Head of IT
Cairo Amman Bank
Total years of experience :23 years, 8 Months
Promoted to lead the IT as part of the bank vision for the IT as a business enabler. Responsible for the technological direction of the bank. Proposes budgets for programs and projects, purchases and upgrades equipment, supervises computer specialists and IT workers, and presides over IT-related projects.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
•IT Global restructuring
•Review Systems & Services
•Enhance IT Operations
•Provide technological guidance within the bank.
•Supervise information systems and communications network.
•Develop and implement a customer service platform to serve the organization in every aspect.
•Design, establish, and maintain a network infrastructure for local and wide area connectivity and remote access.
•Consult with administration, department managers, and manufacturing representatives to exchange information, present new approaches, and to discuss equipment/system changes.
•Participate in vendor contract negotiations for all new computer equipment and software purchased for the corporation.
•Create a cost-benefit analysis as well as supporting a detailed definition of data requirements and departmental workflows.
•Oversee Internet and computer operations.
•Manages the day-to-day operations of the information technology department including directing staff, who support administrative computing, networking, user services, telecommunications and other information technology functions.
•Assess and anticipate technology projects and recommend appropriate action and resources.
•Establish and direct the strategic and tactical goals, policies, and procedures for the information technology department.
•Propose hardware/software solutions to accomplish the company's business objectives.
•Identify user needs and resolve problems.
Achievements
IT Structure and Resources:
•Achieved 43% annual IT HR expenses reduction
•Achieved 40% IT staff reduction: Reduced number of IT departments by merging functions & services logically. Reduced number of staff and retain high caliber staff from Jordan & Palestine and utilized resources in Palestine remotely
Systems:
•Achieved 35% systems OPEX reduction (Planned for Infrastructure & Applications on a global level (Jordan & Palestine), Decommissioned/wrote off un-necessary systems/licenses, Ran/maintained applications, network, & security for Palestine from Jordan and reduced Palestine OPEX, Renegotiated service/maintenance/support contracts with Vendors and ensured effective utilization of contracts)
Operations:
•Maintained a small highly qualified in-house team to handle development needs and reduce IT expenses paid to Vendors
•Transformed current help-desk staff into a strong universal team capable of handling hardware, software, and other troubleshooting issues
Infrastructure:
•Built HA site with 0 RPO and 0 RTO achieved for mission critical systems.
Core Banking:
•Migrated Flat Files to RDBMS: JBASE to IBM/DB2
•Credit Bearu (CRIF)
•Implemented Business Intelligence (BI)
Electronic Delivery Channels:
•Smart Prepaid Cards - Kiosks
•Electronic Payment Systems: eFawateercom, JomoPAY, ACH & RTGS
•Debit/Pre-paid cards Instant Issuance at branches
•Self Service branches
•Update KYC information through electronic delivery channels
•Send customers’ accounts e-statements to customers’ mailboxes
Information Security and Compliance:
•Achieved Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard PCI DSS v3.2 for the third consecutive year
•Achieved ISO 27001certification on IT division level.
•Zero Day Attack Protection (FireEye and Microsoft Advanced Threat Protection ATP on Microsoft cloud)
•Deception-based threat detection (ATIVO Networks)
•Multi-Factor Authentication deployment on banking delivery channels
•Compliance with SWIFT Customer Security Program (CSP)
•Implemented Microsoft Identity Management (MIM).
•End-point protection (Behavior Monitoring, Device Control, Firewall and Web Reputation)
•Implementation of Jump Servers
•Privileged accounts Password Management & Session Recording
Recruited as part of the bank technology transformation initiative to replace the legacy and distributed systems and infrastructure with state of the art infrastructure. Responsibilities also included:
Participate in designing, building and supporting the bank's Information Technology.
Management of team of 51 professionals in Jordan and Palestine.
Ensure optimum security and maximum systems’ availability, network and communication continuity to provide a consistent level of service to all users.
Ensure the provision of efficient support for end users, the application support and development section.
Safeguard the integrity and accessibility of Cairo Amman Bank's database and associated assets.
Achievements
Design & build the Main data center, disaster recovery center and business continuity site
Fully operational disaster recovery center
LAN: Flat network to layer 3
WAN: Motorola to Cisco; Leased lines to MPLS
Novell NDS to MS Windows AD
Legacy telephony systems to Cisco IPT
Thin Clients / CITRIX deployment
Mobile branches
Implementing IRIS recognition technology
- Storage consolidation
Servers' consolidation and virtualization
Acquire Next Generation PaloAlto Firewalls
Information security policies & procedures
Business Continuity Plan (BCP)
Compliance with PCI DSS requirements
Implementing VTL backup solution
Recruited to establish IT department for Audi Bank in Jordan, and to build the IT Infrastructure and services for the newly established bank operations in Jordan.
Roles and Responsibilities:
a. Identifies IT goals, objectives, and resources and sets dates for completion of tasks.
b. Supervises IT operations
c. Manages IT staff
d. Handles dealings with vendors and suppliers, including RFPs, RFQs, RFIs and contracts' negotiations.
e. Sets the organization IT Hardware & Software budget.
Achievements:
a. Establishing IT department, and recruiting skilled IT staff.
b. Building the bank main data center
c. Establishing 4 remote branches starting day one.
d. Implemented Cisco IPT.
e. Building state of the art LAN and WAN based on Cisco technology
f. Thin Clients / CITRIX deployment
g. Enterprise storage deployment
Provides professional system administration services to customers and ITD in the areas of operating systems; network; and/or information systems security, as assigned. This includes planning and designing, installation and maintenance and server coordination to ensure system security, availability and efficient operating environment. Induct operations personnel in the efficient use of operating systems software/hardware and in troubleshooting operating system/ network problems. Assigns resources to ensure systems availability and virus free environment. Evaluates new and amended operating systems, as required.
Achievements include:
Diwan of the Royal Cort & the Y2K National Committee - Oman
I was assigned as a Y2K senior consultant for this project managing the full technical services for IT & non-IT systems. I was supported by a team of 7 professionals. The project covered all the Diwan’s directorates over Oman - more than 50 sites have been covered. The project was divided into three phases, IT and Non IT systems Hardware/Software Y2K testing and assessment, remediation work and development of contingency plans.
General Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police
General Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police wanted to present an IVR solution for cars' tickets where people can call up the system and inquire about their vehicles registrations, driving licenses, tickets. People can also require these information to be sent to them by fax (Fax back feature). The system automatically dials out people who are their licenses will expire in the current day.
I was assigned as a Technical Manager for this project managing the full technical services. I was supported by a team of 2 professionals. The delivered solution is handling an average of 90K calls per month.
Brief Job Description & Scope
Provides professional system services for the bank's users and IT department in the areas of hardware (Servers, PCs, Printers, UPSs, Scanners, Check Readers…etc.), Networks LAN & WAN, operating systems (MS Window, Novell NetWare), electronic mailing (Lotus Domino, MS Exchange), desktop applications, front end applications and/or information systems security, as assigned. This includes installation and maintenance to ensure system security, availability and efficient operating environment, troubleshoots networks, operating systems and hardware problems. Handling new hardware & OS installations, operating systems and other related peripherals as required. Ensures systems availability and virus free environment, maintains hardware inventory.