Dave Nikolic

 

Executive Profile

Senior executive with more than 20 years of management experience in Information Technology. 

Experienced in all aspects of running IT and project management departments of multi-billion dollar, publicly traded, financial services firms. I have repeatedly proven my ability to build premier business platforms and IT service departments, across the globe. A proven track record of providing simple scalable solution to complex business challenges, while adhering to time and budgetary constraints. 

 

Strategic Planning ~ IT Architecture ~ Business & Mobile Applications ~ Cloud & Dev-Ops Services

Environment Virtualization ~ Business Applications Procurement/Development ~ Staff Management

Project Management Office ~ Budget Management ~ Contract and Vendor Negotiation ~ Data Management & Reporting ~ Enterprise Voice/ Data /Video Solutions ~ IT Security ~ Web Services ~ Document Management

CRM Technologies ~ Business Continuity Planning/Disaster Recovery ~ Sox Compliance ~ Storage Engineering

 

Professional Experience

 

First Data Corp, New York                          June 2014 – Present

Enterprise Architect / Program Manager

·        Responsible for the design and setup of new Ecommerce (Apply Pay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay) transaction platform

·        Directly responsible for the selection and implementation of cloud API service provider

·        Built new customer facing problem and response management solutions

·        Managed program implementation and internal delivery of services

·        Co-chairing Platform committee, for the rapid adoption of a full Dev-Ops model (Including network, storage, compute, cloud services, and technology platforms.)

·        Technical redesign of IT architecture standards, SDLC practices, established proper testing methodology and supporting internal processes.  

·        Managed refresh of internal customer response solutions (Including Trouble / Incident Management, Change Management, and Configuration management systems).

 

CIT Group, New York                      Aug 2012 – April 2014

Director: Enterprise Architect

·        Directly responsible for selection and implementation of Unified Communications platform, to modernize Collaboration and drive global communications across business lines.

·        Redesigned internal customer support model, which included resource escalation and response process.

·        Chairing Platform committee, for the overhaul of network, storage, compute, cloud services, and technology platforms. In support of rapid adoption of a Software Defined Data Center.

·        Helping drive the implementation of Mobile platform applications, supporting infrastructure for key business services and management teams.

·        Helping redesigned IT architecture standards, SDLC practices, established proper testing methodology and supporting internal processes.  

 

ReInvent Solution, New York                      Sep 2011 – Present

Technology & Operations Consultant

·        Helping Banking and Financial customers modify IT architecture standards, SDLC practices, establish proper testing methodology and supporting internal processes.  

·        Working with customers to create mobile platform applications, and supporting infrastructure for key business services enterprise on tablet and phone formats

·        Helping customers build effect customer facing problem management and response solutions (Including Incident Management, Change Management, and Configuration management systems)

·        Working with large multi-nation Pharma companies on evaluating a move to cloud based email and office applications.

·        Working with Hedge Funds and Digital Media companies to evaluate new data center, network, storage, and cloud application service platforms.

 

West End Capital/Flagstone Reinsurance, Halifax, Nova ScotiaDec 2007 – Aug 2011

Chief Technology Officer & CISO

·        Responsible for all in house application development teams, and infrastructure services, which included systems and services for West End Capital and Lloyds syndicate.

·        Built technology platform and an application architecture for global business segments, and growing the solutions created from inception to a common platform.

·        Directly responsible for integrating IT services for 6 acquired entities in less than 3 years. And participated in numerous evaluations and due diligence efforts for potential acquisitions. 

·        Managed a global development and support organization with a staff of 57, which provided all IT Services to as many as 14 office locations and over 850 staff.

·        Directly responsible for managing a $27 million annual IT budget, which includes all Hardware, Software, and Service procurement.

·        Expanded the functionality of the business ledger applications (SICS/NT), which provided greater transparence for underwriters and claims managers.

·        Designed and implemented a fully integrated CRM system, which provided access to all relevant customer data onto a mobile platform.

·        Designed and implemented an Electronic document system, which was fully integrated into email, workflow, and underwriting and claims processing.

·        Successfully overhauled entire IT infrastructure (WAN infrastructure, Security and Firewall services, Directory services, Email infrastructure, Remote access, Application delivery infrastructure, SharePoint) with minimal down time, and lowered operation costs by 20%.

·        Directly managed key vendor relationships with Microsoft, Oracle, Netapp, Cisco, HP, Dell, and EMC.

·        Designed and implemented a Linux based HPC environment used to run proprietary weather, catastrophe event, and Live CAT modeling software.

·        Early adopter of the Amazon Cloud Computing platform for expanding computing cycles during peak time periods.

·        Responsible for all IT Audit & Compliance assessments. Provided regular status for the Executive Management Group as well as to the Audit Committee of the external Board of Directors.

 

Axis Capital, New York               Mar 2005 – Nov 2007

SVP / Chief Technology Officer & CISO

·        Responsible for all application development/integration teams, which included: Workflow, Web services, SharePoint, Business Ledger, General Ledger, General Reporting and Claims underwriting.

·        Responsible for all infrastructure services, including Help Desk, Client Support, Network and Firewalls, Server and Backend services.

·        Manage a global support organization with a staff of 35, which provided all IT services to 14 office locations and 850 staff.

·        Directly responsible for managing an IT budget $22 million (annually), and all Hardware, Software, and Service procurement.

·        Developed/deployed an Enterprise Storage infrastructure which improved performance and uptime of mission critical applications.

·        Directly managed key vendor relationships with Microsoft, Oracle, NetApp, Cisco, HP, Dell, and EMC.

·        Successfully implemented a trouble ticketing, change management, and systems monitoring across all sites, in less than 6 months.

·        Developed and implemented a corporate wide Business Continuity Plan, which included IT recovery of all critical business applications/processes. Business recovery was successfully tested and repeatable within 24hrs of event.

·        Successfully implemented a user account management, Application and Data access provisioning system, which was integrated to the HR system and allowed for transparent management of accounts and data access.

·        Successfully overhauled entire IT infrastructure (WAN infrastructure, Security and Firewall services, Directory services, Email infrastructure, Remote access, Application delivery infrastructure, and SharePoint) with minimal down time and lowered operation costs.

·        Expanded the use of internal Web and SharePoint services by driving a simplified business focused design.

·        Responsible for all IT Audit & Compliance assessments. Provided regular status for the Executive Management Group as well as to the Audit Committee of the external Board of Directors

 

UBS, New York, Stamford, Weehawken          2001 – Mar 2005

Divisional Vice President / Distributed Systems Engineering Manager

·        Managed and led the strategic solutions team, providing IT infrastructure strategy and space reviews for emerging technologies such as operating system virtualization.

·        Worked closely with business line application development teams to implement large scale applications systems, providing infrastructure design, architecture and procurement review support.

·        Developed Enterprise Storage and Network Engineering solutions to reduce TCO and provide an immediate ROI as well as enhanced functionality for the user population.

·        Directly managed key vendor relationships with Microsoft, Oracle, Netapp, Cisco, HP, Dell, and EMC.

·        Engaged in compliance review and assessment phase for Information technology systems.

·        Managed a global team of distributed systems engineers (15 staff), which focus on Windows and cross platform Server and Desktop technologies.

·        Responsibilities included hiring/terminating staff, and performing annual performance reviews of.

·        Created overall migration methodology, and initiated migration project of all legacy Windows NT4 Servers for the capital markets division.

·        Designed and supervised implementation of a local disaster recovery process, which included recovery of desktops, data elements and critical business applications.

·        Designed and created global desktop renewal process.  Team successfully coordinated with technical, production, and support teams overseas to implement system across more than 250 locations and 150 countries. Completed system reduced overall operational costs by $4.25 million annually.

·        Designed and implemented a low cost file services solution to be used by 25,000 users and 400 offices across the US.  Successfully introduced new storage and server products with minimal increases to annual operational costs.

·        Developed new standardized outsourcing program, and unit pricing model, through vendor negotiations and management.  New program lowered outsourcing costs 25%.

 

UBS Divisional Vice President, Capital Markets, PaineWebber                   2000 – 2001

·        Managed operations of Capital Markets Infrastructure Operations / Engineering Group.  Simultaneously held positions as MIS Server Manager and Manager of Central IT Floor Support Group.

·        Developed and managed $25 million annual budget. 

·        Supervised team of 15 engineers and 20 support staff, in support of all Trading floor, Back office, and IT services.

·        Responsible for all staff and consultant recruiting, training and performance management.

·        Responsible for all Hardware, Software, and Service procurement, and license management. 

·        Led team that improved availability for critical infrastructure and storage.  Prepared budget, managed resources, planned and coordinated migration to new hardware and software on MS and Sun platforms.

·        Responsible for and supervised early deployment of MS Exchange 2000, in supporting an overall deployment of 18,000 users.

·        Team was responsible for support of 250 MS Windows servers, and 2,500 users and desktop systems

·        Transitioned infrastructure, data, procedures, and staff as part of UBS / Paine Webber merger.

 

 

Chase Manhattan, New York, NY          1998 – 2000

Engineering and Back Office Services Manager / Consultant, Global Trust Services

 

Union Bank of Switzerland, New York, NY  1995 – 1998

Assistant Vice President, Distributed Systems Engineering Manager

 

Standard & Poor’s, New York, NY         1993 – 1995

Network Administrator / NT Consultant

 

 

Education

 

Queens College 1984-86

Grumman Data Systems 1986-1987  4.0 GPA, Computer Technology