Leon Wiffen

Address: ** *********, ********* *******, ***** Wootton Bassett, SN4 7PB

Mobile: +447***-******

Email: ada88v@r.postjobfree.com

Professional Profile

Results oriented, innovative, self-motivated and well qualified senior project specialist with over 17 years’ experience of managing IT projects and driving business development. Delivers IT expertise, alongside business management skills and project management expertise. Highly analytical with a strong commercial awareness. Able to identify risks and opportunities and implement strategies that provide notable improvements. Has a consistent and demonstrable track record of achieving over and above targets. Experienced at operations management. Skilled at building strong partnership relationships with key stakeholders.

Key Skills

Project Management: Prince2 Practitioner with extensive experience managing full life cycle large scale projects/programmes with a consistent record of delivering successful conclusions. Expertise includes: business cases; budget calculation; control of costs; project schedules (MS Project and Project Manager’s Workbench); work breakdown structures; scope management; PID creation; RAID, Risk and issue management; forecasting and estimating; reporting; Change Management and human resources. Currently completing MSP Foundation certification.

Business Management: Possesses a business management diploma and experience as working as Operations Manager. Has strong business acumen and leadership and management abilities.

IT: 25 years of experience in IT and IT based project management roles, with a superb range of technical expertise that includes; testing; migration; release; upgrades; and migrations. COBIT expert and ITIL V2 Certified.

Stakeholder Relationships: Highly adept at utilising strong interpersonal skills to build and manage relationships. possesses a strong understanding of the positive impact stakeholder engagement can have on project work.

Risks and Issues Management: Excels at an analytical approach that facilitates troubleshooting and problem resolution. Experienced at identifying risks and issues and managing successfully to achieve a positive outcome.

IT Strategy: Highly adept at IT Strategy with a diploma in Strategic management from UNISA school of Business leadership.

Application Integration: Highly adept at IT application integration and expert in API creation. Also an expert in HL7 messaging.

Technical Expertise

-Software development

-Infrastructure implementations and migrations.

-VoIP implementations (Cisco and Avaya)

-Call Centre Implementations

-IT networks (LAN, WAN, DMZ), databases, servers and operating systems.

-Expert in the use of MS Project Planning tool.

-Highly proficient in the MS Office suite of products.

-Proficient in as well as Clarity, Project Workbench and UPM.

-Expert in Application integration (API)

-Database Migrations

-Server Virtualizaton

-EUC refreshes/migrations/transformations

-Prince 2 Practitioner.

-ITIL Certified.

-COBIT expert.

Management Skills

-Planning.

-P & L Management

-Financial Control

-Forecasting and Estimating

-Scope definition and management

-Change control

-Governance and Reporting (financial and operational)

-Stakeholder management

-Vendor Relationship Management

-Contract Management and Administration

-Risk, Assumption, Issue and Dependency management (RAID)

-Resource and Accountability Matrices (RAM/RACI)

-Resource Planning

-Resource Management in a matrixed environment

Qualifications

-Prince 2 Practitioner Certification (2014) APMG

-Prince 2 Foundation Certification (2014) APMG

-ITIL Foundation Certification (2006) Foster Melliar

-Business Management Diploma (1994) Damelin Business School

-Certificate in Strategic Management (1992) Unisa School of Business Leadership

-Bachelor of Science (1988) University of Port Elizabeth

Other Information

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-References: Excellent References Available on request.

Career History

September 2019 to present

Project Manager: Office Moves

Aveva Software

A contract role planning and scoping office moves in the APAC region

Key Technologies

Unified Communications (Cisco and Skype)

LAN

WAN

Wifi

EUC

Active Directory

Servers

Data Centres

April 2018 to September 2019

Senior Engagement Manager

Verizon

A customer facing contract role managing various Unified Communication and other projects

Key Technologies

Cisco IPT

Cisco CUCM

Cisco Voice Gateways

Cisco Telepresence Video Conferencing

IP Phones

Cisco Jabber implementations

Avaya

Forescout Network Access Control

PRI installations

IP re-addressing

Key Achievements:

Managed telephony migrations from legacy systems to Cisco IPT

Managed the migration of Cisco IPT systems (16 sites) as part of a company acquisition

Managed the migration from desk phones to Cisco Jabber

Managed the migration to Cisco Telepresence Video Conferencing devices.

Managed a proof of concept project for Tesco implementing Forescout Network Access Control technology at 4 stores

Managed an IP re-addressing consulting project for a Tesco

January 2018 – March 2018

Project Manager

Cornwall Council

A contract role managing the refresh of all client devices and migrate to Windows 10

Key Technologies

PC’s

Laptops

Tablets

Windows 7

Windows 10

July 2017 – Nov 2017 Customer Project Manager

Vodafone

A contract role managing the implementation of telecommunications infrastructure for new and existing windfarms power stations and substations

Key Technologies

IP networks

SCADA networks

Fibre implementations

Civil works

Pilot cabling

Oct 2016 – March2017 IT Readiness Programme Manager

Innovation Group

A contract role managing the implementation of infrastructure and processes for 2 new call centres for a large, global organization. This was a greenfield deployment and included the setting up of all ICT infrastructure in new offices.

Key Achievements:

Successfully managed the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for telephony solution

Carried out supplier evaluations and gap analyses

Successfully managed the programme from inception to completion.

Managed the creation of the Contact Centre Business Continuity process and Plan (BCP)

Control of P&L for the programme

Key Technologies implemented:

Voice (IP Telephony - Mitel) implementation of 1000 seats.

Voice (IP Telephony – Avaya) implementation of 800 seats.

WAN implementation (fully redundant internet and MPLS links to both sites and integrate into the global network)

LAN Implementation (Core + Access switches + DMZ implementation + Cabling)

Wireless implementations

Checkpoint Firewalls

Server room builds

Node room builds

Office fitout and Cabling

Rollout of PC’s/Laptops (Windows 10)

Implementation of office 365

Implementation of Azure Active Directory

MS Exchange 2010

Expansion of Avaya PABX’s and creation of virtual voice extensions to be accessed over the MPLS links

Cloud based (Azure) contact centre/CRM solution

Slack

March 2016 – October 2016 Infrastructure Delivery Manager

Lloyds Bank

Key achievements:

Successfully managed the upgrade of AIX LPARS, Connect Direct, MQ and Oracle to current versions.

Key technologies included:

Upgrades of AIX LPARS from 5.3 to 6.1 and 7.1

MQ Upgrades

Connect Direct Upgrades

Upgrades of Oracle to version 11g.

Exposure to various banking and trading systems

Implementation of intrusion detection devices in data centres

Jul 2015 – Feb 2016 Africa Delivery Lead – Win 7 Desktop Replacement Project Dell/Barclays

Key Achievements:

Successfully managed the replacement of around 25 000 laptops and desktops running the Win XP operating system with new hardware running Windows 7 in South Africa and Africa including P&L management and reporting.

Management of migration of users and PC’s from the ABSA Active Directory domain to the Barclays domain

Key Technologies implemented/utilized:

Migrations from Windows XP to Windows 7

VDI implementations/migrations

Active Directory

SCCM

Agile Methodology

Jun 2014 – Jun 2015 Systems Development and Projects Manager Bluespier International

Managed the Systems Development team (about 10 people) at Bluespier, a company that develops and supports Patient Administration Systems (PAS), clinical information systems, Theatre Management Systems, EHR and practice management software for the healthcare sector (Private and NHS).

Key Achievements:

Successfully developed and implemented a comprehensive and very effective Web Services integration engine, enabling integration with host of disparate clinical systems. This was designed to work in the cloud or on-premise.

Successfully Moved GP administration systems into the cloud.

Successfully managed the implementation of cloud based software as a service (SaaS) for GP practices.

Successfully re-designed and upgraded the product’s in-built document management system.

Successfully developed and implemented a comprehensive and very effective HL7/EDI integration engine. This engine was utilized to integrate Bluespier’s products with the Medway PAS system as well as other hospital systems.

Successfully developed an integration engine which integrated medical devices like patient monitors and anaesthetic devices to the Bluespier system which allowed the customers to record and remotely monitor essential patient information and vital signs.

Successfully developed a secure, encrypted API integration engine which allowed API’s to be created within minutes

Successfully developed digital apps for tablets and smartphones.

Key Technologies utilized:

RESTful API’s, JSON, XML, SOA HL7, WSO2 API Manager

Apigee

C# .NET

Mule Integration Engine

API Mocking

Rhapsody Integration engine.

SQL Server 2008 and 2012.

Reporting (SSRS, SSAS)

Systems integration (Designed, managed and implemented)

Identity Management using STS (Secure Token Service)

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Private Cloud

May 2012 - May 2014 Senior Project/Programme Manager British Telecom

This was a customer facing role which included management of key stakeholders. Managed the delivery of IPT/Telecommunications projects to the AMET region of BT Global Services for various Enterprise Customers (Unilever, Nestle) utilising the Prince 2 Methodology from the proposal stage to operational handover (inception including proposals, business cases, statement of work and PID’s, change management and stakeholder management to completion and handover to operations). Responsibility for between 15 and 20 projects at one time in portfolio.

Key Achievements:

Successfully Managed a very large Voice (IP Telephony) migration from legacy Nortel PABX to Cisco technology (4000 seats) from inception (bidding) to completion (hand-over to operations) for Unilever’s South African Head Office.

Successfully managed the move of the Unilever South African DR Datacentre.

Successfully Managed a very large Voice (IP Telephony) migration from legacy Avaya PABX to Cisco technology (4000 seats) from inception (bidding) to completion (hand-over to operations) for Unilever’s UAE Head Office.

Successfully managed the configuration, installation and testing of Riverbed Application acceleration devices at every Unilever site in Africa, Middle East and Turkey (around 100)

Successfully managed a call centre implementation at Unilever South Africa’s head office utilizing Cisco UCCE technology.

SAP CRM-Cisco UCCX integration.

Other successful projects completed:

Small and medium IP Telephony implementations

Hosted PABX implementations

Managed the creations of proposals/bids

Various MPLS implementations using a variety of technologies for the last mile e.g. fibre, microwave, etc.)

Replacement of legacy PABX systems with VoIP.

Corporate wireless (WIFI) rollout.

IVR Implementations.

Unified communications implementation (Email/Web/Voice).

Cisco Call Manager implementations.

Voice recording implementation and upgrades.

Call Centre implementations (UCCE, UCCX, Genesys)

Management of relocation and installation of networks, servers, telephony and cabling as part of office relocations throughout Africa.

Firewall installations and upgrades.

Data centre migrations.

Video conferencing implementations utilizing Cisco Technology

LAN and WAN rollouts and upgrades utilizing Cisco routers and switches.

Managed upgrade of Site Servers from Windows 2003 to 2008

Nov 2002 - Apr 2012 Various (see below) South African Breweries

Regional Service Delivery Manager (Mar 2008 - Apr 2012):

Delivered high quality IT services and regional ICT projects, with the objective of maximising achievement of service levels, functionality and availability.

Key Achievements:

Successfully managed the relocation of ICT infrastructure (servers, network, cabling, voice) for the relocation of the regional head office.

Stabilised the IT environment, ensuring supplier service levels are achieved.

Successfully managed the installation and configuration of IT infrastructure (network, voice, cabling, etc.) for 10 new mini-depots.

Successfully managed the support of the IT infrastructure

Successfully implemented multi-factor authentication for remote users

Managed IT incidents using BMC Remedy ITSM software

Managed the twice yearly regional IT BCP and Disaster Recovery test

Service Delivery Manager (Nov 2006 - Mar 2008):

Key Achievements:

Successfully managed migration of service desk, PC and printer support from an in-sourced model to a managed services model.

Successfully managed migration to BMC Remedy ITSM software from an in-house system.

Senior Infrastructure Project/Programme Manager (Nov 2002 - Oct 2006):

Management of technical infrastructure projects from inception to completion with a typical portfolio of between 5 and 15 projects, managing the delivery of 3rd party vendors including contract negotiation with new vendors or for new services from existing vendors. For most of these projects, Change Management and P&L management were integral to their success. The project budgets were between £10,000 and £10,000,000. Created and presented business cases for all projects managed. This was a large, complex and highly matrixed organisation and project teams varied between 5 and 50 people.

Key Achievements:

Successfully managed the largest IT infrastructure transformation programme in the history of South African Breweries including all servers all database servers, implementation of Active Directory, upgrading of desktop operating systems from Windows NT to Windows XP, replacement of all desktops and laptops, upgrade of MS Exchange Messaging, installation of new firewalls, upgrade of all Local Area Networks, the migration of the WAN from ATM to MPLS, implemented of Microsoft Collaboration server and the implementation of Sharepoint for the company.

Successfully managed the introduction of IT service management into the business (based on the ITIL processes)

Successfully managed the move of the BCP site and Disaster Recovery Datacentre to an outsourced provider. This included the decommissioning of the old Datacentre.

Created the SAB IT BCP and Disaster Recovery process and Plan

Successfully managed and co-ordinated the SAB twice yearly BCP and Disaster Recovery test.

After SAB acquired ABI (Coca Cola beverage producer/distributor) successfully managed the IT transformation of ABI’s It infrastructure and integrated ABI and SAB's Network, Server, Desktop and Internet infrastructure as well as implementing Sharepoint for ABI.

Successfully merged the active directory domains of ABI and SAB.

Successfully managed the Sarbanes-Oxely compliance project for all IT infrastructure and processes.

Successfully developed and implemented project management methodology for technical infrastructure rollout projects.

Other Projects successfully completed:

Three large scale desktop refresh projects (Hardware and software – Win NT to Win XP, Win XP to Vista).

Rollout of Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM), now called Systems Centre Operations Manager (SCOM), enabling the monitoring of all servers in the company.

Upgraded from Windows NT based infrastructure to Active Directory.

Implemented a single sign-on strategy for Identity and Access Management.

Two large email migrations including migration of mailboxes (Upgrade of Exchange 5.5 to Exchange 2000 and Exchange 2000 to 2003).

Rollout of new server hardware.

Centralised and virtualised servers including the migration of shares, DHCP, DNS and backups.

Rollout of Windows 2000 servers to all sites in the business including the migration of shares, DHCP, DNS and Backups.

Migrated Anti-Virus software.

Rollout and implementation of Microsoft Active Directory Services.

Upgraded SQL Server from 2000 to 2003 and from 2003 to 2005.

Rollout of Microsoft Exchange 2000.

Implemented CITRIX.

Upgraded the Wide area network from Frame Relay/ATM to MPLS.

Upgraded all servers from Windows 2000 to Windows 2003.

Managed the server consolidation centralization and Virtualization project.

Rollout of Packeteer WAN acceleration devices to all sites on the SAB network (70).

Managed all the IT integration activities/projects when SAB merged with ABI.

Upgraded ABI's BCP and Disaster Recovery Framework and infrastructure.

Upgraded EUC.

Managed the relocation of various offices/depots as well as the setting up of new offices/depots.

Delivered new LAN implementations and upgrades including Cisco Switches, Cabling and Node Room builds.

Rollout of multi-function printing/scanning devices and managed print services.

Regional Data Centre Relocations and Upgrades.

Microsoft instant messaging and Microsoft Live Server (Now called Microsoft Lync)

Early Career

May 2002 - Oct 2002 Senior Project Manager Anglo Platinum

Management of a head office relocation - contracted to manage the move of all ICT infrastructure / facilities / equipment including the Data Centre for the largest platinum mining company in the world to Anglo American campus (new corporate head office). This included negotiating vendor contracts and managing vendor relationships.

Dec 2001 - Apr 2002 Project Management / Business Development Calltime Solutions

Project managed replies to requests for proposal/bids and for tender and delivered business development duties.

Apr 2001 - Nov 2001 Project Manager Accenture

Managed project to develop a work order booking system for a major telecommunications company. This was a successful Rapid Application software development in a large, complex and highly matrixed IT organisation. Technologies used: J2EE, Biztalk, Oracle RDMS.

Dec 1998 - Mar 2001 Systems Integration Manager TransUnion

Managed ITC Systems Integration department (15 developers) and new projects. This was a large, complex and matrixed IT organisation within the largest provider of Credit Risk information in South Africa which integrated into all the banks’ and major retailers’ systems via EDI using in-house developed middleware and API’s. Also was on the project team that drew up the specifications for the South African Fraud Prevention System. Technologies included:

Windows servers, middleware, terminal emulation, COBOL, CICS, Adabas, DB2, C++, MVS, IBM Mainframe, Linux..

Apr 1998 - Nov 1998 Project Manager - Year 2000 TransUnion : ITC

Managed all aspects of ensuring that systems connectivity within the company and with clients was year 2000 compliant. This included Windows servers, middleware, terminal emulation, CICS, MVS, IBM Mainframe.

Feb 1997 - Mar 1998 IT Manager SBU (PTY) LTD

Set up LAN and WAN, Windows Servers, Linux servers and manufacturing systems from scratch. Negotiated new vendor contracts.

Oct 1995 - Jan 1997 IT Manager Webber Wentzel Bowens

Managed the entire IT function of the largest legal firm in South Africa. This included HR management, budget management, vendor management, contract negotiation, management and administration. change management, technology management and strategy. Technologies included: LAN, WAN, Windows NT Server, Windows desktops, Linux and legal accounting and administration software. Implemented the Ghost Electronic Case Management System.

Sep 1994 - Sep 1995 Senior Networking Specialist Mutual & Federal Insurance Co Ltd

Sep 1993 - Sep 1994 Systems Development Project Leader Mutual & Federal Insurance Co Ltd

May 1993 - Aug 1993 Freelance Programmer Various Clients

Oct 1992 - Feb 1993 Programmer JVK Engineering

Jul 1990 - Sep 1992 Programmer Datavia

Jan 1989 - Jun 1990 Lieutenant SA DEFENCE

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