VALI AHMED SHAIK
SENIOR DIGITAL SOLUTIONS EXPERT
Bahrain
Summary
A seasoned leader in the financial technology sector with over 23 years of work experience across India, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. I have worked for multiple prominent financial institutions, focusing on delivering high-profile technology projects that drive revenue growth, cost savings, and operational efficiencies while ensuring compliance with complex regulatory requirements. With a deep understanding of the intersection between innovation and commercial realities, I prioritize effective risk management to enable growth. I have a proven track record of enhancing compliance, governance, and regulatory alignment through practical technology solutions that mitigate legal, financial, operational, and reputational risks across major global jurisdictions. Building strong collaborative relationships is a key strength, as I serve as a trusted partner to demanding stakeholders and have an extensive network within the industry. Additionally, I add significant value to overall team performance by coaching and mentoring colleagues to improve their skills across a wide range of operational and technological competencies.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
2022
2022
years of post-secondary education
7
7
Certificates
2
2
Languages
Work History
Vice President, Digital Solutions
INVESTCORP
12.2018 - Current
- Hired initially as an AVP, securing promotion to VP in January 2024
- Responsible for defining, designing and implementing key strategic digital projects and programs across all areas of Investcorp's activities, working with internal business leaders, IT and external vendors to deliver a modern and 'fit for purpose' digital infrastructure
- Hired, motivated and led a team of 15, including both employees and vendors; managed a diverse group of Architects, Developers and Quality Assurance specialists, offering mentorship and guidance to reinforce their capabilities across a range of competencies
- Drove the modernisation of legacy platforms throughout Investcorp as a senior leader within the team; worked closely with colleagues as a genuine business partner to enhance multiple applications, covering the firm's operations globally in Bahrain, the USA, the UK, India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE
- Delivered 40 automations for a broad spectrum of systems, saving circa 15 man hours per month per process; implemented cutting edge Robotic Process Automations (RPA) and AI solutions from proof of concept to product selection and architecture design, and subsequently into implementation, replacing outdated manual tasks
- Improved data analysis, understanding and decision making for investment evaluation; devised and initiated an AI-driven solution for the front office, utilising a chat bot to create a user friendly interface to augment the existing research capability
- Strengthened data controls and compliance and enhanced accessibility; collaborated extensively with the Data Architecture team to design and build Investcorp's first data warehouse, centralising business critical material and generating more reliable access to information for every area of the firm
- Optimised functionality and operation of Investcorp's payment systems, especially with regard to KYC and AML; added 15 new modules out of a total of 29, working on systems built on the low code-based BPM application tool K2
- Improved cross-functional integration and alignment with challenging local and international regulations
- Ideated and assessed highly innovative digital initiatives for potential future implementation; conducted feasibility studies and market and competitor analyses on various AI initiatives, notably including the design of a prospective Blockchain solution for investment
- Migrated numerous platforms to the cloud, enhancing organisational agility and efficiency; managed specification and end-to-end operational transfers to the cloud, reducing costs and facilitating global scalability
- Notable successes included: Coupa for procurement, Concur SAP for expenses and corporate travel management, Salesforce and Digital Customer Onboarding portals for UHNW and institutional investors
- Other successful projects included: Quantum treasury system enhancements, along with system maintenance and support, Transformation of the Customer Asset Management system
Lead Business Analyst and Technology Partner
NATIONAL BANK OF FUJAIRAH
07.2015 - 11.2018
- Joined NBF with a varied remit across the bank's technology projects, overseeing enhancements for every part of the firm, including corporate, retail and Islamic banking divisions
- Managed 8 Business Analysts and Project Managers; planned and directed daily workflow, supporting individual and collective training and development to ensure appropriate skills to deliver the bank's technology priorities
- Deepened collaboration with individual units, removing siloes and upgrading outcomes; partnered closely with senior internal stakeholders, bridging the gap between the business and technology, translating on-the-ground commercial realities for engineers and architects, to devise workable enhancements and 360-degree solutions
- Led projects from inception to completion, scoping, selecting products and driving implementation; managed communication between IT, the business and vendors, modernising and enhancing legacy platforms and migrating them to the cloud where required
- Facilitated effective development and application support; worked with the dedicated support team, assisting with their understanding of business requirements and the technology framework to sustain the seamless running of crucial banking and operational applications
- Notable projects delivered included: T24, CRM, Credit Management System, Treasury/Fund Management, BPM, Internet Banking, Debit/Credit cards, ATM/CDM, ICCS, WPS, FTS, EIDA, Payment Gateway, HRMS and Mobile Banking, Customer Communication Management, VAT platforms, IFRS9, Compliance, AML and Behavioural Score
Program and Business Solutions Manager
MOBIBANC
05.2013 - 06.2015
- Hired into the 30-person projects and technology division, responsible for the provision of digital fintech solutions to a client base of banks, telcos and micro-finance institutions across the Middle East and Africa
- Secured multiple new business engagements, collaborating closely with the sales and relationship team; authored pitch books and marketing material, responded to RFP's and participated in client presentations
- Built strong partnerships with regulators, central banks and other interested parties across the region; notably, developed a high touch relationship with the Central Bank of West Africa
- Completed high profile projects for 4 telcos and a regional bank; acted as main point of contact for clients, providing mission critical solutions via a Multi Institution Mobile Wallet/Mobile Banking platform
- Rolled out a Business Intelligence system and Data Warehouse for an international bank with millions of customers across multiple countries
- Launched risk management and mobile commerce applications across the Middle East, West and East African regions
Research Development Manager
MODE HOLDINGS
09.2011 - 03.2013
Team Lead
SHARJAH ISLAMIC BANK
03.2011 - 08.2011
Development Manager
MODE HOLDINGS
04.2008 - 03.2011
Team Leader, Business Systems Development Division
ARAB NATIONAL BANK
03.2002 - 04.2008
Software Engineer
CITADEL HEALTH AND GE MEDICAL SYSTEMS
06.2000 - 02.2002
Programmer
PINNACLE BLUE CYBER TECH. PVT. LTD
09.1999 - 05.2000
Education
Integrated Programme - Business Analytics
Indian Institute of Management
Master of Computer Applications - undefined
Osmania University
Bachelor of Electronics - undefined
Acharya Nagarjuna University
Skills
Project Management
Certification
PRINCE2 Certified for Project Management
Management Expertise
- Project Management (Agile and Scrum)
- Business Analysis (In depth experience in Finance, Exchange and Banking Operations)
- Solution Architecture
- Vendor Management (RFP Evaluations, Commercial Negotiation, Delivery Management) and Stakeholder Management
- Communication and Conflict Management (Coaching, Mentoring and Leading)
- Budgeting and Alternative Analysis (Cost Analysis, Manage Cost, P&L for CAPEX/OPEX business models)
- Business Development (Sales coordination, RFP responses, Presentations)
- Account Management (RFP responses, client presentations, Solutioning and Implementation, single point of contact)
- Well versed with PMP and Prince2 project methodology
- Exposure to Six sigma concepts undergone training in GE
- Well versed with TOGAF, Agile, Scrum, Kanban, ITIL, COBIT-5
Hobbies
Playing Tennis and participating in Marathons are my hobbies to keep myself fit
Accomplishments
- Achieved Cloud Migration by completing modernization of legacy platforms with accuracy and efficiency.
- Collaborated with team of 30+ members in the development of Digital Banking platform.
Timeline
Vice President, Digital Solutions
INVESTCORP
12.2018 - Current
Lead Business Analyst and Technology Partner
NATIONAL BANK OF FUJAIRAH
07.2015 - 11.2018
Program and Business Solutions Manager
MOBIBANC
05.2013 - 06.2015
Research Development Manager
MODE HOLDINGS
09.2011 - 03.2013
Team Lead
SHARJAH ISLAMIC BANK
03.2011 - 08.2011
Development Manager
MODE HOLDINGS
04.2008 - 03.2011
Team Leader, Business Systems Development Division
ARAB NATIONAL BANK
03.2002 - 04.2008
Software Engineer
CITADEL HEALTH AND GE MEDICAL SYSTEMS
06.2000 - 02.2002
Programmer
PINNACLE BLUE CYBER TECH. PVT. LTD
09.1999 - 05.2000
Master of Computer Applications - undefined
Osmania University
Bachelor of Electronics - undefined
Acharya Nagarjuna University
Integrated Programme - Business Analytics
Indian Institute of Management
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