Anuj Datta
Verified Expert in Project Management
Project Manager
London, United Kingdom
Toptal member since October 20, 2020
Anuj is a proven leader with a consultancy background and over two decades of international experience. He excels in collaborating with the C-suite to deliver scalable change across people, processes, finance, technology, and artificial intelligence. Recognized for his adaptability to changing environments and influential and confident communication, Anuj fosters relationships by creating a sense of joint ownership and driving collaboration across all organizational levels.
Project Highlights
Expertise
- C-suite
- Change Leadership
- Cross-functional Team Leadership
- Management Consulting
- Program Management
- Project Management
- Strategy
- Thought Leadership
Work Experience
Managing Director
Piovis Consulting
- Established a strong brand with select Fortune 500 companies for delivery excellence, thought leadership, and creating real client value through collaboration, mentorship, and forging trusted partnerships.
- Grew a global network of 30+ skilled, dynamic, and loyal talent pool covering AI, ML, data science, SEO, web, and app developers. Remote teams are woven together by a cultural fabric, rewarding accomplishments, and proactive support between members.
- Increased average content production speed by 70% , while improving quality and accuracy of data through automated workflows, custom large language models (LLM) and AI agents.
- Delivered 15+ business critical, highly scalable and modular web and desktop applications in 9 months, with an average completion time of 3 weeks by leveraging lean, ai-enhanced workflows.
- Elevated the quality and accuracy of data for client decision-making processes by 60%, employing advanced AI technologies, thereby enhancing operational outcomes and strategic planning capabilities.
Strategic Transformation Specialist
Inchcape
- Worked with various business, technology executives, and C-Suite to agree and implement operational and financial key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive the business across 14 countries worldwide.
- Drove the thought leadership and design of the strategic blueprint, laying out the foundations of the entire car distribution business, covering all business operations, technology, data, human resources, and finance.
- Designed and embedded a highly-effective organizational structure, supported by focused governance meetings, connecting country-level teams to executive leadership, underpinned by clear roles and responsibilities.
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Paradise Media
- Created, implemented, and embedded a scalable and highly efficient HR operating model from scratch within six months. Benefits:. - Increased hiring by 1500%, averaging two to 30 people per month. - Significantly reduced operational cost and risk.
- Grew the business from 80 to 140 people within six months.
- Saved the business over $400,000 per annum within nine months through contract negotiations, closing tax liabilities, and process efficiencies.
- Managed coaches and mentored operations, HR, and diverse teams: technology, design, project managers, and affiliate management.
- Co-led the sale of and managed strategic partnerships with a multi-million dollar potential.
- Led the acquisition, transition, and management of a major US newspaper company with the CEO. Together, turning around the reputation and profitability of the company within six months.
- Oversaw all operations run by 140 people across 15 departments and 25 countries remotely.
- Undertook key CFO and Chief of Staff activities, including strategic talent and financial management.
- Established and directed tactical focus and collaboration groups for design, affiliate management, and human resources leading to a significant increase in productivity, efficiencies, and value.
Program Director
Hyperion X
- Directed the delivery of digital marketplaces in line with the future of Lloyd’s strategic blueprint.
- Led a team of 40 professionals in various project stages to deliver 10 products and $100 million in revenue.
- Designed and implemented a bespoke cost model, yielding significant improvements to transparency and control over profit, loss, and CAPEX/OPEX spending against budgets.
- Coordinated technical and business needs with third-party teams, stakeholders, and C-suite clients.
- Developed and rolled out key delivery frameworks to shape scalable business growth within a startup culture.
- Prepared and presented key reports and project updates to clients, executives, and key decision-makers.
- Managed key internal and external client relationships, ensuring the continued support and business growth.
- Prioritized technologies, commercial considerations, and investment deliverables for clients.
- Drove thought leadership to enable rapid delivery at scale through the use of APIs and microservices.
Product Portfolio Manager
Hyperion X
- Managed a team of product owners to deliver digital insurance products across Spain, Germany, UAE, and the UK.
- Reported directly to the CEO, providing regular project updates on key deliverables.
- Managed a team of 20 onshore and offshore resources and third-party vendors on various projects.
- Partnered with the CDO and CEO to prioritize future demands in line with the company’s strategic vision.
- Designed and led the implementation of various hybrid Agile processes to streamline delivery.
Senior Project Manager
Deutsche Bank
- Designed and rolled out a new client risk rating (CRR) framework.
- Fostered collaboration between 30 senior business, technology, compliance, legal stakeholders, and SMEs to support the development of the CRR design across seven countries.
- Slashed the expected volume of false high-risk client cases by 30%, leading to a significant annual cost saving.
- Optimized AFC resource allocation and utilization to manage 45 million initial and ongoing client reviews.
Compliance Specialist
Credit Suisse
- Supported the MLRO through a group of directors, covering private, commercial, and investment elements.
- Introduced risk appetite statements (RAS) and key performance indicators (KPI), using best practices.
- Increased AFC control by enhancing elements of the AML framework and target operating model (TOM).
Senior Project Manager
The Post Office
- Led a strategic network transformation initiative to drive higher profitability through process improvement.
- Set up and managed a £700,000 project to achieve a potential £60 million cost savings.
- Led a team of seven, working closely with senior business directors and other strategic programs.
- Integrated Agile concepts within a waterfall environment, enabling significant program progress.
- Delivered £8 million through recommendations within historical business cases identified as quick wins.
Project Management/Governance Specialist
Deutsche Bank
- Reduced project costs by 40% and information discrepancies by 30% by improving program governance, change control, and management reporting across the entire portfolio.
- Ran focus groups with Senior stakeholders to identify appropriate, "fit for purpose" solutions in line with the business’ target state model and objectives.
- Prioritized remediation activities to close governance and PMO maturity gaps within agreed time and cost.
Scrum Master
Ernst & Young
- Coached the client in Agile delivery, estimated techniques, adaptive planning, and self-organizing teams.
- Improved performance of five sprint teams by 30% through continuous improvement strategy integration.
- Managed 14 resources across two sprint teams consisting of technical and business resources and senior clients.
Project Manager
Natwest Bank
- Streamlined onboarding and customer due diligence operations for the business's first line of defense.
- Enhanced AML framework by evaluating the "as-is" state, creating the "to-be" TOM, and executing the roadmap.
- Drove improvements to change management processes, reducing the request-to-approval time by 25%.
Program Manager
Barclays Wealth
- Rescued the original £4.2 million budget and timescales for a major technology integration program.
- Streamlined core legacy retail back and middle office technologies onto a strategic platform.
- Managed the program plan, including all risks, issues, and dependencies across eight projects.
Program Governance Manager
Ernst & Young
- Managed the $40 million strategic global audit transformation program.
- Streamlined and integrated critical audit systems across three countries onto a single platform.
- Slashed operational overhead by 25% by improving and streamlining project processes.
- Reduced reporting discrepancies by 30% by combining governance frameworks.
- Achieved £240,000 per year cost-reduction by outsourcing and offshoring administrative PMO activities.
Program Manager
Natwest Bank
- Managed test/live environments for 250+ banking applications for the high-profile Verde program.
- Directed 14 technology teams, 50 resources, covering IT infrastructure, application, testing teams, and external vendors using a detailed MS Project plan to manage the critical path.
- Directed a team of six PMOs located across the UK and India to support three core projects to the value of $40 million.
Project History
Disruptive Digital Marketplace to Transform the Insurance Market
Directed the strategic digital insurance marketplace pilot in line with the Future at Lloyds (of London) Blueprint.
• Partnered with the CEO, MD, and other executive stakeholders to create the winning pitch for Lloyds of London Pilot.
• Established the delivery team, including hiring specific talent and resource management.
• Led the program management.
New Client Risk Rating Methodology for a Leading Investment Bank
Designed a new client risk rating methodology (CRRM) to address the latest regulatory requirements across seven countries. The CRRM is designed to treat over 45 million clients more fairly, reducing operational costs while better protecting the bank.
• Fostered collaboration between 30 senior business, technology, compliance, legal stakeholders, and SMEs to support the development of the CRR design across seven countries.
• Slashed expected volume false high-risk client cases by 30%, leading to significant annual cost savings.
• Optimized AFC resource allocation and utilization to manage 45 million initial and ongoing client reviews.
Transformation Project Manager for the UK's Largest Retail Network
Delivered £8 million through recommendations within historical business cases identified as quick wins.
• Drove a strategic network transformation initiative to drive higher profitability through process improvement.
• Led a team of seven, working closely with senior business directors and other strategic programs.
• Integrated Agile concepts within a waterfall environment enabling significant program progress.
• Set-up and managed a £700,000 project to achieve a potential approximately £60 million cost-saving.
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Management Science with Computing and International Studies
University of Kent, Canterbury - Canterbury, England
Certifications
Leading Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe 5.0)
SAFe
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
IASSC
Digital Marketing Foundation
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Project Management Institute (PMI)
Certified Scrum Master
APMG International
PRINCE2 Practitioner certification
APMG
Managing Successful Programmes (MSP)
APMG International
Management of Risk (M_o_R)
APMG International
Skills
Tools
Microsoft PowerPoint, Project Management & Work Tracking Tools, Google Workspace, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Visio, Visio, Figma, Google Analytics, Trello, Jira, Google Docs, Slack, Asana, SQL, Confluence
Paradigms
Agile, Waterfall Delivery, Agile Leadership, Management, Scrum, Agile Project Management, Iterative Delivery, Change Management, PRINCE2, Agile Delivery, Agile Product Management, Quantitative Research, Lean, Design Thinking, DevOps, Organizational Change Management (OCM), Requirements Analysis, Digital Marketing Best Practices, Six Sigma, Software Testing
Industry Expertise
Professional Services, Digital Marketing, Banking & Finance, Insurance Technology (Insurtech), Consumer Products, Financial Services, Insurance
Platforms
SharePoint, Blockchain, WordPress, Azure
Other
Waterfall Methodology, Projects, Project Management, Project Rescue, Project Tracking, Program Management, IT Program Management, Leadership, Change Leadership, Project Leadership, Team Leadership, Remote Team Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Task Management, Client Management, Issue Management, Risk Management, Risk Analysis, Teamwork, Team Management, Team Mentoring, Team Effectiveness, PMO, Project Management Office (PMO), Stakeholder Analysis, Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Senior Executive Management, Planning, Project Planning, Scrum Master, Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Risk Assessment, Business Management, Agile Program Management, Executive Support, Reporting, Client Relationship Management, Delivery, Presentations, Agile Transformation, Business Transformation, Process Transformation, Business Transformation Program Management, Portfolio Management, Project Scoping, Project Analysis, Risk, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Demand Management, Cost Management, Business Cases, Process Optimization, Governance, Stakeholder Interviews, Executive Reporting, Dependency Management, Business Process Optimization, Project Estimation, Organization, Process Control, Process Flows, Business Processes, Process Design, Project Budget Management, Cost Estimation, Milestones, Agile Sprints, Consulting, Global Team Management, Management Consulting, Mentorship & Coaching, Communication, Project Scheduling, Project Delivery, Organization Streamlining, Project Management Professional (PMP), Technical Leadership, Technical Project Management, Startups, Conflict Resolution, Time Management, Process Improvement, Business Plan Consulting, Project Timelines, Chief of Staff, Training, Operational Excellence, GAP Analysis, Complex Problem Solving, Project Management Operations, Business Operations, Operations Management, Process Improvement Project Management, Teams, Stakeholder Mapping, Cross-functional Collaboration, Roadmaps, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Enterprise Project Management, People Management, Coaching, Scope Management, Product Strategy, Documentation, Business Consulting, Build Processes, Blueprint, Remote Work Consulting, Workflow, Process Documentation, Workshop Facilitation, Hybrid Project Management, Process Management, Hybrid Frameworks, Digital Project Management, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Business Process Automation, Growth, Web & Mobile Applications, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Website Management, Strategic Planning & Execution, Small Business, Project Reporting, Agile Product Delivery, Discovery, Certified Project Manager, Standard Operating Procedures Development, Delivery Management, Status Updates, Onboarding, Sentiment Analysis, Product Requirements Documentation (PRD), User Stories, Elicitation, Business Requirements, Functional Requirements, Dashboards, Progress Reporting, Executive Leadership, Qualitative Analysis, Data Analysis, Market Research, Getting Things Done (GTD), PMO Processes, Program Assurance, Governance Frameworks, RAID, PowerPoint Design, IT Projects, Project Finance, Thought Leadership, Line Management, Risk & Compliance, Team Building, PMO Development, Vendor Selection, Vendor Management, Vendors & Suppliers, C-suite, Sprint Planning, Demand Planning, Strategy Planning, Optimization, International Commerce, Executive Consulting, Resource Management, Negotiation, Contract Negotiation, Digital Transformation, Product Management, Scrum Coaching, Business Analysis, Regulatory Analysis, Target Operating Models, Anti-money Laundering (AML), Strategy, Company Strategy, Cost Cutting (Cost-out), Backlog Grooming, Backlog Management, Feature Backlog Prioritization, Estimations, Costing, Burn-down Charts, Cost Reduction & Optimization (Cost-down), Operational Streamlining, Business Proposals, Value Proposition, Compliance, Investment Banking Technology, Global Business, Profit Optimization, Forecasting, Due Diligence, Estimation & Planning, Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), Scalability, Lean Startups, Data, eCommerce, Operational Assessments, Finance, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Operations, Data Migration, Discovery Workshops, Product Owner, Chief Operations Officer (COO), Human Resources (HR), SOP Development, Talent Strategy, ClickUp, Scaling, COO, Technical Business Analysis, Organizational Development, Organizational Design, Integration, Performance, Enterprise, Project Discovery, Direct to Consumer (D2C), Staffing, Product Roadmaps, Digital Delivery Management, Digital Production, Strategic Planning, Startup Consulting, Systems, Corporate Governance, CEO, Business Development, Agile Coaching, IASSC Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (ICBB), Business Process Re-engineering, Web Project Management, Media, Agency, Fintech, IT, Digital Asset Management, Web Analytics, Data Analytics, Investments, Accountability, Organizational Structure, Business Strategy, Local SEO, SEO Tools, Project Portfolio Management (PPM), Web Development, Financial Management, Mobile Apps, Social Networking, Software Project Management, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Large Language Models (LLMs), BSA AML Compliance, Know Your Customer (KYC), Hugging Face, OpenAI, Chatbots, AI Chatbots, AI Integration, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Software Development, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), Brand Development, Marketing, API Integration, Automation, Technical Product Management, Compensation, Employee Benefits, SaaS, Quantitative Finance, Trading, CRM Systems, Financial Modeling, Partnership Strategies, Partnerships, Program Increment Planning, Microsoft Teams, Economics, Talent Management, Digital Marketing Strategy, Regulatory Compliance, Investment Banking, Credit Risk, Investments & Risk Management, Finance Strategy, AML, Excel VBA, Cross-cultural Management, Hiring, Operational Risk, APIs, IT Strategy, Service Blueprints, Communication Strategy, Software as a Service (SaaS), Core Banking Systems, Profit & Loss (P&L), Operating Models, Organizational Management, Business Readiness, Sports Websites, HubSpot CRM, Mobile App Development, Futures & Options, Card Payments, Online Payments, Customer Experience (CX) Design, Monetization, Distribution Management
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