Manager Service

Eric D. Smokler

** ***** *****, ********, ** ****3 • *******@**********.*** • 917-***-****

Global IT Procurement Leader, delivering multi-million dollar savings and efficiencies with a strategic approach to the entire procurement lifecycle. Record of cost-effectively managing budget spend ranging from $40M – $700M for industry leaders including Axis Capital, The Blackstone Group, Qwest, and Teleglobe. Trusted advisor to C-level executives with Axis Capital, The Blackstone Group & Booz Allen Hamilton.

A forward thinking, problem solver skilled at mitigating risk while navigating through international laws and regulations to ensure outstanding project support and service. Consistently contribute to margin improvement by negotiating beneficial contracts with global vendors. Train and lead high performance teams. Core competencies:

Procurement, Sourcing

Supplier Relations

Problem Solving & Escalation

Project Support

Invoice Validation

Outsourcing

IT Maintenance

Contract Negotiations

Expense Control

Compliance, Risk Mitigation

Forecasting

Process Improvement

HIGH IMPACT RESULTS

Created IT Procurement group that streamlined purchasing, achieving multi million dollar savings for Axis. Developed processes for handling PO’s, budget verification, maintenance renewal validation, telecom, and IT Accounts payable, and serving as the escalation point for IT vendor issues.

Reduced line item annual costs by up to 60% at Axis Capital, in one instance saving $6M. Developed RFPs/RFQs for global MPLS arrangement for 27 global locations. Negotiated price and tightened SLAs, pitting competing providers against each other. Leveraged manufacturers’ goals and timelines.

Created a Cloud Supplier validation and review process for Axis. Identified requirements including SLA, support, disaster recovery, allowable latencies and potential exit strategies. Selected cloud suppliers include ServiceNow, Salesforce, Microsoft, and Concur, among others. Coordinated effective communication during implementation.

Developed strategy for hardware and software purchases, procuring 30% more products for the same price. Established global pricing agreements at Blackstone and Axis for purchases and maintenance, leveraging the footprint and competitive bidding with vendors including HP, NetApp, Riverbed, Symantec and Dell.

Led negotiations, which resulted in a potential savings of $100M+ for the Blackstone Group. Leveraged the footprint of the extensive Blackstone portfolio of companies, consolidating Microsoft licenses under an umbrella agreement.

Achieved $4M in savings on same store contracts/purchases for the Blackstone Group. Performed strategic purchasing by identifying timing, need and ensuring effective communication with manufacturer about incentives. Leveraged knowledge of vendors’ goals and manufacturing timetables.

Provided procurement solutions on global stage, enabling consistent and profitable operations. Applied knowledge of different countries and their legal and regulatory intricacies to ensure a smooth supply chain process, even when addressing urgent, unexpected demands.

Co-authored a law with the FBI regarding cost reimbursement for telecom carriers. Assisted in drafting law in 1997 for the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which created the cost reimbursement rules for the $500M allocated to pay telecom carriers to develop a wiretapping feature in the digital age.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

AXIS CAPITAL 2009 to present

A Fortune 1000 global insurance company specializing in property & casualty, accident & health, and liability.

Global Procurement/IT Supplier Management Lead

Recruited to create and implement processes, including standardizing contracts/SOWs T&Cs, RFP/RFQs, purchase order generation, IT invoice audit/payment activities, and vendor relations. Direct all domestic and international procurement computer technology, IT consultants, outsourced development, SaaS, managed services, and telecommunications (wireline/wireless) for 27 offices worldwide.

Key member of leadership team, participating in short and long-term planning, change management, managed services, and outsourcing of infrastructure and development activities.

Promote the use of vendor roadmaps, technology standardization, and standardized process documentation.

Conduct cost benefit/financial analysis. Review agreements for SLA, termination clause, future price locks, and maintenance rates. Manage invoice review, payment, and reconciliation.

Act as chief negotiating officer, reviewing and negotiating $60M-$100M in annual contract spend.

Prepare vendor report cards, risk analyses, and identify strategic sourcing partners.

Institute payment checks/balances with offshore sourcing providers, avoiding overcharges.

Collaborate with program managers to tighten SOWs and SLAs, facilitating mutual understanding between the company and vendors. Cultivate strong VAR and manufacturer/vendor relationships.

Establish suppliers for offices located in Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, France, Ireland, Singapore, Spain, and Switzerland.

THE BLACKSTONE GROUP 2007 to 2009

A multibillion-dollar private equity firm with 1,300+ staff worldwide and 40+ companies.

Director, IT Finance and Purchasing

Managed $50M budget while developing strategies and processes to reduce costs and enhance contracts, reporting, tracking, purchasing/leasing, and invoice processing for all aspects of the IT department.

Negotiated opt-in contracts that covered large affiliate companies, affording greater savings in software and wireless expenditures.

Built favorable telecommunications terms (AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and ILEC/CLEC), saving over $3M.

Protected Blackstone by including performance SLAs with financial penalties.

Established an invoice tracking process that immediately eliminated all non-requested service disconnections.

Instituted ad hoc reporting and enhanced JDE reporting for internal controls, SOX support, and executive management review.

INVESTMENT TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC. 2001 to 2006

A $400M US-based multinational agency brokerage and financial markets tech firm.

Assistant Vice President, Finance Operations/Telecommunications Controller

Directed accounting accruals, bill verification, cost-to-revenue matching, balance sheet reconciliation, and cost reductions of telecom and market data expenses.

Managed functions related to procurement, fixed and prepaid assets, equipment expenses, inventory accounting, IT payments and capital budgeting.

Negotiated purchasing/leasing contracts that saved as much as $700K in a single year.

Reduced the company’s tax burden by $2M annually.

Created SOX documentation for reviews and processes.

Reduced monthly recurring costs by $200K and recouped over $5.1M in billing disputes.

TELEGLOBE 1999 to 2000

A $500M Montreal-based international telecommunications carrier, providing usage, private line, and IP facilities.

Director, Leased Facilities Audit and Analysis

Established audit processes, reconciled balance sheet accruals, and created a working operational general ledger.

Recouped $5M in billing disputes. Crafted dispute documentation process that reduced monthly costs $500K.

Managed a group of 15 in Montreal, CA and Reston, VA.

Earlier Experience:

Qwest, Sr. Manager, Access Purchasing/Cost Audit; supervising 28 reports and a $1B telecom budget.

Booz Allen Hamilton, Associate, Telecom Client Service Team (consultant to FBI’s Telecom Contracts & Audit Unit)

Ameritech, Regulatory Cost Accounting Manager

EDUCATION

BS, Commerce/Finance, (Dean’s List), University of Virginia

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