Walid Gohar, Group CIO

Walid Gohar

Group CIO

Zahran Holding

Location
Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
Education
Bachelor's degree, Computer and System Control Engineering
Experience
24 years, 8 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :24 years, 8 Months

Group CIO at Zahran Holding
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • My current job since October 2020

Company Brief: Zahran Holding is a group of companies (17+ companies) in diverse sectors like: Operations & Maintenance, Contracting & Industrial Services, and Retail. Zahran Holding

Reporting to the Group Chairman & CEO, leading a team of 24+ person in various technical aspects across regions

Responsibilities:
• Develop & Lead the digital transformation for 17 companies within Zahran Group.
• Evaluates Zahran Holding’s long-term information systems needs and develops an overall IT strategy that meets those needs and contributes to the organization’s business objectives
• Manages Zahran Holding’s IT Department, in a way that meets budget and other non-financial targets set by Top Management
• Identifies, evaluates and prioritizes improvements to the organization’s IT infrastructure
• Ensures no interruption in the operations of Zahran Holding’s IT systems and infrastructure, and the provision of efficient IT support to all Zahran Holding BUs, JVs and Holding Departments
• Ensures that the organization's IT resources are optimized
• Oversees the overall security and integrity of Zahran Holding’s IT systems and infrastructure
• Oversees existing and new information systems business solutions development initiatives
• Manages the technical development and maintenance of Zahran Holding’s internet and intranet sites
• Cultivates internal awareness about IT as a strategic tool
• Demonstrates successful change management in the execution of IT projects
• Follows up on Change Management requests to ensure quality and timely delivery
• Develops and institutionalizes Zahran Holding’s IT policies, processes, and know-how
• Remains abreast of the latest trends and developments in the IT field
• Identifies and tracks IT KPIs and devises plans and initiatives for improvement
• Inputs on and resolves difficult issues and situations related to IT
• Leads, directs, evaluates and develops a team of Unit Heads to ensure that the organization's IT strategy is implemented effectively and consistently, and that proper succession planning is in place
• Is responsible for the development, performance appraisal and succession planning for all direct and indirect reports
• Promotes a highly effective management and leadership style in line with the Company’s values and that supports the achievement of its strategy and objectives

Group IT Director/CIO at Rawabi Holding
  • Saudi Arabia - Khobar
  • July 2016 to September 2019

• Develop & Lead the digital transformation for 27 companies within Rawabi Group.
• Evaluates Rawabi Holding’s long-term information systems needs and develops an overall IT strategy that meets those needs and contributes to the organization’s business objectives
• Manages Rawabi Holding’s IT Department, in a way that meets budget and other non-financial targets set by Top Management
• Identifies, evaluates and prioritizes improvements to the organization’s IT infrastructure
• Ensures no interruption in the operations of Rawabi Holding’s IT systems and infrastructure, and the provision of efficient IT support to all Rawabi Holding BUs, JVs and Holding Departments
• Ensures that the organization's IT resources are optimized
• Oversees the overall security and integrity of Rawabi Holding’s IT systems and infrastructure
• Oversees existing and new information systems business solutions development initiatives
• Manages the technical development and maintenance of Rawabi Holding’s internet and intranet sites
• Cultivates internal awareness about IT as a strategic tool
• Demonstrates successful change management in the execution of IT projects
• Follows up on Change Management requests to ensure quality and timely delivery
• Develops and institutionalizes Rawabi Holding’s IT policies, processes, and know-how
• Remains abreast of the latest trends and developments in the IT field
• Identifies and tracks IT KPIs and devises plans and initiatives for improvement
• Inputs on and resolves difficult issues and situations related to IT
• Leads, directs, evaluates and develops a team of Unit Heads to ensure that the organization's IT strategy is implemented effectively and consistently, and that proper succession planning is in place
• Is responsible for the development, performance appraisal and succession planning for all direct and indirect reports
• Promotes a highly effective management and leadership style in line with the Company’s values and that supports the achievement of its strategy and objectives

Regional IT Director (Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan) at Alamar Foods Group - (Domino's Pizza, Wendy's, Dunkin Donuts and Premier Foods)
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • July 2008 to August 2015

17+ years of IT experience including 12+ years of international tenure of broad-based management in Security, Systems Design and Development, Implementation and Support. Strategically and cost effectively utilize technology in alignment with corporate goals. Consistently improve delivery times and service levels while reducing costs. Excel at strategic planning, building high-performance teams, project management, and implementing best practice methodologies and continuous improvement programs.

Senior Project Manager at Informatique, Egypt – Subsidiary of LBF Italy (CMMI Level 3)
  • Other
  • November 2007 to June 2008

 Steered initiatives for leading the actual of the UMIS project (schedule, effort, development, risks and quality) and to make sure they remain within the budget.
 Maintained close contacts with the customers’ project managers and project group including end-users.
 Stellar role in the management of the control requirements, set expectations, manage error reporting and change requests and to be a direct part of the actual software development design within the project and CMMI® 3 assessments.
 Resolved many conflicts to develop unified MIS system for all government university (13 university, 200 faculties) in Egypt.
 Council of Universities (SCU) in Egypt and Ministry of Higher Education
 Key clients developed: Council of Universities (SCU) in Egypt and Ministry of Higher Education

OSDC Manager & Senior Project Manager at Thebe Technology, Egypt – Belgium
  • Other
  • December 2006 to October 2007

 Handled delivery management of all OSDC projects.
 Acted as a Q-Layer (Belgium co.) Project Manager for leading the actual of the Q-Layer SW (schedule, effort, development, quality) and ensured the project within the budget.
 Managed 7 project managers with their teams for big clients in Belgium including
 Key clients developed: Q-Layer, iNuron, 2Consult.

last designated as Project Manager & Senior Business at EMFI Group, USA - Egypt
  • Other
  • December 2002 to November 2006

 Monitored business development and business consultancy for MAXIMO MRO Software and IFS ERP2 which are international applications.
 Successfully executed various projects in different fields with MAXIMO-MRO software and Pently- MicroStation products viz. GASCO, Khalda, EMC, EMC Main Site, Sameramise Intercontinental, Blue Circle, SOHAR refinery (OMAN), TOSHKA, Al Ahram Beverages, Ridgwood, GPC, Juhayna, Daewoo & UGDC.

Senior Programmer/ Team Leader at InfoTech Systems (ITS), Egypt
  • Other
  • November 1999 to December 2002

 Proved pivotal in developing many products in different fields with various modules like inventory, purchasing, sales, home delivery, branch's management, banking & financial module.

Programmer and Network Administrator at ACAPI Pharmaceutical Factory, Egypt
  • Other
  • November 1997 to October 1999

Administrate and maintain the WAN/LAN of factory and its outlets.

Education

Bachelor's degree, Computer and System Control Engineering
  • at Ain Shams University
  • June 1997

Specialties & Skills

Universities
Management
Web Applications
Education
Desktop & Web Applications development
High-Performance Management Executive
Delivery Operations / Quality Assurance
Project / Programme Management
Strategic & Business Planning
Data Centre Management
IT Services Center Management
Project Management (PMP & CMMI)
Organizational Development
Budget Development & Management
Develop digital solutions for Sales & Marketing
Call Center management
Oracle EBS Implementation
Call Centres Implementation & Management

Languages

Arabic
Expert
English
Expert

Training and Certifications

Executive Management Diploma (Certificate)
Date Attended:
January 2006
Valid Until:
December 2006
PMP (Certificate)
Date Attended:
January 2007
Valid Until:
July 2007