Julius Thuo Gachuru
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of ICT
Safaricom Investment Co-operative
02.2023 - Current
- Developing and implementing ICT strategies, policies, and procedures to drive business innovation and enhance customers and shareholders satisfaction
- Managing ICT systems, infrastructure, and capabilities with a focus on ensuring adequacy, security, scalability, and continuous availability
- Overseeing the end-to-end Business Central ERP implementation project, automating up to 95% of cooperative processes to improve operational efficiency
- Leading the development of the first-ever comprehensive Mobile App for the cooperative industry, driving digital transformation and innovation
- Building and managing relationships with third-party vendors, shareholders, and suppliers, while ensuring adherence to service level agreements (SLAs)
- Analyzing process automation needs across departments and recommending effective technology-driven solutions
- Enhancing ICT capabilities by fostering a culture that embraces modern technologies, managing risks, and delivering comprehensive user training and support
- Guiding and motivating the ICT team toward high performance and engagement to achieve organizational objectives
- Contributing to data protection and compliance efforts by formulating, registering, monitoring, and reviewing policies as part of the compliance committee
- Developing and implementing ICT budgets and strategies, ensuring alignment with board members and shareholder expectations
- Collaborating with executive leadership and Board to align technology strategies with overall business goals and objectives
- Driving innovation by identifying opportunities to leverage technology to create new products, services, and business models
- Leading change management initiatives to ensure successful adoption of new technologies and processes across the organization
Group ICT and Digital Manager
Magnate Ventures Limited
06.2020 - 01.2023
- Provided leadership for the IT Cross-Functional team and responsible for career development, appraisals, and team performance
- Lead Project Manager in the client project
- Some of the projects undertaken; Digital advertising infrastructure for EABL, Banking systems for NCBA among others
- Implemented policies and procedures related to network, hardware, and software acquisition, use, support, security, backup, and recovery
- Translate strategy into executable plans while motivating my team with clear direction by setting clear goals and KPIs each quarter
- Source and manage SLAs from our business partners and suppliers
- Provide sound advice and strategic direction to the management on ICT and related technologies
- Lead project manager in the customization of SAP ERP in the organization
- This includes tendering process, vetting, requirements gathering, scope management, quality, and risk mitigations
- The End-to-End ERP went live in Jan 2022
- Ensuring that company data in-storage, in-use, and in-transit is safe through sustainable ICT solutions and infrastructure
- Migration from webmail email system to Google workplace
- Installation and maintenance of CCTV, Access Control, clocking system, Intrusion Detection in the new 6 story office
- Infrastructure security management via FortiGate firewall administration and endpoint centralized security
Technical Manager
Pergamon Group
07.2018 - 05.2020
- Overall Project Manager for all its ICT projects countrywide
- Led both the hardware and software team in the organization
- A total of 20 team members with some working from Tanzania and Rwanda
- Worked with KRA as a supplier project manager in the implementation of the TIMs Fiscal devices
- Supporting the product development cycle and rolling out a strategy to the market
- E.g worked with a Bulgarian firm to develop a POS system for the Kenyan market
- Created and managed project implementation plans outlining schedules deliverables, milestones, budget, and resources
- Sourcing and management of consultants, sub-contractors, and vendors as and when necessary
- Performance and Talent management for the project team
- Formulation and enforcement of departmental policies and procedures
- Headed the Research and Development committee tasked with new product development and rollout in the market
- Data management and collaboration within the region; Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda
- Departmental strategy formulation and implementation
- Contract and SLA management with manufacturers and other partners
- Managed all customer touchpoint systems including the eCommerce website, social media, and other systems
Head of IT
Property Reality Company
05.2014 - 06.2018
- Developed the IT department from the ground up and formulated its policies and procedures
- Implemented a CRM system that automated 90% of the sales and customer relations processes
- Planning and overseeing the implementation of Microsoft Navision ERP and its integration to CRM and website
- Planning, design, and implementation of the first-ever online land buying and reselling portal which increased revenue by 30%
- Talent and performances management for the IT department's staff where the mean KPI score for the team was above 75%
- Development and implementation of the 5 years departmental and business strategy
- Trained of all staff on implemented systems, and any ICT knowledge gaps
- Installation and maintenance of CCTV, power back up, and alarm systems in our 4 offices located across the country
- Established an on and off-site data backup and formulation of a disaster recovery policy
- Digitized the HR processes via an HR and Payroll system which digitized 85% of the manual processes in phase one development
- Set up and maintenance of a state-of-the-art call center able to handle over 100 agents
- Migration to the office 365 platform and customization of collaborative tools
- Member of the organization’s innovation committee that spearheaded several product acquisitions and process re-engineering
- Ensured SLAs are adhered to by vendors and suppliers
- Generated board reports and presentations on the department’s performance against the set strategic plan
IT Administrator
Digital Den Limited
02.2013 - 04.2014
- Provided IT support to computer users within the office
- Network and system administration
- Regularly monitored software, hardware, security, and connectivity issues of the company
- Kept inventory of hardware and maintenance records
- Inducted and trained new staff on ICT use and governing policy
- Streamlined and enhanced the corporate accounting and operations system
- Consistently met deadlines and requirements for all production work orders
- Doubled up as the operations assistant
- Tendering and proposal writing for civil work projects
Timeline
Head of ICT
Safaricom Investment Co-operative
02.2023 - Current
Group ICT and Digital Manager
Magnate Ventures Limited
06.2020 - 01.2023
Technical Manager
Pergamon Group
07.2018 - 05.2020
Head of IT
Property Reality Company
05.2014 - 06.2018
IT Administrator
Digital Den Limited
02.2013 - 04.2014
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