Project Manager Management

Andreas G Andreou

Email:

**.****@*****.***

Linkedin:

www.linkedin.com/in/andreasandreoucyny

Citizenship:

Dual (US and EU)

Location :

NY, USA, Previous Location: Europe & NY USA.

Fluent :

English & Greek.

BSc (1987):

City University of New York at Queens College

Computer Science

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

A senior IT leader with over 20 years of experience as company owner, IT Director, CIO, Project Manager and Programme Manager across the USA and Europe, working primarily in the Insurance industry. Has operated at Executive Board level defining business and IT strategies with all key stakeholders (CEO, COO, CFO etc).

Has a proven successful ability to manage multiple roles across diverse technologies in the areas of IT Infrastructure, including Telecommunications and Applications whilst implementing new standards and procedures.

Areas of Expertise include:

Exceptional BC/DR skills and an analytical and flexible approach to tasks capable of building DR architectures from scratch, in demanding business environments.

Results-orientated, with a strong performance record in developing strategic transformation programmes in BC and IT service recovery.

Risk management & providing recommendation for improving business practices with a collaborative and customer focused approach

An exceptional communicator with solid management skills, capable of creating and leading cohesive and multidisciplinary teams to increase levels of productivity, ensuring flawless service delivery and building strong client relationships.

Results-driven project management expertise with significant and progressive experience in project-management concepts such as project plan, project completion, scope, costing, scheduling, risk management, contract negotiations, planning and tracking, quality, and change management throughout the project life cycle.

KEY FACTS

Leadership of service delivery and application teams ranging between 8 – 20 resources & third party subcontractors.

Accountable for service delivery of systems with 99.99% SLAs and related business KPIs (IT and apps) 24x7 for over 500 users across multiple offices and countries.

Management of OPEX budgets ranging from €500K – €3M per annum and annual CAPEX budgets ranging from €1M – €5M.

Cost reduction initiatives with average savings of 18% per annum year on year. (first year saving at one employer was at 40% approx.)

Strong track record as a Project Manager in both Infrastructure and Application Development related projects.

Successfully completed 4 DR projects including a Data Centre relocation with zero downtime, and excellent Business Continuity planning.

Ran a software house (PAS – 18FTEs) with $3M sales & GP of 40%.

KEY SKILLS & EXPERIENCED GAINED IN

IT Management

IT Technical

Insurance Industry

Senior Leadership

Cloud Computing

Property and Casualty

Stakeholder Management

Data Centre Enablement

Life and Health

Risk Management

Business Continuity (BCP)

Reinsurance

Resource Management

Disaster Recovery (DRP)

Data Warehousing(DW)

Due Diligence

Business Impact Analysis (BIA)

Business Intelligence(BI)

Relationship Building

Crisis Management & Recovery Tests

Statutory Reporting

ITIL Service Delivery

Incident Management Plan (IMP)

General Ledger & Financials

Cost Reduction Initiatives

Quality Assurance

Solvency II

Budget Management

Network Infrastructure LAN/WAN

CRM

Project Management (PRINCE2)

Strategic Assessments across IT Infrastructure & Applications

Vendor Management & Procurement

Software Product Development (SDLC & CMMI)

Sales Support

Matrix Management Environment

Microsoft Office applications

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Independent IT Consultant March 2015 - Present

Corso Italia International Nicosia Cyprus

Working closely with CEO/owner to create a retail enterprise organization chart.

Performing GAP Analysis by Identifying Future, analyzing Current State and identifying how to Bridge the Gap.

Advising and assisting in the selection of proper ERP solution.

Assisting in Vendor Management & Procurement

Advising in Cost Reduction Initiatives

Designing and assisting, IT team for the development and implementation of BC/DR process framework and establishing exercise/test methodologies for company's 15 locations including stores, headquarters and Inventory facilities implementing High Availability for all Business Critical (L2).

Prime Insurance(Interlife) Company LTD, Cyprus. Sept 2009 – Feb 2015

Chief Information Officer

Member of the Executive committee (reporting to CEO), coordinating Committee Work including Special Projects, Financial Oversight, approval of strategic and operational plans and assisting the board in doing its work effectively.

Transformed an ailing €500K DR project through overhauling project planning and resources successfully implementing a Zero Tolerance Plan for Mission Critical (L1) and High Availability for Business Critical (L2).

Developed and promoted Business continuity (BC) and Disaster Recovery(DR) best practices while focusing on preventive, detective and corrective measures.

Established exercise/test methodologies for company's 300 + agents, 12 offices, in 2 countries.

Worked with IT team to do Business impact analysis (BIA) on new and current projects before implementation.

Ensured that Service Delivery functions can respond to any BC/DR and that the critical business functions can be resumed within a defined time frame.

Continuously ensured that Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO) met business and technical acceptable levels.

Ensured proper updating of the BC/DR plan due to frequent changes based on industry’s evolving business processes.

Worked with the business users to increase level of confidence for Critical IT services while evaluating services, real cost.

Implemented open Source BI (Pentaho) using ETL from 4 different systems and 2 databases giving company a total overall picture of the business using Prince2.

Designed and implemented visual analytical tools allowing the CEO to get out of Reactive Firefighting management to Proactive careful Risk management.

Consistently met budget despite tough economic conditions while frequently delivering projects ahead of ECD by reusing critical information such as designs, parts and processes.

Restructured LAN WAN and Telecommunications for all locations, saving company over €100K per annum year on year while increasing performance by 300%.

Eliminated €250K in OPEX by consolidating IT contracts under one vendor.

Implemented a Private Cloud service TPA in Greece reducing claim cycle by 80% and notably improving customer satisfaction and lowering Loss Ratio by 6%.

Participated and assisted Actuarial Dept. with Solvency II.

Implemented a Hybrid Cloud for Agents with integrated internal and external service delivery methods and activities/functions based on security requirements reducing TTM by 50%.

Designed, developed and deployed Pegasus, an in-house WEB solution, handling Rating, Issuance, Claims and Reinsurance while interfacing into Financials, Pentaho’s B.I and CRM.

Designed and implemented integrated SMS modules for Agents to Price/Issue policies, notify them of claims, enabling better client service, further reducing TTM and lowering Loss Ratio.

Trained and mentored IT staff in System Integrations and the Insurance Industry.

Coordinated with external software developers and resolved system integration issues.

Managed System Integration staff and ensured sufficient staff members for processes.

Migrated, merged and reconciled data from Group’s two insurance companies and their legacy systems into Pegasus’s new database ensuring data integrity.

Replaced company’s antiquated way of calculating UPR from the 24ths to the 365ths basis (audited by Actuarial and KPMG) resulting in a onetime releasing of €700K Reserves.

Implemented in-house control procedures, security policies and a central help desk (OTRS).

Assisted in the Due Diligence for the sale of company from EUREKO to ROTARDO.

Supported and advised Internal Audit in major fraud case involving employees and vendors.

HDI-Gerling America Insurance Company, Chicago, IL . May 2007-Dec 2010

Independent IT Consultant

After the acquisition of the Gerling Group by HDI and the local merger in 2007, the New York based Gerling relocated headquarters to Chicago. Andreas was the Project Manager of a large Data Centre relocation and was instrumental in the smooth and timely success of the move ensuring 0% downtime and no service interruptions.

For 3.5 years managed, supported and maintained HDI-GAIC’s WINS system and all other home grown applications, while training, assisting, and advising new IT Team.

Serviced and supported company’s global needs and was instrumental in the data migration from WINS to HDI-Gerling’s global system.

Traveled to client’s site for quarterly and yearly closings.

Gerling America Insurance Company, New York, NY Jan 2004- April 2007

Vice President & Director of Information Technology

Reporting to the CFO/COO of the company across HQ and additional locations. Oversaw Network engineering, Telecommunications, back office automation, technologies, branch support, desktop support and Production Operations.

Managed and supported global IT needs in relation to parent company’s directions.

Participated in international IT meetings with colleagues from 17 countries, to implement GKA’s plans and goals, share knowledge, and streamline support for all 8500 staff members.

Accountable for the design, development and implementation of the BC/DR process framework and establishing exercise/test methodologies for company's multiple locations, in various states, ensuring and maintaining control procedures and security policies.

Negotiated and administered all service contracts with software providers, the Data and Voice Line, Hardware, Telephone System and MFD vendors.

Analyzed, designed and installed new office network and all new computer equipment.

Installed and supported LAN’s in NY and LA while providing training and support.

Designed and implemented a WAN infrastructure using T1’s and Cisco equipment

Implemented VPN solutions for secure connections between remote locations & HQ

Trimmed technical expenditure and IT costs during first fiscal year.

Successfully implemented multiple IT projects ranging from $150K to $1M.

Implemented and converted historical data from one system into another.

Consultant / Information Technology, Cyprus & NY May 2001-Dec 2003

Evaluated, and modified AMRE’s reinsurance system reducing down time by 60 hours.

Build on-going interfaces for ARCH’s subsidiaries into a back-end system (WINS).

Build standard GL reports for client using Crystal Reports.

Developed Write-off and Rating Systems and an Interface from WINS into Oracle.

Installed and tuned an AS400 machine.

Designed and installed networks for an Accounting firm and a Realty Estate.

Policy Administration Solutions (PAS), New York, NY July 1996-May 2001

Executive Vice President/ Co-Founder

Co-founder of Policy Administration Solutions (PAS), a software vendor offering systems, services and total solutions for the insurance industry.

Instrumental in designing company’s systems including a policy, claim, accounting, reinsurance and statutory modules for Carriershttp://www.pasolutions.com/insurance.htm, or MGAs, a Billing & Collections and a Data Warehouse with a strong management reporting mechanism.

Managed an agreement with UNIHOLD systems offering true Three-Tiered architecture.

Client base included companies such as AmRE, ARCH, PSM, IFIC, GAIC, GNY, etc.

By 2001 company had 18 staff members and revenues in the $3 million range.

Head of Technical, Development, Outsourcing, and Services Departments.

Structured and formalized department processes, procedures, and personnel.

Assisted Sales and Marketing Department with demos.

Lamda Data Systems, New York, NY July1987- July 1996

Assistant Vice President/Project Manager/ Programmer/Analyst

Participated in Corporate Planning.

Managed Account Management Department responsible for Implementations & Support.

Involved in all Sales, assisting with software demos and technical issues.

Created and implemented control procedures to be used by all project teams.

Directed training programs for new clients as well as new programmers.

Led programming teams in the development of systems for General Agents, Surety Bonds, NCCI, Worker's Compensation and Reinsurance

Traveled to clients, to provide better service and generate new work.

Involved with client interfaces, data migrations, troubleshooting and Implementation.

CAREER RELATED COURSES ATTENDED

As400 Series DB2

Sales effectiveness

Technical consultant

Infrastructure Outsourcing Solution Architect

Business development

ITIL Service Delivery

Risk Management

Project Management

Disaster Recover /BC

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