Mark-Allen - Consultant WINDOWS SERVER 2016

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ALPHA SYSTEMS SWITZERLAND – SWITZERLAND December 2022 – Present
IT Project Manager – Swiss Data Centre Exit to Microsoft Azure / Google Cloud
The objective is to migrate several application suites along with the local SAP installation into Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.
Responsible for:
- Analysis and discovery of complete system estate
- Build and manage the global technical migration team
- Managed the Azure and GCP landing zone design and other required documentation
- Created and validated the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) with Microsoft
- Began the Landing Zone build for system deployment
Daily Tasks and Accomplishments
Managed all aspects of multiple related sub-projects to ensure the overall program is aligned to and directly supports the achievement of strategic objectives, i.e., multiple data centre exits
As the DC exit project manager, I managed the day-to-day project activities and resources and chaired the project management team meetings
Provided weekly status reporting regarding project milestones, deliverables, dependencies, risks and issues, communicating across leadership, internal and external
Reported to Steering Board on project success criteria results, metrics, budget, test and deployment management activities across multiple levels of business users
Prepare estimates and detailed project plan for all phases of the project
Developed and delivered progress reports, proposals, requirements documentation and presentations to various audiences, including project team, sponsors, and key stakeholders
Held regular key stakeholder meetings both internal and external for project review and project closure meetings, including regular meeting with Microsoft
Design and build of the ‘server migration tracker’ documentation to manage the end-to-end migration process.
Major contributor in developing the ‘stage gate’ deployment documentation containing the migration steps and the accompanying migration runbooks

ALPHA SYSTEMS TRANSFORMATION LTD – LONDON, UK April 2022 – November 2022
IT Project Manager – Data Centre and Azure Migrations
Working as the project manager for the Windows workstream, I am in charge of migrating systems from the on-premise data centre to Microsoft Azure. Objectives also including moving to the new Microsoft Windows Server 2022 system platform.
This project also includes a data migration workstream to migrate over 15PB of data on old NetApp 7Mode hardware onto newer cDOT hardware. There are 18x current client locations spread through the USA, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and the UK.

CLARANET UK – LONDON, UK Sept 2021 – March 2022
IT Programme Manager – Transformation of Canadian Data Centre to Microsoft Azure
Holding the responsibility for programme managing a global transformation project, including the migration of approximately 1,500 Windows servers to Microsoft Azure.
Responsible for additional workstreams:
- Analysis and transformation of PaaS candidates to Microsoft Azure Web Apps and SQL Managed Instances
- Transformation of on-premise systems to a new operating system version in a new data centre
- Microsoft SharePoint on-premise systems to SharePoint Online
- Microsoft SQL Server analysis and consolidation
Daily Tasks and Accomplishments
Managed all aspects of multiple related sub-projects to ensure the overall program is aligned to and directly supports the achievement of strategic objectives, i.e., multiple data centre exits
As programme manager, I managed the day-to-day project activities and resources and chaired the project management team meetings
Provided weekly status reporting regarding project milestones, deliverables, dependencies, risks and issues, communicating across leadership, internal and external
Reported to Steering Board on project success criteria results, metrics, budget, test and deployment management activities across multiple levels of business users
Prepare estimates and detailed project plan for all phases of the project
Developed and delivered progress reports, proposals, requirements documentation and presentations to various audiences, including project team, sponsors, and key stakeholders
Held regular key stakeholder meetings both internal and external for project review and project closure meetings, including regular meeting with Microsoft
Design and build of the ‘server migration tracker’ documentation to manage the end-to-end migration process.
Major contributor in developing the ‘stage gate’ migration steps and the accompanying migration runbooks

IT Programme Manager – Migration of Data Centres to Azure Regions – Jan 2020 – August 2021
Holding the responsibility for programme managing a global transformation project, including the migration of over 3,000 Windows and Linux servers to Microsoft Azure.
Responsible for additional workstreams:
- Non-Azure – migration and lift-and-shift of several IBM AS/400 systems between data centres in the US and UK.
- Design, build and installation of the Avaya Voice system replacing the normal analogue phone system
- Installation of Veeam Backup platform to replace the Microsoft Azure cloud—based backups
- Installation of a Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) platform to host their old Citrix Horizon clients
- Microsoft SQL Server analysis and consolidation using Redgate software
- Assisted in the defining the migration process and documentation for a set of ‘unsupported’ systems to Microsoft Azure, including RedHat 4, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2003.
Daily Tasks and Accomplishments
Basically, the same as above, so no need to repeat.
Assisted in the defining the migration process and documentation for a large number of ‘unsupported’ systems to Microsoft Azure, including RedHat 4, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2003.

SWISS IT CONSULTANCY - Zurich, Switzerland Jan 2019 – Dec 2019
IT Project Manager
Holding the responsibility for designing, building, and installing company on-premise infrastructure and connecting to Microsoft Azure cloud subscription. Pivotal in migrating Windows server 2008/R2, Windows Server 2012/R2 to Windows Server 2016/2019.
Completed the migration of systems and databases from old hosting company to Microsoft Azure, implementing Office 365 for company employees and externals, created security groups, and managed the SharePoint build.
Managed significant challenges associated with the installation of basic company servers, including System Center 2016, SQL Servers, Dynamics CRM and Reporting servers, application servers, Azure communication servers, Veeam backup, and monitoring systems. Create and implement wide-ranging migration plan for current Windows Server 2008/R2, Windows Server 2012/R2, and Windows Server 2016 servers to Azure.
CREDIT SUISSE - Zurich, Switzerland Aug 2018 - Dec 2018
IT Project Manager
Managed a small team for discovery and data analysis experts as well as Oracle, MS SQL DBAs, and Linux/Windows engineers to streamline migration process of dozens of Petabytes of storage from old NetApp filers to new EMC arrays.
Created the project plan and began the implementation of a three-year migration plan to minimise risks inherent in a data migration project. Spearheaded overall aspects of vFiler discovery, data analysis, new array preparation and build, array networking, and change requests.
 
ALPHA SYSTEMS  Switzerland Apr 2017 - July 2018
Technical Project Manager
Contributed in company systems’ roadmap by designing and building on-premise Windows infrastructure on the basis of Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V servers.
• Steered efforts towards instalment and configuration of Visual Studio Team Server connection and creating a small devops capability.
• Originated a testing programme for Windows Server 2019 by switching the Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V hosts through migration of almost 100 servers; a mix of Windows Server 2008/R2, 2012/R2, and 2016.
• Built on-premise Azure server migration pilots to produce the required outcomes, comprising Microsoft SharePoint 2016, Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016, Microsoft Windows Deployment Server 2012, Microsoft System Center 2016, and Microsoft SQL Server 2016.
T-SYSTEM NETHERLANDS  Den Haag, Netherlands July 2014 - Mar 2017
IT Project Manager
Directed and organised Linux admins, Oracle DBAs, networking and storage teams, along with the server build teams to migrate Linux applications and Oracle database servers for an Anglo-Dutch gas and oil international client. Completed and aligned processes for asset discovery, preparation, server build, networking, and firewall changes. Enhanced the operational efficiency of all migration processes, procedures, and documentation.
• Led migration team to complete over 1,000 Linux and Oracle systems within time and budgetary restraints and reshaped migration cookbooks, project plans, runbooks, and communications that improved customer experience.
• Significantly increased the migration performance and productivity through the instigation of new migration methods (the X-Motions).
T-SYSTEM NETHERLANDS  Amsterdam, Netherlands May 2014 - July 2014
Interim Programme Manager
As temporary coverage, I improved proposal and ensured the accuracy of the contract’s technical points through the collaboration with bid team. Initiated and managed resource search process to define PM and technical resources requirement and implication. Originated programme budgeting and forecasting process through evaluating financial information. Monitored and ensured improvements of virtual platform descriptions and X2V migration process documentation.
T-SYSTEM NETHERLANDS  Eindhoven, Netherlands July 2010 - Apr 2014
IT Project Manager
Led a team of eight personnel based in Europe and Asia, managed global verification and decommissioning of servers, and administered disposal of other hardware infrastructure globally while designating as Global Decomm Manager. Governed team to align all infrastructure handover changes for the project and managed infrastructure CMDB changes and organisation and integrity of the CMDB. Strategically positioned as main point of contact to client for meeting decommissioning requirements while serving as Handover Change Manager. Migrated the region AMEC, and some in EMEA, covering Wintel and Linux application servers, SQL Server, and Oracle database servers.
 

PREVIOUS PROJECTS
• 02.2010 – 06.2010 - IT Project Manager, Virtualisation for Swiss IT consultancy
o Improved the virtualization technologies and master system build methods for VMware servers, incorporating System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), Windows Deployment Server (WDS)
• 03.2009 – 01.2010 - Programme Manager, Wintel & Linux Systems for T-Systems Ltd, UK
o Responsible for the migration of Wintel and Linux LPAR systems
o Initiated a “virtualization tracking” document to control the complete process of VMware ESX4 virtualization of hardware servers to virtual machines, from design considerations through the decommissioning servers. This covered both application and database servers.
o Consulted on design and architecture for the VMware VSI and VDI infrastructure
• 10.2007 – 02.2009 - Senior Consultant, Transformations and Migrations for Hewlett-Packard Ltd
o As the Primary Technical Lead of the Windows Server Team on a transformation project for a global mining company, I was responsible for the migration of Wintel systems on over 150 sites world-wide and 100 Windows domains, totalling over 2,500 servers.
• 01.2006 – 09.2007 - External Senior Consultant for Hewlett-Packard EMEA, Helsinki, Finland
o My role was responsibility for the Windows server infrastructure migrations for a global oil company separation; the two companies were de-merging.
• 01.2005 – 12.2005 - External Senior Consultant for Nestlé SA, Vevey, Switzerland
o Completed the design, including hardware and software architecture, writing the 250,000 lines of VBScript/HTA/HTML code for the entire build process
o Design incorporated most Windows Server roles: IIS, File & Print services, Name services, DFS, Domain Controller, Cluster servers, Exchange servers, and 'hardened builds' for DMZ placement.
• 10.2004 – 12.2004 - Senior Technical Consultant for ALPHA Systems, Switzerland
o Designed a methodology for quick configuration of Windows systems, using VB Script, including architecture, documentation, programming, and monitoring.
o Speaker at several Citrix conferences in Europe, covering high-availability and fault-tolerant architecture. This included the Citrix iForum and Solutions Summit in Zurich (CH), Frankfurt (DE), and Munich (DE)
• 04.2004 – 09.2004 - Microsoft Windows and Citrix Specialist for HP Managed Systems, Germany
o Completed a comprehensive OS platform review of the client’s Windows and Citrix servers in Europe
• 10.2000 – 03.2004 - Senior Systems Architect, Trading Systems for Credit Suisse First Boston, Zurich, Switzerland
o Designed, built, and managed TNA (Trading new Architecture), the new Windows-based trading system for the stock exchanges:
 SWX Swiss Exchange, Virt-X Exchange, and derivatives for Eurex, and Xetra
o Considered to be the first high-frequency trading system (HFT) built on Windows
o Built Europe’s largest Citrix farm; composed of over 400 Windows Citrix servers
o Trading systems supported 350+ traders on 3 sites (Zurich, Genève, and Lugano), covering trades for equities, bonds, and derivatives, surpassing CHF 1 billion per year.
o These systems also provided a backup trading capability for the Front Arena risk management and trading application.
o Achievements were a complete fault-tolerant trading system that had a very high-availability factor (application uptime was +99.995%).
o Developed a Windows data analysis architecture using MS SQL Server and EMC storage systems. Database size exceeded 25TB.
• 07.1999 – 09.2000 - Windows Systems Specialist for CQS Sàrl, Switzerland
o Consultant for Swiss clients on assorted Microsoft systems and products. Clients included Mercedes-Benz AG, Norasia Shipping, Octet Systems, and State Street Bank.
• Completed a Year-2000 upgrade of Windows systems and MS-Office for Mercedes-Benz in 44 sites across Switzerland
• 12.1996 – 06.1999 - Windows Systems Manager for ILFORD Imaging, Switzerland
o Managed a small team to handle the operations for 25 systems and 150 users.
o Designed infrastructure to replace old network with new 100Mb switching systems
o Installed and managed 1GB fibre-optic cabling; 150Km of cable, 2 sites, 28 buildings.
• 08.1996 – 11.1996 - Technical Consultant for ALPHA Systems, Switzerland
o Major sponsor of Microsoft developer conferences in Switzerland, including "DevCon '96", a developer conference covering Microsoft Windows NT internals, Visual C++, Visual Basic, and MS-Access.
• 09.1992 – 07.1996 - Novell and Microsoft Specialist for Union Bank of Switzerland, Zurich, Switzerland
o Part of the team which developed the global Novel and Windows server builds
o Designed and installed first Windows trading systems for Securities Borrowing and Lending
o Pioneered and promoted the “Developers Forum”, development-related group to UBS world-wide
o Co-sponsored the first private Microsoft Developers Conference in Zurich, and later Geneva
• 01.1992 – 08.1992 - Technical Consultant, Novell and Microsoft Windows for ALPHA Systems, Switzerland
o Designed and installed Novell systems and communications into Novell’s Zurich office
• 06.1987 – 12.1991 - Technical Consultant, Systems and Operations Manager for Schierholtz AG, Switzerland
o Installed and managed the IBM 9370 mainframe, installed and managed the Windows systems and communications, developed processes to migrate IBM VSE to IBM MVS VS
• 01.1985 – 05.1987 - Systems Developer and Migration Specialist for Ingersoll-Rand, USA and Switzerland
o Part of a 3-man team which migrated Macro Assembler code to COBOL-85, approximately 1 million lines of code