Head of IT
Ashur International Bank
مجموع سنوات الخبرة :35 years, 1 أشهر
Responsible for overall infrastructure and efficient running of IT operations, Engineered turnaround of IT's performance and service levels. Transformed IT into a strategic business partner.
Manage and delivered multiple large scale projects on time and within budget. Responsible for budgeting, design and support of all technologies.
Responsible for a team of 22 people: 16 bank employees and 6 outsourced, working in IT functions: ATM support, Core banking System Support, Microsoft Infrastructure and Security Administration, DB Administration, UNIX Admins, Networking and communication, Main Datacentre, Disaster Recovery Site, HELP Desk (1st line Support), end user PC support (2nd line support)
Lead the technology strategy, technology roadmap, operations, deliveries, availability, disaster recovery Data Center, production supports.
• Participated in the design & implementing enterprise architecture, methodology, governance, best practices (TOGAF, ITIL), and SDLC.
• Reduced and rationalized cost of IT operations, IT advancements, vendor selection, and outsourcing.
• Lead the revamp of the whole communication infrastructure of the organization with industry standard technologies to support the new core banking system.
• Implemented a new Tier-III datacentre to support the new core banking system and security standards
• Lead the implementation of a server virtualization initiative based on PowerVM, VMware and MS Hyper-V to cover all services provided by the IT to business units, increased the availability and performance and met all business and technology requirements without downtime
• Implemented Desktop Virtualization across all branches using latest technology from HP Moonshot, to increase systems availability for customer facing users and minimize the cost of support.
• Lead implementation of a private cloud solution based on HP Matrix Operating Environment solution used in the test environment to facilitate and speed and time needed to commission servers for temporary testing with requested cores, memory and all needed software
• Lead the migration from Exchange 2007 on premise email to cloud-based, Office 365.
• Lead the implementation of MS Orchestrator to automate business processes and ingrate it with HRMS system
• Lead the implementation of organization portal hosting on Microsoft Azure in replacement for third party hosting
• Lead the implementation of MS-Lync 2013 as an organization collaboration tool and IP telephony
• Introduced enterprise single sign on, directory of services, and multi-factor authentication
• Lead the implementation of IT polices ad procedures based on ITIL framework as a new service offering. Project included both policies and procedures and tool to support them
• Established compliance with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards.
• Provided leadership, implementation and support to business lines within the organization
• Led the implementation of disaster recovery and contingency plan for systems.
• Implemented policies and procedures for business continuity and regulatory compliance
• Successfully balanced the delivery of new technology with the cost-effective support and maintenance of legacy systems.
• Maintained security and met PCI, and regulatory audit requirements and service SLA's
• Managed the corporate IT infrastructure and internal applications
• Definition and implementation of IT architecture
• Provide systems development support to all units
• Develop and provide continuous systems support to all units
• Develop and ensure service quality is consistent with SLA
• Oversee development of training materials for end users as well IT staff
• Ensure IT maintenance and operational efficiency:
• Define guidelines for IT-related projects (e.g., guidelines for project request, project approval, project organization and team composition, project management, project controlling and reporting)
• Evaluation of selected outsourcing opportunities in alignment with BU strategy
• Ensure compliance with internal and external policies and regulations Management of reporting units
• IT Projects Management
Manage IT projects following the standard PMI guidelines (45 IT projects for Y2008)
Plan and prioritize project schedules for IT unit given budget
Develop project charter and plan and support their maintenance.
Estimate financial and personnel resources required to manage the projects.
Ensure that projects are delivered as per agreed upon scope, budget, and time
Ensure that project benefits are planned, tracked, and delivered.
Supply project stakeholders with technical assistance.
Resolve/escalate emerging risk, issues, and dependencies to the senior management.
• Manage IT budget.
Prepare annual IT automation plan and budget
Discuss and obtain IT Automation Committee on IT plan
Ensure implementation of IT plans
Monitor the performance and spending of the IT automation budget based on the plan and in coordination with IT Automation Committee
Review and authorize invoice payments
• Manage Testing teams for new applications either readymade or locally developed by the bank team before implementing it on live environment and ensure applications meeting user functional requirements and bank standards
• Manage relationship with IT vendors.
Main duties:
• Maintain the integrity and security of the production environment through controls, policies, procedures, monitoring and enforcement.
• Ensure production services are delivered to agreed service levels as regards availability and resilience. This requires implementing centralized storage, systems monitoring, investigating production problems and recommending permanent fixes
• Monitor, maintain and upgrade the IT Infrastructure (h/w, o/s, communications) to met required business performance with proactive capacity planning
• Explore, identify and suggest management options for introducing cost effective technology and systems that enhance the Bank’s competitive posture in the marketplace. If justified, prepare proposals, make management recommendations, securing approval for implementation
• Recommend, gain business case approval and implement required IT infrastructure changes to improve security (also as directed by Audit recommendations)
• Maintain relationships with vendors to improve prices, reduce maintenance costs and to gain access to latest technologies
Bank is using a system from Misys systems (formally known as Kindle Banking Systems) running under IBM AIX UNIX as a core banking package.
Main duties:
1.Maintain the integrity and security of the production environment through controls, policies, procedures, monitoring and enforcement.
2.Ensure production services are delivered to agreed service levels as regards availability and resilience. This requires implementing centralized storage, extending automatic job scheduling, systems monitoring, investigating production problems and recommending permanent fixes
3.Monitor, maintain and upgrade the IT Infrastructure (h/w, o/s, communications) to met required business performance with proactive capacity planning
4.Suggest ways to improve production performance though application changes and promoting such developments
5.Explore, identify and suggest management options for introducing cost effective technology and systems that enhance the Bank’s competitive posture in the marketplace. If justified, prepare proposals, make management recommendations, securing approval for implementation
6.Recommend, gain business case approval and implement required IT infrastructure changes to improve security (also as directed by Audit recommendations)
7.Develop, test and maintain the disaster recovery for systems as required by business continuity plans
8.Maintain relationships with vendors to improve prices, reduce maintenance costs and to gain access to latest technologies
Specialized in the financial services industry and technology skills on the Year2000 Project for Saudi Hollandi Bank (SHB), Riyadh.
Main duties:
* Technical support for all teams involved in the project (Bankmaster, Branchpower, TPS, UNIX, Signature verification, IBSnet, WAN upgrade)
* Develop testing documentation (technical/functional and Y2K test cycles, deployment approach and plans)
* Execution of system testing cycle.
* Planning, coordination and Execution of User Acceptance Testing.
* Planning, coordination and testing of interfaces with other sub-systems.
* Managed and participated in Branch Power, IBSnet, and WAN upgrade, conversion and deployment (3 regions and 36 Branches).
* Supervise work carried out by other team members
* Coordinate work among client staff, vendor staff, and infrastructure team.
* Maintain plans, report progress and identify issues and recommend resolutions
* Ensure quality is maintained and meet target dates and deadlines.
* Planing, preparations, set-up, testing for Disaster Recovery Center at SHB IT dept.
Main duties:
* UNIX System Administrator (DGUX)
* Novell Network Administrator
* Technical support for users on Kindle banking system (BankMaster, BranchPower, TPS, IBSnet, SigCap)
* Manage and support the bank’s WAN.
* Setup and support for all new branches converted to the new banking system (Kindle - Branch Power system)
* Manage the computer room environment.
* Establish the procedures and controls for the daily operations.
* Establish and monitor the security setup and procedure on the system and environment.
Main duties:
* Servicing and maintaining Perkin Elmer mainframe and peripherals: CDC disk drives, terminals, printers, Telecommunication Equipment (Modems, Multiplexers), and PCs.
* Electronic Banking Customer Support
* Supervise the bank’s local area network installation and maintenance.
* Assist in developing programs for local reporting under FoxPro
* Users support for banking package and 3rd party software.
* Participated in planning, preparations, setup, documentation, installation, implementation, and roll-out of the new banking package “MicroBanker”.
* Testing and installation of new Banking packages, fixes and third party products.
* Participated in developing the Amman Data Center internal procedures and controls.
* Handled all communications with the help desk regarding the bugs and fixes of the new system.
* Managed the setup, and installations for Abdoun Branch including : Internal network, equipment installation, software installation, and remote connectivity with Head Office.
Main duties include installing, servicing and maintaining PCs, printers, and telecommunication equipment.
GPA : 5.09
GPA : 90.3%