Corporate Technology Strategy and Developed plans for the resolutions of the ongoing IT Operations, Support, and Security. Managed a portfolio of over 40 projects/tasks.
Developed the Technology Scope Requirements for two Major Real Estate development programs, and negotiated the correspondent contracts with the relevant suppliers.
Responsible for the Technology Strategy and business alignment, Global enterprise Architecture, Application development, Software implementation, and Infrastructure design and deployment. The delpoyed IT Strategy allowed Company to win muli-Billiion dollars Government contracts that eventually led to an exponential growth from $20 Million to over $5Billions in revenues.
Led a global Multi-Million USD e-Customs project from inception, planning, Management, and deployment which was adopted as a busines unit at its completion stage. This project allowed the company to gain major contracts in several governments around the world and exposed the company as a global player in this field. Presented this project in the World Customs Organization as a speaker to over 200 governement representaive in its annual IT events.
Detailed responsibilities list include:
- IT Strategy development
- IT Strategy solutions Implementation which include:
- Corporate Business Solutions: Financials, Human Resources, Payroll
• Enterprise Services: eMail, Intranet, Help Desk, Customer Database
• Operational Services: Warehouse Management System, Trade Finance, Space Management.
- Enterprise Architecture Design and Implementation:
• Hardware (Servers, Storage, Data Center, Disaster Recovery),
• Networking and communications,
• Software (Management, Security, Databases).
IT Business Solutions strategic planning, requirements analysis, specification, design, and architecture of all corporate Systems that led to the replacement of ALJ’s legacy Systems.
Responsibilities included:
- Collection and Analysis of business requirements.
- Evaluation and recommendation of available solutions.
- Design of Corporate Systems Architecture.
- Implementation of Packaged Solutions (HR Access, oracle ERP, Warehouse Management System, Dealership Management System)
- Technical Systems analysis, design and development.
- BPR (Business Process Re-Engineering) .
- Guide and mentor pilot projects utilizing edge technologies (Internet technology, Object Oriented methodology, Client/Server Architecture).
- Initiate and instill work practice built on high performance and professionalism of the individuals in my department.
- Manage and lead the project teams.
Lead consultant on the design of Client/Server applications that interfaced Windows Client front ends with Unix servers and mainframes.
Coded the Application Programming Interface (API) for the Kernel DLL of a Windows Form Processing package. The API library included over 100 C++ functions which manipulated the underlying data in a hierarchical object model form.
Developed a Pressure Transient Analysis system under MS Windows. The project included the design of a complex User Interface, Data Structures, heavy graphics implementation, MDI manipulation and DLL development. Converted a large software package (36 files, 94 API functions) DOS utility into a Windows Dynamic Link Library
Designed an information cluster to interface between a Windows office automation package and a database engine.
Systems Manager (1986 - 1990)
Managed two VAX-11/785’s and a MicroVAX IT systems. Major duties included Installing and upgrading the VMS operating system, Network Management. Routine system and user disks backup, system monitoring, performance and user management, and software packages installation.
Senior Software Engineer (1985 - 1990)
Designed, coded and maintained an Interactive Graphical system for well log analysis and seismic data processing.. Programmed routines to implement graphical presentations, digitizers, and printer plotting. Managed the projects from function specifications through documentation and maintenance. Provided support on the company major seismic interpretation system.
Software Engineer (1982 - 1985)
Downsized a full seismic analysis system package from IBM mainframe to IBM PC Microsystems, using extensive graphical data presentation and interactive user interface. The system improved seismic data testing and analysis turnaround from 48 hrs to 2 hrs. Supported R&D department in testing new functions for marketing presentations
GPA 3.5