Nazel Palathingal

•Directed technology governance across national platforms (7 subsidiaries, over 200 users), aligning with audit, cybersecurity, and regulatory standards; closed 12 audit gaps and cut approval cycles 35%.

•Directed the National Chemical Strategy Platform (NCSP), a compliance-driven digital platform for the chemical sector. Oversaw infrastructure setup, cybersecurity alignment, NCA compliance, and data architecture governance in coordination with prime contractors, developers, consultants, and cloud providers.

•Oversaw ≈ SAR 40M portfolio of national digital platforms, ensuring cybersecurity, compliance, and governance across subsidiaries and regulatory bodies.

•Enabled secure vendor integration with enterprise systems; reduced onboarding time from 6 to 3 weeks.

•Built VAT-compliant financial & IT controls (invoicing, reconciliation) for platform operations.

•Delivered CEO and board-level Power BI dashboards (operations, revenue, carbon/circularity), reduced reporting lead time by 10 days.

•Introduced AI-driven analytics (inventory auto-tagging, demand indicators, carbon tracking) to strengthen data integrity and forecasting.

•Supported the National Chemical Initiative via IT governance, cybersecurity oversight, and vendor/regulator coordination.

•Developed financial governance framework for IT/digital platforms, including CapEx/OpEx planning, vendor cost control, and ROI tracking.

• Lead the architecture, governance, and security of national digital platforms valued at approximately SAR 40
million, ensuring alignment with cybersecurity mandates, regulatory requirements, and enterprise technology
standards
• Lead the full delivery lifecycle of the National Chemical Strategy Platform, managing infrastructure design, cloud
provisioning, data architecture, vendor delivery, and NCA compliance across government and private sector
stakeholders.
• Closed 12 major IT audit findings by strengthening internal controls, improving SOX and GRC processes, and
embedding risk mitigation measures across digital and data operations.
• Established financial governance for digital platforms, overseeing CapEx and OpEx planning, supplier cost
optimization, contract compliance, and ROI tracking to support strategic investment decisions.
• Accelerated third party and vendor integrations through standardized onboarding workflows and secure
connectivity protocols, reducing integration timelines from 6 weeks to 3 weeks.
• Introduced AI based analytics including automated asset tagging, demand trend modeling, and carbon emission
tracking to improve data quality, operational visibility, and predictive planning.
• Produced executive dashboards for the CEO and Board, consolidating operational KPIs, sustainability metrics,
cybersecurity posture, and audit performance into real time reporting.
• Coordinated with regulators, cloud partners, and cybersecurity stakeholders to complete NCA assessments,
periodic security reviews, and continuous compliance with national digital governance requirements.

• Directed group wide IT operations across four countries, delivering quarterly performance reports to the CEO and
COO and advising leadership on cybersecurity risk, digital maturity, and transformation priorities.
• Standardized IT operations across multiple countries, optimizing infrastructure, security controls, and licensing to
deliver a 23 percent reduction in operating costs, approximately USD 420K annually.
• Managed an annual IT budget of approximately USD 2 million covering CapEx and OpEx, including budgeting,
procurement, vendor governance, and SLA renegotiation to improve service reliability.
• Strengthened endpoint security by deploying Microsoft Intune and Entra compliance frameworks, increasing
adherence from 60 percent to 95 percent through policy enforcement, asset hygiene, and device hardening.
• Led integration of the CTRM platform with Microsoft Dynamics ERP, embedding audit ready workflows, financial
control checkpoints, and automated reconciliation.
• Achieved Big Four audit clearance with no major observations by redesigning IT controls, strengthening access
governance, and documenting risk processes.
• Oversaw office relocations across the UAE, Switzerland, Singapore, and France, executing network cutovers,
system transitions, and operational readiness plans that limited downtime to less than four hours per site.

• Led comprehensive security reviews across client environments covering firewalls, endpoints, backup
architecture, and data loss prevention controls to ensure audit readiness and alignment with security standards.
• Delivered large scale IT transformation projects for key accounts including RAKBANK, Glencore, Miral Group, and
FAHR, leading deployments of Microsoft 365, DocuSign, infrastructure upgrades, and cybersecurity solutions.
• Directed RAKBANK digital branch modernization, implementing QMS, CVM, interactive signage, Veritas backup
solutions, and DLP controls, increasing customer satisfaction by 18 points and reducing branch incidents by 30
percent across more than 24 locations.
• Provided end to end IT leadership for Glencore International AG across two UAE offices, managing VPN and
domain migrations, endpoint security, and Check Point and FortiGate upgrades while maintaining zero downtime.
• Led Microsoft 365 and DocuSign adoption for Miral Group and FAHR, achieving 85 percent activation within three
months and automating approval workflows across departments.
• Designed and implemented cloud infrastructure on Google Cloud Platform, including Compute Engine, Cloud
Storage, and Virtual Private Cloud networking, enabling scalable, secure, and cost optimized environments for
enterprise clients.
• Managed cybersecurity, network, and virtualization environments including Palo Alto firewalls, Cisco switching,
VMware, and Hyper V clusters, while coordinating vendors, budgets, and project teams in alignment with ITSM
and ITIL practices to ensure SLA driven service delivery and operational efficiency.

•Reported to CEO & COO; presented IT KPIs, risk posture, and transformation updates at executive and board reviews.

•Standardized IT across 4 countries, reduced OpEx by 23% (USD 420K/year).

•Owned IT OpEx/CapEx (~USD 2M), vendor contracts, and SLA negotiations.

•Enforced endpoint standards with Intune/Entra, compliance improved from 60% to 95%..

•Integrated Aspect CTRM with Dynamics 365, cut reconciliation effort by 40%.

•Upgraded cybersecurity stack, MTTR reduced by 45%, passed Big Four audit with zero major findings.

•Directed multi-region office migrations (UAE, Geneva, Singapore, France), achieving less than 4 hours downtime per site.

•Established ITSM framework (incident/problem/change), SLA compliance improved from 68% to 93%.

•Built and mentored a multicultural IT team of 8 across 4 countries.

•Delivered enterprise IT projects for major clients including RAKBANK, Glencore, Miral Group, and FAHR, covering Microsoft 365, DocuSign, and infrastructure/security deployments.

•RAKBANK: Led digital branch transformation (QMS/CVM, signage, Veritas backup, DLP); achieved CSAT +18 points and reduced incident volume by 30% across more than 24 branches.

•Glencore International AG: Provided IT leadership and end-user support for 2 UAE offices (20+ staff), covering VPN/domain migrations, endpoint security, and firewall upgrades (Checkpoint/FortiGate). Ensured seamless daily operations, zero downtime during transitions, and high user satisfaction.

•Miral/FAHR: Rolled out Microsoft 365 and DocuSign workflows; achieved 85% adoption within 3 months and automated approval processes.

•Introduced ITSM (ManageEngine/Jira), driving SLA compliance improved from 65% to 92% and improved audit trail maturity.

•Managed full cybersecurity stack (endpoint/email, Palo Alto firewalls, Cisco networks, VMware/Hyper-V), strengthening client resilience and meeting compliance standards.

•Coordinated vendors and budgets across projects, consistently delivered on time and under budget.

•Mentored and managed project teams, ensuring knowledge transfer and capability uplift for client IT departments.

•Installation, managing and troubleshooting Windows OS and Server

•Installation and providing solutions for network architecture for organizations

•Computer maintenance, providing Annual Maintenance Services, and CCTV network configuration

•Installation, configuration, and maintenance of Network, local, Wireless and Multi-Function printers (MFP) and scanners

•Expert in Norton Ghost Image & Acronis backups with good knowledge of Hiren’s Boot

•Provide local and remote desktop/ software support to TRUEBLUE users

•Work as a team member in support department to fulfil essential tasks

•Prioritization of time, tasks, and incidents as they arise.

•Creation of SOP documents / User FAQ’s

•Escalate incidents and tasks to the appropriate personnel as needed.

•Work closely with US IT support and infrastructure team

•IT inventory management

•Server support, Remote desktop support for the employees within the company.

•Installation, troubleshooting and configuration of computers, Wi-Fi routers, server, UPS, Firewall (Cyberoam, Palo Alto) etc.

•Setting up server, clients, permissions, shared drives, etc.

•The configuration of routing and switching equipment.

•Computer reimaging

•Troubleshoot Windows, Outlook, and Blackberry related issues for internal employees of JPMorgan Chase globally.

•Installation and configuration of Outlook, 2010 and 2013

•Incident Management and Incident Response (Vulcan), Wintel, account administration

•Virtual Private Network (VPN) connectivity troubleshooting.

•Uses Virtual Desktop infrastructure (VDI) for supporting the users globally.

•Remote support (voice) for Sky Broadband and Sky talk end users in the U.K

•Take escalation calls from Level 1 team and resolve the issues of broadband, routers, Wired/
Wireless internet connectivity issues

•Remote support (voice) for McAfee Antivirus end users in the U.S

•Troubleshooting software issues of McAfee Antivirus by accessing user’s PC via GoToAssist

• Uses knowledge base for troubleshooting if needed

• Escalate the calls to L2 team if the issue is beyond L1 scope