Get better at getting better

ABOUT BALA

Seasoned and results-oriented Information Technology leader with a proven track record of success in driving digital transformations for organizations, spearheaded cybersecurity & IT audit initiatives, and led large-scale platform engineering programs within the automotive domain. Eagerly looking to leverage his expertise in cloud technologies to excel as IT Leader and contribute to the delivery of innovative and industry-leading technology solutions. Passionate in fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement while being adaptable and responsive to the evolving business and technology landscape.

Strategic Technology LeadershipDigital TransformationCloud & Platform EngineeringCybersecurityIT GovernanceLarge transformative programs leaderManaging High Performing Teams

Career Journey

Jan 2023 - Present

Global E-Commerce Platform Engineering Manager

Ford IT India (Chennai, IN)

Leadership: Platform provisioning, Tools development, code deployment, Platform security, performance, and reliability of Ford's Global E-commerce Platform.
Platform Success: Delivered $15B revenue from the platform with 200ms response time and driving exceptional developer and user experiences.
Innovation: Built a scalable MACH architecture using GCP, Terraform, and CI/CD Tekton Pipelines.
DevSecOps: Engineered DevSecOps, Performance, Site Reliability, Observability practices, enhancing Platform Stability and Efficiency.
Operations Excellence: Established a Global Command Center, Centralized Release management for Frontend and Backend, and ensured Platform services uptime.

Jan 2020 - Dec 2022

SAAS-PAAS Cloud Eng.| Global HR Analytics Platform Establishment and Hyper Scaler Transformation from On-Prem Data Warehousing

Ford IT India (Chennai, IN)

Responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of a cloud-based HR analytics platform, enabling data-driven decision-making for Company's Human Capital Management.
Designed, built, and delivered an aggregated Human Capital Management reporting and analytics solution on the Cloud, providing Company with comprehensive insights into its global HR data.
Developed over 500 cloud-based reports using optimized SQL queries, ensuring sub-millisecond response times for efficient data accessand analysis.
Created predictive and diagnostic dashboards utilizing Qlik Sense and Alteryx, delivering advanced analytics capabilities for data-drivendecision-making across 66 markets worldwide.
Enabled data-driven HR decisions by providing timely and insightful analytics to stakeholders across 66 global markets.
Successfully delivered the project under budget and within a tight 24-month timeframe.

Oct 2018 - Dec 2019

Product Transformation | Product Driven Organization Leader

Ford IT India (Chennai, IN)

Tasked with leading the product transformation initiative for HR, focusing on creating a product-centric organization, streamlining applicationmanagement, improving operational efficiency, and reducing costs.
Led the transformation of HR application management and development services from a traditional model to a product-driven organizationalstructure, aligning teams with specific business capabilities.
Successfully consolidated over 100 HR applications based on their functionalities, streamlining operations and reducing operationalcomplexity.
Achieved a 33% reduction in running costs by consolidating applications and optimizing resource allocation.
Seamlessly transitioned a 100+ member team to the new product-driven model, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations andmaintaining service levels.

Jan 2016 - Sep 2018

Solution Development | Delivery Manager - Application Development

Ford IT India (Chennai, IN)

Accountable for the end-to-end delivery of S-Ox application development projects, ensuring alignment with business objectives, on-timecompletion, and within budget constraints.
Played a critical role in modernizing legacy systems and implementing enhancements to supportevolving business needs.
Successfully delivered 5 complex S-Ox application transformations within 30 months, modernizing critical systems and enhancingoperational efficiency.
Managed the delivery of 104 application enhancements within the same timeframe, ensuring timely implementation and adherence tobusiness requirements.
Delivered projects on time and within budget, achieving estimated savings of $0.5 million through optimized solutions and processimprovements.
Recognized for reliable and resilient delivery management, consistently exceeding stakeholder expectations.

Aug 2007 - Dec 2015

Forensics, Audit & Business IT | DFS, Audits & Strategic Portfolio Management

Ford IT India (Chennai, IN)

Held various roles in Digital Forensics, IT Audit, and Portfolio Management, demonstrating expertise in IT security, risk management, andproject delivery.
Played a key role in ensuring the integrity, security, and compliance of Ford's IT systems and processes.
Successfully investigated and resolved over 20 sensitive digital forensics cases, ensuring data integrity and security.
Conducted IT audits for Ford and its affiliates globally, assessing technology infrastructure, applications, and processes for compliance andrisk management.
Managed a portfolio of finance IT projects, securing funding and resources for initiatives totaling $10 million.
Successfully recovered critical digital evidence, contributing to the resolution of sensitive investigations.
Identified and mitigated potential IT risks, strengthening security posture and ensuring compliance with industry standards.
Secured funding and resources for strategic IT initiatives, enabling the successful delivery of projects aligned with business objectives.

Sep 2003 - Aug 2007

Telecom, Mobile, ISP, Customer Ser. & Network Security Engineer | Infra

NSE TECH, DISHNET DSL & HCLINFOSYSTEMS

Held various technical roles across NSE Tech, Dishnet DSL, and HCL Infosystems, gaining valuable experience in telecommunications,network security, ISP management, and customer service.
Demonstrated strong technical skills and a commitment to delivering high-qualityservice in fast-paced environments.
Managed the telecommunications infrastructure at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), ensuring high availability and performance for criticaltrading operations.
Implemented and maintained security firewalls, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and intrusion detection systems (IDS) to protect NSE'strading network from cyber threats.
Managed ISP management at Dishnet DSL, providing reliable internet services to customers and resolving technical issues efficiently.
Contributed to the implementation of Tata Mobile's network infrastructure, expanding coverage and improving service quality.

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Educational Journey

Ph.D in Artifical Intelligence
Apr-2024 - Ongoing
VELS INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & ADVANCED STUDIES (VISTAS), Chennai
M.Sc CyberForensics and Information Security
2022 - 2023
Madras University, Chennai
Strategy, Value Chain Operations & Innovation
2015 - 2016
MIT SLOAN School Of Management, Boston, MA, USA
BE (Electronics)
2000 - 2003
Pune University, Pune

Professional Expertise

Technical Expertise

Cloud Computing

DevSecOps

Platform Engineering

Cybersecurity

IT Governance

Agile Methodologies

Data Analytics

IT Infrastructure

Project Management

Digital Transformation

Career Attributes

Communication

Leadership

Teamwork

Problem-Solving

Conflict Management

Analytical Skills

Adaptability

Strategic Thinking

Mentoring

Time Management

Aspirations

"Aspiring to lead technology and digital transformations for large organizations through innovation and leadership, thereby driving businesses toward sustainable growth and technological excellence."