Lee Austin
***.*******@****.*** linkedin.com/in/leemichaelaustin GLOBAL TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Leader of large-scale transformation programs in global enterprise environments. Expertise in the Financial, Insurance and Healthcare industries. Successfully delivered numerous highly complex multimillion dollar global projects and programs. Proven relationships, leadership, governance, and advisory skills at C-level. FUNCTIONAL SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
Enterprise Program Leader/Director Proven PMO Expertise Multi Industry track record Agile Methodologies Program Quality Delivery Customer Insights & Analytics Team Builder & Motivator C- level Strategic Advisor Vendor/Partner Management Governance Centers of Excellence Thrives on ambiguity M&A Transactions/Integrations Cross Team Collaboration Program Management Business Intelligence IOT Strategy/Insights Mobilize and matrix manage Virtual Teams
EXPERIENCE
Microsoft Corporation, North America 01/2011 – 08/2024 ERP Modernization on Azure
Project: Transforming the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system of a multinational financial services firm, migrating to Azure for improved scalability and operational efficiency. Role: Program Director
Scope:
• Migrated legacy ERP systems to Azure SQL Database and integrated Azure Logic Apps for automated workflow management.
• Implemented Power BI dashboards for real-time financial reporting and operational insights. Skills Showcased:
• Applied strong analytical skills to evaluate existing ERP inefficiencies and optimize workflows.
• Led cross-functional teams, including finance, IT, and operations, ensuring smooth transition and business continuity.
• Maintained client trust by developing a structured migration roadmap and mitigating risks throughout implementation.
Stakeholder and Executive Management:
• Partnered with CFOs and department heads to align the ERP transformation with strategic financial objectives.
• Delivered monthly executive briefings demonstrating cost reductions, efficiency gains, and automation benefits. Budget: $9 million
Team Size: 50 members, including ERP consultants, cloud engineers, finance specialists, and business analysts. Location: San Francisco, USA
Timeline: 22 months
Outcome: Increased process automation by 60%, reduced reporting errors, and improved financial forecasting accuracy.
2
Customer Experience (CRM) Modernization on Azure
Project: Enhancing the customer interaction platform of a well-known regional bank by migrating their CRM systems to Azure for better scalability and personalization.
Role: Program Director
Scope:
• Migrated CRM systems to Azure Dynamics 365 and implemented Azure Bot Services for real-time, personalized customer interactions.
• Used Azure Monitor to track and optimize system performance. Skills Showcased:
• Built strong relationships with customer service teams by incorporating their feedback into platform improvements.
• Ensured a seamless migration process with minimal disruption to customer-facing operations.
• Successfully led a multi-disciplinary team to deliver the project ahead of schedule and under budget. Stakeholder and Executive Management:
• Conducted regular workshops with customer service executives to identify pain points and validate improvements.
• Presented NPS (Net Promoter Score) improvements to the executive board, highlighting the platform’s impact on customer satisfaction.
Budget: $5.5 million
Team Size: 35 members, including CRM specialists, chatbot developers, data analysts, and cloud engineers. Location: Chicago, USA
Timeline: 14 months
Outcome: Increased Net Promoter Scores (NPS) by 40% and reduced customer query response times by 55%. Regulatory Compliance Platform Migration to Azure
Project: Transitioning the compliance systems of a prominent global financial institution to Azure to automate regulatory reporting.
Role: Program Director
Scope:
• Developed automated reporting workflows using Azure Logic Apps and Azure SQL Database to securely store compliance data.
• Strengthened identity management with Azure Active Directory, ensuring end-to-end protection of sensitive data.
Skills Showcased:
• Ensured data accuracy and alignment with international regulatory requirements, minimizing compliance risks.
• Established a regular communication framework with legal advisors and compliance officers, fostering collaboration and trust.
• Automated manual reporting processes, significantly reducing time spent on routine compliance activities. Stakeholder and Executive Management:
• Hosted quarterly presentations to the board, demonstrating cost savings and enhanced compliance readiness.
• Provided continuous updates to regulatory bodies to maintain their confidence in the institution’s reporting systems.
Budget: $6.8 million
Team Size: 35 members, including cloud engineers, legal advisors, software developers, and data analysts. Location: London, United Kingdom
Timeline: 16 months
Outcome: Achieved a 60% reduction in reporting errors and streamlined compliance processes, saving 15% in operational costs annually.
3
Risk Analytics Modernization on Azure
Project: Upgrading the risk analytics platform of a leading securities and investment management firm, leveraging Azure to enhance predictive modeling.
Role: Program Director
Scope:
• Designed a hybrid architecture leveraging Azure Synapse Analytics for large-scale data processing and Azure Machine Learning for predictive risk modeling.
• Implemented Azure Databricks to support collaborative workflows and advanced data exploration for analysts. Skills Showcased:
• Developed a long-term architecture that aligned with the organization’s risk management strategy and growth objectives.
• Motivated a cross-functional team to deliver complex milestones under tight deadlines.
• Ensured each risk model’s assumptions and parameters were accurately reflected during testing. Stakeholder and Executive Management:
• Engaged with the Chief Risk Officer and compliance executives to ensure alignment on regulatory requirements and key risk indicators.
• Delivered actionable dashboards to senior leadership, highlighting model improvements and ROI from the modernization effort.
Budget: $7.5 million
Team Size: 45 members, including data engineers, financial analysts, cloud architects, and compliance specialists. Location: New York City, USA
Timeline: 20 months
Outcome: Improved credit risk modeling accuracy by 40% and reduced report generation times from 2 days to 6 hours.
High-Performance Data Analytics Platform on Azure
Project: Building a data analytics platform for a regional financial services provider, leveraging Azure for portfolio simulations and market trend forecasting.
Role: Program Director
Scope:
• Implemented Azure Synapse Analytics for processing vast datasets in real time and Azure Machine Learning for predictive analytics.
• Integrated legacy systems with Azure Arc to support seamless hybrid cloud operations. Skills Showcased:
• Aligned analytics capabilities with the client’s investment goals, enabling rapid responses to market changes.
• Optimized portfolio simulation models, improving performance and reducing downtime for analytical workloads.
• Encouraged team innovation by providing opportunities to experiment with new Azure tools and techniques. Stakeholder and Executive Management:
• Partnered with investment leadership to ensure simulation models addressed business priorities.
• Delivered weekly performance updates to senior executives, demonstrating improved forecasting accuracy and faster data processing.
Budget: $8 million
Team Size: 40 members, including financial analysts, cloud architects, DevOps specialists, and business intelligence consultants.
Location: Boston, USA
Timeline: 18 months
Outcome: Improved portfolio simulation accuracy by 35% and reduced processing time by 50%, enabling more agile investment decision-making.
4
J.P. Morgan Chase, London, and New York 01/2000 - 10/2010 Global Program Manager – Desktop Operating System Transformation Project: Led a worldwide desktop modernization initiative, upgrading operating systems and infrastructure across a multi-regional footprint spanning North America, LATAM, EMEA, and APAC. Role: Global Program Manager
Scope:
• Developed a governance and control framework supporting 22 lines of business, ensuring alignment with CIO directives and enterprise strategy.
• Led the upgrade of 301,000 PC assets, improving security, performance, and standardization for 246,000 end users across 61 countries.
Skills Showcased:
• Spearheaded a ground-up redesign of the desktop computing platform, enabling VDI integration and global standardization on Microsoft products.
• Managed multi-regional implementation, coordinating IT, operations, and security teams across four continents.
• Optimized budget strategy, overseeing a $55M internal program budget and a $20M hardware refresh initiative to modernize global infrastructure.
Stakeholder and Executive Management:
• Served as the strategic bridge between technology and business leadership, ensuring seamless adoption of new desktop solutions.
• Delivered C-suite governance updates, providing key insights on cost efficiency, user adoption, and operational improvements.
Budget: $55 million (internal program) $20 million (hardware refresh) Team Size: 100+ members, including IT architects, infrastructure engineers, security specialists, and program managers.
Location: Global footprint across North America, LATAM, EMEA, and APAC. Timeline: 24 months
Outcome: Established a modern, standardized desktop environment, reducing legacy dependencies and enhancing global IT resilience.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science, BS, in Management Information Systems Fordham University Qualifying Employment Experience, Credentials Equivalency