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Anuj Datta, Project Manager in London, United Kingdom
Anuj Datta

Project Manager in London, United Kingdom

Member since October 20, 2020
Anuj is a successful program manager with a top-tier management consultancy background and 15 years of international experience collaborating with C-suite executives and delivering project management. He's a strong influencer, able to speak with confidence and conviction. Anuj has gained recognition from clients and peers for establishing successful and scalable change environments through people, processes, and technology.
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Project Highlights

Expertise

Education

Select Certifications

Employment

  • Strategic Transformation Specialist

    2022 - 2022
    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)

    2021 - 2022
    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

    2019 - 2020
    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

    2018 - 2019
    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

    2017 - 2018
    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

    2016 - 2017
    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

    2016 - 2016
    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

    2015 - 2015
    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

    2014 - 2014
    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

    2014 - 2014
    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

    2014 - 2014
    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

    2013 - 2013
    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

    2012 - 2013
    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
    2002 - 2006
    University of Kent, Canterbury - Canterbury, England

Certifications

  • Leading Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe 5.0)
    JANUARY 2021 - PRESENT
    SAFe
  • Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
    JANUARY 2021 - PRESENT
    IASSC
  • Digital Marketing Foundation
    JULY 2020 - PRESENT
    Google
  • Project Management Professional (PMP)
    JULY 2013 - PRESENT
    Project Management Institute (PMI)
  • Certified Scrum Master
    DECEMBER 2011 - PRESENT
    APMG International
  • PRINCE2 Practitioner certification
    DECEMBER 2011 - PRESENT
    APMG
  • Managing Successful Programmes (MSP)
    OCTOBER 2009 - PRESENT
    APMG International
  • Management of Risk (M_o_R)
    NOVEMBER 2008 - PRESENT
    APMG International

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