Cortland W. Norman
Highlands Ranch, CO
303-***-**** *********@***.***
Senior Vice President - Operations
Strategic International Planning and Management, Finance and Accounting
. Deeply respected, passionate, and influential leader known for developing
and driving significant short and long-term global change initiatives to
improve operations, accounting and financial reporting.
. Identifies and accelerates new operational models, bringing expertise
planning and establishing global operations centers in Europe and Central
America to improve business performance and capabilities.
. Leverages strong six sigma, operations, accounting, and finance
expertise, supporting internal and external business partners while
leading transformation project success.
. Maintains "Customer at the Heart" of every action to drive success in
business continuity while transitioning strategic workflow, business
practices and staffing to new locations, yielding customer service
results, multi-million dollar cost savings and productivity gains.
. Committed to local community development and corporate social
responsibility in the US and abroad.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Western Union/First Data Corporation, United States, Costa Rica and
Lithuania 2004-2014
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, Regional Operating Centers (ROC), Costa
Rica/Lithuania (2012 - 2014)
VICE PRESIDENT, ROC Operations, United States, Costa Rica/Lithuania (2007 -
2012)
VICE PRESIDENT, Accounting, United States (2006 to 2007)
VICE PRESIDENT, Finance, United States (2004 to 2006)
Led international operational planning and implementation in progressive
executive roles developing new global operating approaches to drive
positive business outcomes, leveraging strong finance and accounting domain
expertise.
Managed and implemented change initiatives during corporate restructurings,
improving operations models, revenue, and profit results, while mitigating
business and financial risks.
. Oversaw a budget of $2B, supporting CIO's P&L leadership, focusing on
reducing cost structure and exploring new investment possibilities,
controlling $2B budget planning and spend during restructuring.
. Transitioned 500+ employees in Global Settlement Accounting/Operations,
Accounts Payable, and Procurement, during corporate reorganization with
no disruption to customer and agent networks.
. Set up all AP and procurement processes and system applications for
the new Western Union, ensuring a $3B buying power after
restructuring was maintained for ongoing savings.
. Ensured no interruption in daily $250 million financial settlement
with agent network.
. Led team of 20 professionals in partnering with Chief Information and
Technology Offices to drive significant cost reductions through
purchase/upgrade of FDC company systems and applications.
. Transitioned back-office processing from high-cost to low-cost centers
driving operational cost savings by $90M-$100M cumulatively and
sustaining an annual 10% agent base increase and 3-4% revenue growth,
while controlling an annual combined $50 million operating center budget.
Cortland W. Norman 303-***-****
P. 2
Western Union/First Data Corporation (Continued)
. Owned change management process and results, aligning new offshored
operations with existing corporate core values and priorities, ensuring
"customer first" focus was reinforced at every stage of business start-up
and job transition.
. Developed and executed operational models which ensured business
continuity and mitigated customer service interruptions in off-shored
facilities.
. Created and implemented detailed processes and procedures, documenting
and refining practices during local training; new employees quickly
acclimated to roles with step-by-step direction.
. Communicated constantly, progressing dialog with 6 direct reports and
more than 2,000 employees across two new global centers to achieve
operational and customer services goals.
Led geographic expansion establishing regional operating centers in two
countries, transforming processing capabilities and improving operational
reporting, transparency and financial results.
. Directed research teams in assessing economic, business, and political
landscapes of more than 40 countries, led business case development and
due diligence and formulated location and operating model
recommendations, securing management buy-in to establish new ROC's in
Costa Rica and Lithuania.
. Established the operating model for new centers and implemented on-time
and on-budget back-office processing operational transition with no
disruption to ongoing daily operations or the customer network, comprised
of more than 500,000 agent partners.
. Initiated in-country vendor outsourcing evaluations to maximize operating
model efficiencies and cost savings; developed third-party Master
Services Agreement to drive profit and productivity.
. Named Site Leader of the Lithuania Operating Center from 2010 to 2012.
Provided day-to-day operational guidance and frameworks for recruiting,
onboarding, training and transitioning new management and staff; scaled
operating centers quickly, moving and staffing 2000+ positions in 5-
years.
. Ensured operational performance met plan, driving sound financial
management and reporting transparency for internal partners and external
customers by developing metrics, reporting structures and dialogs for
performance improvement at new operations centers.
. Created foundational set of operational "Key Priorities", established
agreements with internal businesses on key services provided, coupled
with monthly scorecards to track results and drive improvement actions
(i.e., Service Focus Model), and initiated Process Based Costing for
Operating Centers.
Built internal and external relationships, aligning operations with local,
regional and global corporate visions to further education opportunity,
economic development and business growth.
. Built in-country partnering relationships in Lithuania and Costa Rica to
secure office locations and staff to meet start-up timing and operating
center build-out requirements and objectives.
. Committed to local community development and corporate social
responsibility, establishing and funding a new Western Union Foundation
in Lithuania. Raised approximately $200k, through employee contributions
and corporate matching, and completed 5 disbursements of $125k.
. Served as one of 3 directors, owning accountability and support to the
Foundations' educational opportunity, economic development, and financial
inclusion initiatives and generating funding for disbursement.
Cortland W. Norman 303-***-****
P. 3
Additional Experience
Western Union, Texas, St. Louis, New Jersey
Progressive roles in Operations, Accounting, Six Sigma and Internal Audit
LEADERSHIP ROLES and CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Director Roles:
Children First of the Rockies, Director (2014 - Present)
Western Union Foundation Lithuania, Director (2013 - 2014)
American Lithuania Business Council, Director (2013 - 2014)
Corporate Social Responsibility:
Western Union Foundation Activities, United States, Costa Rica, and
Lithuania (1997 - 2014)
Education and certifications
BBA, Accounting, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
CPA Certification
Professional development
Executive Mentoring/Coaching, Western Union
Executive Leadership Programs, Wharton Business School
Six Sigma Training, TBM Consulting Group