IT Strategy & Transformation

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Alex C. Kao

Elmhurst, Illinois 312-***-**** *******@*******.*** https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexkao/ Senior Technology Executive Chief Information Officer Leading organizations in leveraging technology to navigate disruption, achieve strategic outcomes, and realize value. Successful leader bringing over 28 years of business and technology experience in multiple geographies and industries including food & beverage, retail, financial services, and government. Trusted advisor possessing excellent business acumen paired with hands-on experience in all aspects of Information Technology from strategic planning and budgeting to architecture and design, solution development, operations and support, and performance management. Strategic thinker adept at translating business needs into technology requirements supported by the ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to business executives, build robust business cases for IT investment, and ensure strong alignment of technology initiatives to business goals.

Problem solver with a pragmatic approach to execution that is skilled at managing large complex initiatives, identifying opportunities for improvement, and propelling change to improve IT performance. Effective and articulate communicator with the ability to collaborate, build strong relationships, and win cooperation with individuals at various levels and disciplines.

Competencies

IT Strategic Planning and Leadership

IT Target Operating Model Design

Capability Maturity Assessment

Program Management and Delivery

Cross-Functional Team Leadership

Business Relationship Management

IT Business Management

Benchmarking

Cost Takeout

Performance Management

Balanced Scorecard

IT Governance

Project Portfolio Management

Application Portfolio Management

IT Service Management

Professional Experience

KPMG, Chicago, IL 2010 to 2017

Director, CIO Advisory, Management Consulting

Enabling the CIO agenda and developing and implementing business-driven IT strategies and initiatives. Led multiple large programs/projects with cross-functional onshore and offshore teams. Supported practice development by helping to develop the firm’s IT capability model and assessment methodology, training materials, and toolkits. Helped develop an internal tool to identify and qualify IT advisory services to support market development and cross-selling. Representative experience includes:

MetLife, New York, NY and Somerset, NJ:

– Performed a technology assessment for International IT. Assessed business and IT capability maturity to determine high-level IT initiatives required to support business acceleration strategies.

– Developed sharing options and delivery models for International IT shared services and solutions. Assessed capability maturity, developed application evaluation criteria and decision tool to determine disposition of existing shared applications.

– Developed a target operating model for the CTO

– Identified hardware and software cost savings opportunities including the development of a software taxonomy and assessment of software asset management capabilities. Led an application rationalization effort and identified $17M in potential savings.

– Led an assessment and future state definition of the capacity and performance management function; conducted a capacity management analysis and developed an executive presentation for a new global CIO to communicate IT’s ability to support forecasted business growth

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), McLean, VA:

– Developed a program management approach to address IT issues in remediation of an audit-identified significant deficiency. Developed functional requirements, job descriptions, and processes for a new organization to manage and report on the remediation of IT issues. Developed a new IT issues and risks scorecard.

Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Washington, DC:

– Led a multiyear effort to integrate legacy systems to the SimCorp Dimension Securities Accounting Management platform

NBCUniversal, Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY:

– Led a multiyear program of multiple work streams integrating ServiceNow, Apptio, and Flexera to provide operational efficiency and better technology investment evaluation and prioritization based on transparency and credible insights into the cost, quality and performance of IT services

Tennessee Health Care Finance and Administration Agency (HCFA), Nashville, TN:

– Developed an IT demand and portfolio management process including definition of a business relationship management function and integration with Enterprise Architecture and PMO functions Stravantage LLC, Elmhurst, IL 2009 to 2010

Managing Director and founder of this IT management consultancy

C.H. Guenther & Son, San Antonio, TX

– Partnered with a new CIO in identifying required capabilities and resources to execute his agenda. Developed an organizational structure including roles, services, and processes, an IT Balanced Scorecard, and a customer-oriented service catalog. Alex C. Kao Elmhurst, IL 312-***-**** *******@*******.*** https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexkao/ 2 of 3

Kraft Foods, Northfield, IL 2005 to 2009

Associate Director, IT Strategy, Planning and Operations, Global Information Systems Served as the CIO’s IT strategy liaison with responsibility for developing key systems strategies and action plans for implementation around the world. Liaison between IT groups to facilitate strategy and planning activities, leveraging a combination of technical, business, and leadership skills to increase technology value to Kraft Foods. Strategy

Developed the IT strategic planning process and global IT strategic plan encompassing business unit strategies, supporting functions such as IT Operations and Enterprise Shared Services, and enterprise enabling programs including ERP and Business Intelligence

Created enterprise strategic business and technology roadmaps mapping business objectives to IT enablers and initiatives, driving budgeting, resource scheduling, and capacity planning. Trained the organization on the process globally.

Collaborated in the development of the Enterprise Architecture (EA) strategy. Served as a core member of the EA council ensuring alignment and integration of architecture with the overarching IT strategy.

Managed external research vendor relationships and contracts (budget of $625K). Led cross-functional research council to develop strategic supplier partnerships and provide education on research resources in order to maximize utilization and value.

Led design, planning, and execution of an internal conference, the IS Future Forum (http://www.interslicestudios.com/iaemail/090126/), which brought industry experts to Kraft to provoke innovative thinking and provide valuable knowledge to all employees worldwide. Portfolio Management

Led the IT Investment Portfolio Management process to establish and govern the allocation of a $340M project portfolio. Assisted in implementing the Mercury ITG project and portfolio management tool.

Developed a collaborative project cost estimating process and tool used by all groups involved in project planning, delivery, and support. Streamlined project planning by implementing a concept evaluation process to reduce the volume of projects requiring architectural solution development and cost estimation with estimated first year savings of $600K. Performance Management & Cost Takeout

Designed a benefits realization process for IT projects in order to measure and communicate business value. Demonstrated the contribution of IT through the development and implementation of an IT Balanced Scorecard.

Developed an Application Portfolio Management process to rationalize the applications in use

Collaborated in developing an IT value transformation program to reduce IT costs and re-purpose spend to higher value efforts. Identified cost takeout opportunities and tracked realized savings. Created a productivity pipeline targeted for $50M in savings.

Created a program to conduct targeted and effective benchmarking in order to identify and act upon areas and means of improvement in the quality and cost of IT services

Independent Management Consultant 2004 to 2005

Performed technical advisory services for AARP (Washington, D.C.), Next Online Mortgage Technologies (Lynwood, WA), and Charles Schwab & Co. (San Francisco, CA). Efforts included developing business processes for the management and distribution of membership data to external service providers and internal customers in support of multichannel marketing, developing an IT infrastructure documentation standard including current state of the IT infrastructure, key services provided, and standard operating procedures as part of a larger IT and external marketing effort, and conducting a data center and server consolidation feasibility and total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis. Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 2003 to 2004 Director, Enterprise IT Strategy

Responsible for creating and maintaining the IT strategy to support enterprise and business unit requirements, and enable the realization of business and IT goals. Led enterprise prioritization and IT project governance. Drove technology innovation, leading emerging technology research and evaluation, and proactively identifying relevant technology trends and solutions with potential benefit to the enterprise. Strategy

Liaison with Corporate Strategy to ensure alignment of IT initiatives with overall corporate goals and priorities. Defined a collaborative cross-functional IT strategic planning process and developed the enterprise IT Strategy.

Managed external research vendor relationships and contracts to maximize value derived from vendor services. Coordinated requests for access to research materials and services, provided a holistic view of areas of interest and research in IT. Published periodic Strategic Insights document to the enterprise covering new developments in IT and their impact to the retail industry. Portfolio Management

Led the design and implementation of an IT Project Portfolio Management process to prioritize business demand for an $85M portfolio, and assisted in the development of a $625M IT operating plan. Conducted software package selection and implemented the ProSight project and portfolio management tool.

Implemented an Application Portfolio Management process to rationalize the systems in use

Collaborated in the creation of the IT Architecture & Standards Board – served as a core board member, defined the working agenda, engaged the board to perform technical reviews of all IT project opportunities IT Innovation

Created the charter and technology evaluation model for a new multidisciplinary Emerging Technology Advisory Council. Managed $1M budget for IT innovation project investment.

Alex C. Kao Elmhurst, IL 312-***-**** *******@*******.*** https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexkao/ 3 of 3

Independent Management Consultant 2002 to 2003

Zurich North America, Schaumburg, IL and Baltimore, MD

– Performed an assessment of a small commercial automobile policy system to determine the viability of extending the system as a platform for managing additional lines of business. Defined a future state architecture and plans to enhance the system.

Safeco Insurance Companies, Seattle, WA

– Developed a Sales and Marketing IT Strategy for the Property & Casualty Insurance division

– Developed an IT strategy focused on supporting distribution channels for Safeco’s Life & Investments division KPMG Consulting, Chicago, IL 1997 to 2002

Manager, Technology Strategy and IT Transformation (originally Nolan, Norton, and Co.) Representative accomplishments include developing an IT Balanced Scorecard and plan for creating a performance measurement group and implementation of a scorecard software solution for Washington Mutual; developing IT Strategies for Aflac, Liberty Life Insurance, and Alfa Insurance; managing multiple projects for the California State Automobile Association involving capacity planning and technical architecture design of networks and voice systems; developing a framework for prioritizing strategic technology initiatives for Nationwide Insurance; creating a business plan for the implementation of electronic commerce for the State of Iowa as part of the state’s IOWAccess program; and leading a process reengineering initiative for Allstate Insurance. The Logic Companies: Logic Plus & New Logic, Chicago, IL 1991 to 1997 Group Manager, Systems & Networks Engineering

Managed the systems and networks engineering practice for this systems integrator. Helped form and grow a new company, New Logic, from the parent company Logic Plus – developed service offerings, managed team utilization, and ensured quality service delivery. Provided technical sales support and successfully planned, designed, and managed several client-server migration efforts.

Network and systems administrator for both companies – created and implemented security policies and maintained networks and application servers; installed and configured communications servers and electronic mail systems, wireless networks, relational database servers, routers and firewalls, RAID storage subsystems, and optical storage arrays Lante Corporation, Chicago, IL 1989 to 1991

Consultant

Performed client-server and relational database systems development, and local area network design and implementation EDUCATION

Master of Science in Management Information Systems Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University, Chicago, IL

Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society for Collegiate Schools of Business

Delta Mu Delta National Business Administration Honor Society Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

IT Budget & Trends Forecast: A Leadership Forum

Technology Executives Club 2009

Application Portfolio Management & Project Portfolio Management Meta Group’s METAmorphosis Conference 2004

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