Experience

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  Bidvest Mobility, a member of The Bidvest Group

  • Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

  • Professional Services Manager

    • Jul 2022 - Present
    • Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

    Managing the professional services departmentAssuming responsibility for:o Pre-saleso Project Officeo Implementation functionso Solutions Architecture and Design (Application, Infrastructure, Security, Hardware)o the custodians for internal process optimisation, business standards and cross-departmental activity efficiencies – all to ensure customer satisfactiono For pre-sales; the responsibilities included customer business analysis, needs understanding, user requirements scoping, solution architecture and design, costing, and solution motivation / return on investment.o For project management, the responsibilities included functional and technical specification, cross-functional activity, resource and time management, scope and risk management, project governance and communication, change management, cost management and implementation management.o Further responsibilities included ownership of the national project management office, national business process optimisation and standardisation, and aligning national and cross-departmental focus and activities.

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  Tabara International DMCC

  • Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  • Managing Director

    • Jan 2018 - Nov 2022
    • Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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  British American Tobacco

  • United Kingdom
  • Tobacco Manufacturing
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Regional Technology Solutions Architect

    • Oct 2010 - Nov 2017

    I am the Lead Technology Solutions Architect for BAT and responsible for: • Defining technology solutions aligning to the Enterprise Technology Architecture (ETA)• Provide input and leadership into developing IT Strategy• Provide strategic advice on Technology to Global Business Functions• Carry out consulting assignments alone, or leads a team of IT specialists, some of whom might be external suppliers. • Global Infrastructure Design and Engineering• Develop business cases to support and motivate for new or improved technology. Achievements:• Responsible for designing Infrastructure Architecture to enable the organisations new Supply Chain including Mega depots, Cross docs, Depots, Factory, and Head Office as well as all security aspects of the new Technology Estate• Defined technical solution for Risk and Security Department which included Telematics, Access Control, Surveillance and Incident Management system for Hijack Prevention and Illicit trade• Implemented Business Process Monitoring Solution for Global Trade Marketing Solution• Developed Mobile Device Management Strategy for Sales Force• Designed Remote access solution using 2 factor authentication• Design new technology solution for BAT office of the future. Worked with various tech: • Digital Signage • Workplace management • Building Automation • Access Control and Surveillance • Facial Recognition, Biometrics and Video Analytics • Telepresence and Immersive Tech• Global WAN architect. Migration of 120 Markets to new Global WAN provider• Global Enterprise Voice Solution architect using Skype for Business, Cisco and Polycom• Assisted in developing the Global Unified Messaging Strategy• Cost Saving Project: Reduced cost of Mobile Voice and Data• Regional Architect for implementing One Instance of SAP in Russia and EMEA area.• Regional Architect on Track and Trace project in all regional factories in EMEA

  • Regional Manager for Technical Solutions (Africa and Middle East)

    • Mar 2009 - Sep 2010

    Responsibility:• Provide strategically aligned technical consultancy and implementation skills in line with customer expectations whilst delivering future fit IT infrastructure solutions that drive down IT costs and increase quality• Design and implement high quality technology infrastructure work packages and provides cohesive technical consultancy, helping End Markets to adopt new technologies and align with global strategy• Produce flexible, scalable and modular solutions whilst optimizing, enhancing or transforming current infrastructure• Help identify issues and opportunities within IT environments for improvements and investment prioritisation• Create infrastructure architecture, standards and manage the implementations, designs and transition into support in line with business demand• Manage Profit and Loss Centre for Africa and Middle East Technical Solutions DivisionAchievements:• Developed Change Management Program for IT Department to deal with change related to Globalisation of IT Services• Developed Business Case for IP Convergence which reduced Telco Spend in South Africa Market by 30% per annum• Project Manager for implementing Enterprise Voice Solution for South Africa• Designed Architecture for rollout of Digital Signage Solution in 4000 outlets• Developed Business Case for WAN Optimisation which improved Network Capacity and application performance by 400% across Branch Offices• Architect on Regional HR and Finance Shared Services Project• Infrastructure and Security Architect for National Supply Chain Project• Project Managed the implementation of an Identity Management Solution• Responsible for IT Department in SA reaching its Cost savings targets for 2009• Lead Technology Architect on Direct Store Sales Project • Defined IT Strategy and Technology Roadmap for IT Procurement Subsidiary (Agrega)• Project Manager for Identity Access Management project• Developed Hand Held Solution for Sales Automation

  • Technology Architect

    • Mar 2007 - Mar 2009

    Blueprinting • Ensure development, implementation and maintenance of the relevant domain architecture blueprint(s), and ensure compliance to the relevant architecture domain guidelines. • Provide direction and acts as local technology expert, in the use of Blueprint assets and appropriate support tools for the relevant architecture domain(s).• Identify weak components of the particular architecture domain(s) that can be replaced / renewed to ensure a higher quality and more cost effective architecture or provide other business benefits Advice and Consultation: • Provide technology solutions to the local and Global IT • Carry out consulting assignments alone, or leads a team of IT specialistsStandards, Policies, Processes and Procedures: • Contribute to the formulation of the businesses domain architecture standards, policy and procedure • As required develop and maintain relevant organisational guidelines and whitepapers in line with Global direction. • Participate in global technology communities of practice. • Take ownership of, enhance, support and communicate use of assigned facets of the organisations system development methodology, processes and supporting tools applicable to it. • Evaluating requests for exceptions to the domain architecture, standards, policies and procedures and make recommendations regarding the exception to the Lead Architect.Emerging Technology Monitoring: • Maintain up to date knowledge of emerging technology trends and developments in areas of interest to the organisation by reading relevant academic research, other relevant publications and suppliers' information, attending identified conferences and seminars, and through direct contacts. • Conduct/participate in investigations, technology scanning and trials, and using knowledge and understanding of the organisations technical direction and roadmaps, contribute to the implementation of the set direction in the specific domain(s)

• 

  Virgin Life Care (pty) Ltd

  • Cape Town Area, South Africa

  • IT Manager

    • Jan 2005 - Mar 2007
    • Cape Town Area, South Africa

    Responsibilities:• Ensure and manage the quality and performance of the IT maintenance and development services provided to Virgin Life Care by various service providers. • Responsible for IT infrastructure. • Continually develop and improve the functionality and performance of Virgin Life Care’s IT infrastructure.• Responsible for maintenance and development of existing IT applications.• Ensure that existing IT applications are delivering value optimally to Virgin Life Care. • Propose, motivate and where applicable, implement the development of existing applications, the acquisition of new applications and/or the integration with other applications to ensure that Virgin Life Care is always deriving the most ROI, with the lowest risk, from its IT applications.• Responsible for IT support, training and documentation. • Responsible for data management. • Propose, design and implement solutions that enable data to be consolidated, disseminated, accessed and worked with by staff and other selected key stakeholders in a collaborative and empowering environment.• Ensure that the IT component of new products developed by Virgin Life Care are assessed, developed and implemented according to best IT practices. Propose, motivate and, where applicable, incorporate new IT technologies and practices into Virgin Life Care’s products. • Support product development with the creation of functional and technical specifications for and software developmentAchievements:• Ensure that Virgin Life Care South Africa’s IT Strategy is inline with Virgin Global Strategy.• Set up offshore development team to do software development for entire Virgin Life Care Group.• Implement new .Net architecture using Microsoft Solution Framework. • Set up Service Desk and align it with ITIL.• Develop and Rollout of IBM Health Zones nationally• Implemented network infrastructure to allow high availability and reliability.

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  V&A Waterfront

  • IT/Network Manager

    • Jan 2000 - Jan 2005

    • Institute IT policies and procedures with the organization.• Reduce total cost of ownership of software and hardware.• Train and develop subordinates within the IT Department.• Develop and implement IT Strategy• Build data, surveillance and voice network for the V&A Waterfront.• Provide Leadership to IT Function• Manage IT PortfolioAchievements:• Project managed, designed and built Network Infrastructure to support 1000 users.• Migrated the company Network Operating Environment from Novell to Active Directory.• Assistant Project Manager for JDE Oneworld XE ERP Deployment• Designed and Built Infrastructure to support JDE ERP.• Project Manager for Cognos implementation (Business Intelligence Tool).• Project managed and designed the Network Infrastructure for a Tourism Centre with Tour Operators.• Project managed the deployment of the first copper based AS/400 in South Africa.• Project managed the implementation of a fully-fledged collaborative messaging system.• Project managed the installation of a 500 extension Siemens PABX.• Implemented Enterprise Voice over IP Solution• Project managed the installation of an Internet Café and obtained sponsorship for all PC’s and bandwidth.• Project managed the installation and implementation of an IT Help Desk with Richmond SupportDesk.• Migration from Windows NT to Windows 2000 Active Directory.• Migration from Windows 2000 to Windows 2003• Project managed the implementation of Captaris Rightfax Server.• Project managed the installation of a Cisco Internet Point of Presence.• Implemented an e-mail filtering application (Orange Box).• Compiled and instituted all IT related policies within the company.• Exchange 2000 and 2003 migration.• Completed a viability study for the V&A Waterfront which involves running a Point of Sale system, Internet and E-mail services, Voice over Wireless LAN Services over 123 hectares wireless network.

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  Crystal River Software Solutions

  • Software Developer

    • Dec 1998 - Feb 1999

    Develop Software in Visual Foxpro

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  University of the Western Cape

  • Desktop and Network Support

    • Feb 1996 - Dec 1998

    Administer Network in LibraryDesktop Support to all Lecturers, Professors and Admin Staff