Yousuf Naqshbandi

Present Leading the organizations digital transformation strategy, ensuring technology
aligns with business goals and sustainability values.
• Cloud Integration: Directed the successful integration of Microsoft Azure,
enabling scalable infrastructure and secure data management.
• Platform Migration: Oversaw complex migration from Google Workspace to
Office 365, improving collaboration and compliance across global teams.
• Cyber Security: Implemented enterprise-wide proactive security alerts and
monitoring systems, strengthening resilience against emerging threats.
• Strategic Leadership: Defined the IT vision, governance framework, and
innovation roadmap in line with long-term organizational priorities.

Acted as strategic advisor to develop the IT vision, translating business needs into
actionable technical goals and overseeing departmental budgeting and forecasting.
• Directed the sourcing and implementation of new software and hardware
infrastructure.
• Formulated and tested comprehensive business continuity and disaster recovery
plans.
• Identified security vulnerabilities and implemented strategic mitigation
solutions.
• Recruited and supervised IT staff, coordinating activities to ensure high
availability of network services and data.

Headed a team of 15+ IT staff (including Managers and Support Officers), managing
technological operations for over 10, 000 end-users.
• Oversaw all technology operations including network security, infrastructure,
and applications, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Analyzed departmental business requirements to determine technology needs,
achieving efficiency in realizing business targets.
• Successfully rolled out a new IT support ticketing tool, significantly improving
service tracking.
• Implemented robust VPN connectivity for VIP end-users, ensuring secure remote
access.

LafargeHolcim is a global leader in building solutions with 70, 000 employees worldwide. Held
full accountability for IT leadership across 5 GCC countries (UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar,
KSA). Managed a team of 10+ specialists, supported 4, 500 users, and controlled an IT
budget of €6m+ p.a. Reported to Country CFO with strong liaison with Business Unit MDs.
• Strategic Cost Savings: Achieved €200K savings by migrating connectivity from
Velocloud to Meraki, and a further €90k annual saving through renegotiation of
mobile contracts.
• Infrastructure Modernization: Delivered major migrations including Windows 7
to 10, Server 2008 to 2016, and Exchange Server to Domino Lotus Notes (and
subsequently to Google platform).
• Security Enhancement: Boosted IT security standards via the roll-out of 2SV
Authentication across UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait.
• Service Desk Optimization: Consolidated the service desk function and
introduced a new call capturing tool across the GCC, dramatically improving
response times and SLA adherence.
• Team Growth: Led the recruitment of IT departmental staff for UAE and Oman,
significantly improving in-country support capabilities.

Managed end-to-end IT operations, infrastructure development, and systems engineering.
Defined and executed IT strategies to ensure alignment of technology with business goals,
alongside managing comprehensive security audits and preventive monitoring. Key
contributions and successes:
• Achieved 99.90% uptime for servers, network, and backup devices, providing
stable, resilient IT operations.
• Executed a major infrastructure modernization program, migrating the entire
server estate (ERP, File Servers, Domain Controllers) from legacy Windows
platforms to centralized Active Directory services.
• Enhanced organizational resilience by successfully deploying Websense server
and implementing a Disaster Recovery (DR) solution for the Head Office.
• Led the roll-out of a comprehensive IT asset management system for tracking all
hardware across the business.
• Mitigated a critical SAN storage failure by rapidly implementing an Acronis server
workaround for business-critical systems.

Responsible for IT infrastructure solutions, end-to-end project lifecycle management,
budgeting, and enhancing Fiber Optic connectivity between sites and the data centre
environment. Key contributions and successes:
• Implemented new Group IT Strategies to drive service improvement and
transformation at a country level.
• Project-led the implementation of Cisco VOIP Telephony connecting the
Emirates plant with Egypt.
• Established comprehensive documentation for IT implementation processes and
support procedures.