1. Zuhair Sagga
P O Box 833, Old Airport Road, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia
Mobile: (SA) +966 50 111 2223, (UAE) +971 55 989 1743
Email: sagga.zuhair@gmail.com
(Information Technology Strategy / Development / Support / Financials /Program Management)
Effective Head of Investment Banking IT and IT Business Applications Support with a proven record of strategic IT leadership in the
financial sector. In depth experience in Systems Design, Development, Implementation and Support. Strategically and cost
effectively utilizing technology in alignment with corporate goals. Consistently improved delivery times and service level agreements
while reducing costs. Excels at strategic planning, building high-performance teams, project management, and implementing best
practice methodologies and continuous improvement of programs. Successfully designs and implements creative applications of
leading edge technology to increase efficiency and drive business growth. Sees the “big picture” and aligns organisational structure
with technological innovation and business processes to achieve business results. Adroitly develops talents and enhances employee
engagement. Approachable, with a naturally open minded and involving style which facilitates cultural change, inspires loyalty and
engages business partners, customers and colleagues alike. Culturally sensitive with experience of working in Saudi Arabia and UAE.
Seeking a role as IT Head / IT Business Applications Support Head / IT Business Applications Development Head, preferably in the
financial sector (but not limited to) in Dubai.
CORE COMPETENCIES
▪ Strategic Planning Mega Projects Deployment Change Management Systems Support Project Management▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
▪ Process Improvement and Best Practices Budget Management Contracts Management and Negotiation▪ ▪
▪ Strategic management Leadership ▪ Communication Cost Containment People Management▪ ▪
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Alignment of IT Strategy to Business Requirements – Skilled in developing strategic objectives in alignment with business
needs and delivering challenging projects on time through clear planning and direction. While with Samba Financial Group,
designed a successful strategy and implemented necessary procedures for Bank-in-a-Box, a multi-country environment.
Project Management: Samba Financial group manages more than 10 large projects each year. The PMO Office ensures synergy
within Technology units and the corresponding businesses for successful rollout of major projects.
Process Development and Reengineering: Strategized and implemented policies and procedures to enable centralization of IT
operations for the bank’s global presence in 5 countries. Reduced operational costs through hosting all services for the bank’s
multi-country businesses on The Corporate Data Centre.
Incident and Problem Management: Effectively contributed to implementation of centralized service desk and command centre
for the bank. The command centre acts as the single point of contact for all technology issues and deliverables for the bank. The
implementation ensured all issues are logged and tracked to resolution. The IT services are monitored 24X7 ensuring proactive
incident management.
Leadership Style: Visionary leader empowering people and eliciting outstanding performances. Manages by example through
fostering excellence, fuelling growth and motivating teams to achieve a common goal. Successfully develops people’s
capabilities through structured training and coaching.
Communication: Consistent, clear and inclusive communication style. Efficiently influences internal and external stakeholders by
considering other viewpoints and drivers when deciding most appropriate communication method and content.
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Zuhair Sagga | Mobile: (SA) +966501112223, (UAE) +971559891743| Email: sagga.zuhair@gmail.com
2. CAREER HISTORY
Samba Financial Group, Riyadh, KSA (Formerly Citibank NA) Sep 1998 – Present
Joined as Development Unit Head, promoted as Division Head initially for bank’s Project Management Office and then had the
privilege of leading two major divisions for Samba Technology – The Systems Support and Samba Capital IT.
Asst. GM and Head – Samba Capital IT Nov 2012 – Present
Asst. GM and Head – Systems Support Division Nov 2012 – Present
Asst. GM and Head – Projects Management Office Division Feb 2008 – Nov 2012
Asst. GM and Head – Development Sep 1998 – Feb 2008
Achievements across the career span
Key member of Samba IT Strategy team.
Implemented controls to up the SLA resolution percentage from 60% to 90% in less than a year for critical and high priority
production issues.
Successfully led and delivered Samba’s Brokerage and Asset Management Solutions.
Maintained and ably supported more than 180 products for Samba Technology.
Ensured consistent and effective Vendor Management practices.
Led PMO support services for Samba Technology’s Change programmes and projects tracking & control.
Centralised change management (with rigid change control to avoid project disruption).
Achieved scalability and greater development agility by transforming the Bank’s legacy architectures to Web Based Application.
Successfully handled the First SWIFT MA-CUG in the Middle East for providing end-to-end Automated Payment Processing
system to ARAMCO and other Corporates.
Successfully managed and implemented FASTWIRE system. (Payments engine Gateway)
Successfully managed and implemented Enterprise Document Management and Work Flow system. (File Net)
Received appreciations from SWIFT for successful completion of SWIFT Net migration project in KSA.
Played strategic & key role in bank’s migration efforts from legacy Core banking application to Temenos T24.
Managed Samba Technology’s budget full cycle, including Cost Allocation.
Effectively maintained and tracked Technology Capital Management cycle.
Defined best practice guidelines & quality management processes for software development.
Notable projects at Samba Financial Group;
Saudi Arabian Riyal Inter Bank Express (SARIE) – an in-country EFT system
SPEEDCASH – remittance system for worldwide money transfer
Shares & dividend System
Electronic Document Management & Work Flow (FileNet)
E-Learning
Sambanet - Enterprise Intranet Portal
Content Management System
SWIFT Net System – a SwiftAlliance product
SADAD Bill Payment System – Saudi Central Hub for Bills Payment
Corporate Payroll System – for processing 150+ entities
SAMBA Payment Solution
SAMBA E-Payment Gateway(B2B)
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Zuhair Sagga | Mobile: (SA) +966501112223, (UAE) +971559891743| Email: sagga.zuhair@gmail.com
3. Saudi British Bank (SABB), Riyadh, KSA (HSBC worldwide) Jan 1993 – Sep 1998
Started with the bank as IT Training Officer, later promoted as Senior Project Leader. The last assignment with bank’s IT was to
manage its Office Automation initiatives.
Manager Office Automation Dec 1997 – Sep 1998
Senior Project Leader Sep 1995 – Mar 1997
IT Training Officer Jan 1993 – Sep 1995
Achievements across the career span
Worked as Y2K Project Manager, led a team of 40-50 technical staff and steered operations of the department in compliance
with assigned forecasts and business parameters.
Identified new technologies, developed requisite capabilities in coordination in with partners & vendors.
Prepared & monitored Year 2000 (Y2K) action plan for Year 2000 Project.
Analyzed bank systems to identify amendments requirements and tested & certified all bank systems for Y2K.
Coordinated with external suppliers to acquire compliance certification of hardware & software and liaised with Group Offices
(HSBC) to procure Group’s compliant software.
Steered programming, system & software development including planning & estimates.
Responsible for updating latest IT systems, enhancing Bank’s technology and imparting training to programmers for skill
enhancement.
Worked as the In-charge of IT training and responsible for imparting IT Training to executives and clerical staff throughout the
Bank.
Prepared IT training plans, budgets & forecasts, conducted analysis of IT training requirements and monitored IT technical
developments & customer requirements.
Prepared training schedules and providing IT consultancy services to Dept. Heads.
Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces, Riyadh, KSA Aug 1990 – Dec 1992
Programmer / Analyst
Studied, analysed and developed PC / Mainframe programs and independently executed key projects, including the Logistics Control
System, Stock Control System and Purchase Management System.
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Zuhair Sagga | Mobile: (SA) +966501112223, (UAE) +971559891743| Email: sagga.zuhair@gmail.com
4. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
Management: Managing Productivity ▪ Managerial Skills ▪ Leadership and Motivation ▪ Team Building ▪ Time Management ▪
Problem Solving & Decision Making ▪ Introduction to Management
Systems: Oracle Developer 2000 ▪ Oracle SQL Ver. 7.3 ▪ Lotus Notes Administration and Development Workshop ▪ MVS
Concepts & Facilities ▪ Dialogue Management – IBM MVS Utilities ▪ DB2 Application Workshop ▪ DB2 Fundamentals ▪ CICS
Recovery and Restart ▪ CIS Problem Determination ▪ CICS Command Level Coding
Committees and Task Forces: Samba Strategy Committee ▪ Samba Technology Steering Committee ▪ Samba Technology Process
Focus Group ▪ Samba Technology Metrics Task Force ▪ Samba Product Quality Task Force ▪ Requirements Management Task
Force ▪ Samba Technology Conversion Group (for its MEGA Legacy Systems Conversion Project)
Workshops: Various IT and Business Workshops at Samba Financial Group and Saudi British Bank
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Central State University, Edmond, USA January 1985 – July 1990
B.S. Computer Science, Minor in Marketing
PERSONAL DETAILS
Date of Birth: 12th
Feb, 1966 Nationality: Saudi
Marital Status: Married Driver’s Licence: Saudi Arabia (valid also in UAE)
References available on request
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Zuhair Sagga | Mobile: (SA) +966501112223, (UAE) +971559891743| Email: sagga.zuhair@gmail.com