Global Head of IT Services
RAK Ceramics
Total years of experience :24 years, 7 Months
RAK Ceramics is one of the fastest growing ceramics manufacturers in the world. Global production of tiles exceeds 360, 000 sq.m. and 12, 000 pieces of sanitary-ware per day from its 10 state-of-the-art plants in UAE and 1 plant each in Bangladesh, India. It manages around 8, 000 employees in UAE, 14, 000 employees worldwide and exports to over 155 countries. My key areas of responsibilities include:
• Develop and implement IT service improvement plans to deliver the SAP transformation agenda, in line with industry best practices and changing business requirements.
• SAP implementation across key business units of the group, full cycle (Pre-implementation Study / Solution Implementation / Post Implementation Support)
• Responsible for SAP change management within global IT landscape, ensuring smooth operation, aligning different departments and teams globally
• Ensuring all enabling IT systems (core applications, email, hardware, data storage, networks, communications etc.), and supporting IT infrastructure are available and performing as intended.
• Formulating IT strategy, alignment with business strategy, management of all operational IT costs to drive value Identify and communicate the options available to group to influence cost.
• Managing the IT Services delivery globally, across all business units of the group, implementations, automation, support services and business process improvements
• Managing IT partners, contractors, multi-disciplined teams including technical, functional consultants and overall operations of the department
Selected Accomplishments:
• SAP ERP implementation in Bangladesh, as part of the global IT transformation program
• Rolled out SAP system in KSA, including revamp of IT infrastructure, network communications
• Designed and implemented SAP Solution Manager (SolMan) for global SAP and IT services delivery, to achieve standardization in delivery, quality and efficiency of IT services
• Established SAP Change Advisory Board (chairman), implemented RCAs, Business Priority Forum
• SAP Project Continua - Managed the SAP disaster recovery planning for three major countries
• Managed SAP business alignment program in Europe to ensure optimal adoption of SAP B1
• Reviewed, evaluated and finalized the selection of global SAP support partner (c:$3M+ value)
• Incubated, built and implemented the IT PMO office, supporting SAP Projects, scaled up globally
• Implemented application license compliance strategy, saved over $1.3M.
• Achieved over 55% cost reduction in negotiating licenses purchase of a Business Intelligence tool
• Coordinated with internal and external auditors, turned around the IT governance and compliance and achieved overall green audit ratings, working towards an improved, secure and compliant IT environment in UAE, India, Bangladesh and Europe (Italy/Germany).
The group comprises of around 4000 employees spread over world class sugar refinery, two manufacturing facilities and one large transportation company (1000 trucks) besides eight small businesses and international projects. My major responsibilities include:
• Managing the internal team of SAP consultants and IT professionals,
• Evaluating and implementing new modules within the group companies environment, applying the best practices in a cost effective manner
• Implementing and maintaining ERP & IT strategy by introducing solutions to suit the Business’ objectives, change management across the business entities
• Plan for and ensure timely availability of all IT resources (hardware, software, network etc.) to handle the current and planned growth in company size.
• Organize, plan and establish priorities of IT projects and meet deadlines as outlined and accorded with the management.
• Performance evaluation of subordinates, setting department goals and objectives in line with business plans. Further highlights:
Internal/External audits
Business Intelligence
Disaster Recovery Strategy/Plans IT purchasing/contracts/SLAs Cloud Computing, Big Data, CTRM
IT Policies and Procedures Security and compliance
BIA and Business Continuity Plans
IT Risk and Quality Management
This position is in UAE based Head Office under Carrier Corporation (UTC USA), dealing in HVAC-heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning solutions. My Major responsibilities include:
•Manage company’s I.S environment including SAP R/3 system with Oracle DB, Windows 2003 servers, MS Exchange 2003, AS/400 system, applications and network infrastructure
•SAP configuration (SD module), conducting users trainings (750+ hours) and support on “Sales and Distribution” (SD) module and “Customer Services” (CS) module under SAP R/3 ver 4.6C/ECC 6.0 system, additional support on MM, FI/CO and HR modules.
•Proactively plan for and ensure timely availability of IT resources to handle the current and planned growth in company.
•Work with the security officer to define company I.S needs including security needs, SLAs, LAN /WAN requirements, BIA, Disaster Recovery Plan, backup/restore operations and other infrastructure necessities.
•Define, implement and suggest changes for review on company’s I.S and security policies, in line with UTC USA guidelines.
•Maintain statutory compliance related to IT infrastructure, especially in the area of software licensing etc.
•Manage and coordinate IT related purchasing, SLAs, annual maintenance contracts and liaison with IT vendors and service providers, monitoring quality of services
•Organize, plan and establish priorities of IT projects, meet deadlines as outlined and accorded with the management.
•Task delegation and achievement of results with commitment and teamwork.
•Yearly I.S. plan preparation in coordination with Finance management and identification of current and future IT trends, implementation of new systems, disaster recovery plan (BCP/DRP), Green Datacenter.
•Team building, ensuring technical capabilities of I.S team remain up-to-date.
•Achieved ISO 9001 certification, ACE cell pilot, achieved Silver level (ACE is UTC quality program),
••Received special recognition awards 3 times (2007-2009)
In March 2000, I was promoted as Systems Manager and appointed at the Data Processing Unit (DPU), Department Of Income Tax, Peshawar, Pakistan. My responsibilities involved:
•Management of Data Processing Unit located in the provincial headquarters of Income Tax department
•Supervision of activities like handling of computerized assessments, tax accounting systems, returns entry and processing systems
•Management of the day to day jobs carried out by the staff members including the programmers, Data processing supervisors, Data entry operators, sorters, data coders working on AS/400 system at the DPU
•Ensuring the smooth operations of the DPU and the trouble free and timely availability of all types of hardware/software being used by the staff under my management.
•Carrying out of backup and restore activities, occasional programming, maintenance and testing of various systems, as per the needs of the Income Tax Department, in N-W.F. Province. This included various programs related to the Income Tax Application System, Tax Accounting System, Assessment Order Application System, Urban Immovable Property System and generation of various reports.
•Conducting training to the Income tax officers/officials as well as the staff at DPU as and when required.
•Active participation in the annual and quarterly plan meets, providing substantial feedback on the new requirements, enhancements and infrastructure needs of the DPU and tax offices under my jurisdiction
PRAL is owned by Central Board of Revenue, Government of Pakistan, and as its name suggests, its is mainly responsible for the automation of revenue collection departments (Customs, Central Excise, Income Tax etc). As Software Engineer, I developed and maintained software for the Income Tax department. My major assignments were related to the Tax Application System. I have been developing applications independently as well as being part of team.
University graduate and professional engineer with special emphasis on I.T and management subjects.
