Michael Mihai Diaconescu

Head-hunted to take on the exceptional assignment to help this fast-growing startup streamline and accelerate its content research, production, and publishing capabilities.

After I completed the business discovery and identified the objectives (OKRs) and gaps, I assembled a team. I defined the company-wide roadmap for digital transformation and process automation for end-to-end content delivery.

My work started with a multi-vendor assessment and selection, RFP, and contract negotiation. Once the platform was contracted, my team and I planned and executed the implementation of the top-class AWS cloud-based OpenText Media Management DAM (digital asset management) and the IPV Curator online video editing and post-production processing platform.

In parallel, I designed and managed the delivery of the end-to-end process automation and application integration across DAM, video editing, stock photography websites (Getty, Alamy), project management tools (Monday.com), voice recognition, and artificial intelligence (AWS, OpenText Magellan), CMS (WordPress), CDN (CloudFront, JW Player), social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), and communication channels (Gmail, Slack).

Successfully delivered a complex $12 million industry-first loyalty program for a web platform enabling AMEX cardholders to claim reward points towards services from eligible fashion, airline, and hotel partners.

Managed 11 project managers, 17 teams of 140+ people, 15+ vendors, three consulting firms, and seven external business partners in the US, Canada, UK, Italy, and France.

Saved the company $750,000 through the adoption of Agile methodology for SDLC.

I initiated and directed a cloud-based £6.5 million digital asset management (DAM) platform and digitized 3+ million media assets at Kingfisher plc scattered across 20+ legacy systems, now used in 1,000+ stores and offices in nine countries.

I remodeled and optimized E2E process workflows and the operating model (TOM) to support the full integration of finance, S2P, P2P, product management (SAP BS HANA), product information (Riversand PIM), digital asset management (OpenText Media Manager DAM), eCommerce platform (ATG), all Kingfisher vendors, marketing agencies and digital media agencies.

I also implemented Agile and DevOps, enabling SDLC and release speed and best-in-class application flows with a focus on UX-centric customer journeys.

The company was struggling to grow the business, as the amount of overhead required to manage the expansion was unsustainable and eroded profits. Successfully conducted extensive business and operations discovery and designed a target operating model (TOM) that would be based on new tools that would enable digitization and automation for field engineers at the warehouse and head office. Managed the end-to-end development and integration of custom applications (mobile and desktop) and Microsoft Dynamics Business Central (CRM, finance, and HR). Managed a team of 14, budget, vendors, risks and issues, quality, and acceptance testing.

WORK DONE
• Restructured and executed a $22 million Agile model fixed income acquisition program at BMO Financial Group, developing and delivering a platform that integrated 20+ systems.
• Managed 60+ resources, two Big Four consultancies, and 10+ vendors in NY, Chicago, and Toronto.
• Implemented front-, mid-, and back-office STP integration in compliance with strict FINRA regulations.
• Implemented a complex $1.8 million business intelligence suite for reporting and analytics on underwriting, client deals, P&L, and portfolios.

Revived a struggling $17 million merger program for a client-facing global asset management portal at Royal Bank Capital Markets by restructuring scope, development, and QA processes, reorganizing 10+ teams of 40+ resources, seven vendors, and three consultancies (including Big Four) in Toronto, Montreal, and Luxembourg.

Roadmapped and spearheaded the delivery of the end-to-end solution using Agile SDLC, integrating front-, mid-, and back-office.

Delivered six weeks early and saved $150,000 by adopting Agile methodology and employing user experience optimizations (UX and CE tuning) on a $1.5 million project, enabling BMO Financial Corporate Lending to provide automobile dealership financing to 20+ car manufacturers in the US after the 2008 market crash, accessible via a dedicated web platform.

I managed a recent corporate acquisition's end-to-end integration program at Reward Gateway, an HR services company, as the organization lacked a mature framework and expertise. I also implemented governance for program and project management, deployed the necessary toolset, and structured the work and roadmap across 10+ departments. Finally, I enhanced the necessary in-house expertise, processes, and tools to enable the company to run programs and projects in the future successfully and create blueprints for anticipated new initiatives.

Remodeled and optimized development, BAU, and ITIL service management processes through global Agile, DevOps, and ITSM/ITIL process transformation and a new operating model (TOM) rolled out to 500+ users in the risk management division of BNP Paribas Bank in London, Paris, New York, Brussels, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Mumbai.

Digitized service management tickets and process flows, bringing cohesion to data-driven decisions, generating +30% efficiencies in IT and operations.

Deployed new policies, procedures, tools, and organizational structures for a global IT and operations process framework transformation to 1,500+ corporate and investment banking users at BNP Paribas Bank in London, Paris, Brussels, New York, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Mumbai.

Successfully defined process and coordinated the creation of a £150+ million Global Markets ITO budget. Implemented business intelligence for reporting and analyzing financial forecasts, effort, headcount, offshoring, vendors, and P&L.

I successfully managed the vendor selection process for a new ERP system for finance and expense management, procurement and inventory, offices and associates, HR, payroll, workflow management, and systems integration.

Engaged in creating the business plan, target operating model, financial, legal, and HR for a wellness startup.

Effectively employed lean startup techniques like creating incremental MVPs, split-testing, and validated learning. Selected, hired, and managed local and offshore IT providers, copywriters, legal and financial advisers, suppliers, and digital marketing agencies required to launch the company.

Successfully delivered the UX design and agile development of a responsive digital application with complex booking and account management, coupons, rewards scheme, loyalty tiers, API integration with SMS, address lookup, and geolocation.

Successful implementation of an artificial intelligence platform to monitor, learn, and take corrective action on production support processes and applications as part of the service management transformation program at BNP Paribas Bank.

The artificial intelligence platform supported the ITSM automation that boosted service availability to 99% and reduced support efforts by 30%.

The tool monitored over 200 systems and data feeds from all bank divisions in London, Paris, New York, Brussels, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Mumbai.

Coordinated and deployed a UX-driven, cloud-based ServiceNow platform to 500+ users in five countries as part of the service management transformation program at BNP Paribas Bank.

Enabled the digitalization of development and operations activities through full integration with the Jira system, bringing cohesion to data-driven decisions while optimizing performance and the UX/client experience.

The program was mandated by a dramatic series of car failures and accidents followed by federal investigations. I worked with business and operations experts across North America, Europe, and Asia. I conducted deep discovery and developed a complex business intelligence platform based on a centralized data warehouse and custom ETL processes that imported data from across the globe. I worked with a team of 40+ business and operations experts across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Managed a $3.7 million program that delivered a business intelligence platform (business objects) for reporting, analysis, and dashboard capabilities on project management, software development, ITIL/operational support processes, call center/service desk, and automated banking machines (ATM) across all BMO Financial Services Bank offices and branches in Canada.

Managed 11 internal teams (40+ resources), six vendors, and two consulting firms (including Big Four) in a cross-functional/matrix environment in Toronto and Montreal.

Met regulatory mandates and avoided significant penalties for the bank by delivering on a very aggressive timeline a $9 million program that implemented user access management processes and supporting technologies required by Sarbanes-Oxley regulatory legislation at American Express.

Developed and implemented security controls for access rights to 130+ American Express and Ameriprise Financial systems distributed in 40+ countries on five continents worldwide.

I successfully delivered a flagship business intelligence suite for Knowledge4You Corporation and positioned it as a niche market leader against established competitive platforms.

I played a key role in defining sales plans and marketing strategies specific to the company's target niche market segment.