Neelesh Thakare has over 20 years of experience as a Programme Director and Programme Manager, delivering complex ERP programmes globally. He has a track record of successfully managing multi-million dollar budgets and building high-performing teams. Thakare is currently seeking a position leading large-scale transformation programmes using technologies like SAP, Google, and IBM.

1. Neelesh Thakare - Programme Director / Programme Manager
Neelesh Thakare
Programme Director | Programme Manager
16 The Courtyard, St John’s Hill Road, Woking, Surrey GU21 7QX
07872 635773 | n_thakare@hotmail.com | LinkedIn
Profile
A dynamic, highly motivated and accomplished Programme Manager who produces effective plans to deliver
well defined programmes that fully meet business requirements and objectives across diverse geographies.
Builds high performance teams by establishing and sustaining a good rapport with team members and at ease
when working in multi-cultural environments. Adept at managing multi-million dollar budgets.
Over 20 years experience inmanagementconsulting intransformational change and programme delivery
An adaptable and versatile Programme Director with refined communication and interpersonal qualities
Possesses wide industry experience covering oil and gas, automotive and chemical sectors
Looking to secure a position as Programme Director or Programme Manager where there is the opportunity to
lead and deliver complex ERP programmes with global deployment.
Skills Matrix
Programme management|programme direction|programme planning|programme delivery | full programme
lifecycle | project management | strategic thinking | strategic planning | business transformation | IT
transformation |stakeholdermanagement|stakeholder development | stakeholder engagement | operational
management | commercial management | P&L management | leadership | change management | service
management|service delivery |Divestment| ITIL | SAP technologies | Waterfall | Agile | client management |
clientdevelopment|clientengagement|processimprovement |problemresolution |issue resolution | budget
management|budget control | team management | team building | team development | team engagement |
staff management | staff development | people management | management consulting | performance
management | training | negotiations | consultancy | conflict resolution | ERP | Microsoft | Google | IBM |
Personal Attributes
Dedicated, reliable and trustworthy Programme Manager with a robust work ethic
Diligent, resourceful and approachable individual who has acute attention to detail
Passionate and enthusiastic Programme Director with a determined attitude to see programmes through
to a successful conclusion
Career Detail
BG Group, UK Dec 2013 - Apr 2016
Programme Manager, IT Landscape Remediation Upgrade Programme Oct 2014 - Apr 2016
Programme Manager whotookfull ownershipfor supporting business operations / transformation programmes
using the latest technologies with the successful delivery of assorted upgrade programmes of SAP, TIBCO and
Google SearchAppliance acrossacomplex ITlandscape. Introduced AgileandWaterfall methodologies to ensure
the on-time delivery of upgrades and deployed the upgraded landscape with zero downtime or disruption to
business operations. Defined a robust test strategy with 3 integration cycles and one UAT cycle for delivery
assurance and leveraged current regression test packs. Identified upgrade-related scenarios, new scenarios
identified by the project and impacted enhancements through the BAU environment.
 Cultivatedexcellentworkingrelations withstakeholders toensure theirbuy-inandinvolvementduringUAT
 Ensured the delivery of upgrade programmes with a 95% offshore model
 Compiled a multi-layer governance model to ensure seamless working as a cohesive team
 Initiated a design and change control board to identify the impact due to changes across the landscape
Programme Manager, Divestiture Programme Jul 2014 - Sep 2014
Programme Manager with the focus on defining and agreeing a unified approach on how to deliver IT
requirementswithregardto divestment / merger and acquisition evaluations. Headed up workshops to define

2. Neelesh Thakare - Programme Director / Programme Manager
the scope for differentscenarios andoptionsthenpresented theseoptionstothe divestiture governance council.
Led and managed the RFP process for vendor selection on all programmes.
 Engagedwithmergers,acquisitionsand legal teams to understand the specific requirements related to IT
 Defined a robust change management approach to ensure an early buy-in from stakeholders
 Led the approach for the creation of divestiture run book with options to work with business and IT
stakeholders
Programme Manager, IT Transformation Programme Dec 2013 - Jun 2014
Programme Manager whointroduced consistencyandclaritytodeliverthe successful designanddeploymentof a
single process framework across enterprise, E and P, trading, managed security services and infrastructure
applications. Demonstrated strategic planning to engage with business process owners, solution architects,
service owners and BAU support vendor teams through requirement gathering sessions in order to understand
and define the problem statement. Ensured an early buy-in and process adoption by conducting process
workshops with individual business functions.
 Deployed a governance model and change control board with representations from business / solution
architects and service owners to manage and control the change process deviation
 Ledthe modificationanddeploymentof the prevailing service management tool to support the process by
underpinning with a rigorous integration testing and UAT
 Process deployed to support enhancements from the complex IT landscape with SAP, Maximo, Procon,
Endur and Readsoft
IBM | BP UK Oct 2009 - Nov 2013
Programme Manager, Global SAP HR Deployment Programme Oct 2012 - Nov 2013
Primarily concentrated on managing a team across different HR deployments within the design, build and test
areas withresponsibility fordeliveringtobudget of $11m across 3 years based on the SAP HR global deployment
plan. Led a team of 80 across the UK, India and Malaysia to ensure on-time delivery across deployments.
 Achieved $4minthe costreductionof deploymentsby optimisingaresource profile fromanonsite delivery
model to an offshore model in India and Malaysia
 Leda successful IBMtransformationtodevise aprocessframework that created a scalable delivery model
across the UK, India and Malaysia
Programme Manager, Divestment Programme Mar 2012 - Sep 2012
Programme Manager accountable for defining the IT approach for different scenarios for divestment and led
business workshops in Portugal to understand requirements with different business functions.
 Created a winning team that delivered the project on time and to schedule
 Instigated a governance model through regular steering committee meetings
Programme Manager, IT Transformation Programme Nov 2009 - Feb 2012
Programme Manager instrumentalinformulatingastrategyforIT transformationtodelivertechnical services for
SAP programmes by standardising the delivery methods through a reliable, cost efficient and scalable delivery
model establishingschedule andqualitycontrolsandleveraging the offshore deliverymodel. Heavily involved in
the designof the target operatingmodel bycreatingdifferent technical services to deliver ABAP, basis, data and
testing services to different programmes across business segments. Led the creation of the target operating
model for demand and commercial management underpinned by strong processes and a robust governance
model. Developed and grew the contribution of IBMteams with comprehensive training and mentoring.
 Generated a revenue of $25/27m in year 1 increasing to $45m in year 2
 Headed up a team of 200 resources in the UK, the USA, India and Malaysia
 Programme managed a portfolio of $25m of SAP programmes across different business service lines
 Operational managementof technical andfunctional delivery of programmes through an offshore factory
model ensuringstandardised and repeatable delivery on time and quality to achieve significant business
and cost benefits
 Led and presented RFPs to negotiate work with different stakeholders

3. Neelesh Thakare - Programme Director / Programme Manager
Harley-Davidson UK - Project Manager Oct 2008 - Nov 2009
ProjectManager ona SAPimplementationacross Europe and Australia who motivated and supervised a diverse
team of 50 across the UK, the US and India while managing a $5m budget. Fully engaged with stakeholders to
define,measure anddrive businessvalue aswell asinitiatingengagementwithcountry business heads to ensure
clear communication and a successful change process. Set up a governance model to manage scope, change
control, risk and issue reporting, escalation, project communication and performance reporting.
 Conducteddesignworkshops toformulate asingle end-to-end design while taking country variations into
account in the legal, fiscal and regulatory areas
 Led the integration and testing of a solution linking vehicle management system, warranty and FSCM
 Delivered astrongcutoverstrategyand planfor simultaneous ‘go live’ across 9 countries and 3 time zones
Shell UK - Solution Architect Dec 2007 - Sep 2008
SolutionArchitect,responsible fordesignof IntercompanyprocessforLubricants,Marine andAviationbusinesses
within Shell Downstream
 LedFit Gap workshopstounderstandthe issuesinthe currentprocessworkingbusinesssolution architects
 Designed the new intercompany process working with solution architects across different business
segments
 Engaged with SAP Architects to implement changes in complex SAP environment
Accenture Consulting, Switzerland - Build Manager Sep 2005 - Aug 2007
Build Manager with direct responsibility for 75 consultants across Switzerland and India focused on a SAP
configurationandtechnical designfor aglobal template solution ona budget of $10m. Participated in country fit
gap workshops to understand process variations across the template. Established a factory in India delivering
configurationandcustomdevelopmentsandprovidedthe supportmodel foratechnical defect resolution during
test phases in the Americas and APAC region. Played a key role in critical decision-making with regards to
programme planning, budgeting, scheduling and delivery assurance.
 Designedanddelivered acomplex SAPpricingstrategyaspartof a global template deployedacrossEurope,
the Americas and Asia
 Led the delivery and deployment of internet sales processes as part of a global template
 Setup a governance model andperformance reportingtomanage budget,deliveryschedule andassurance
for rollouts across Europe, NAFTA, LATAMand APAC regions
 Responsible for the process and technical design of pricing strategy for the chemicals business
Satyam Consulting, Singapore - Senior Consultant Feb 2003 - Sep 2004
Deloitte Consulting, Netherlands - Managing Consultant Nov 2001 - Feb 2003
PriceWaterhouseCoopers,India - Principal Consultant May 1998 - Jan 2001
Coopers and Lybrand, India - Managing Consultant Dec 1997 - Apr 1998
Professional Development–APMG CertifiedAgileProjectManager|IBM CertifiedExpert, ManagingProjectsand
Programs | Certified SAP SD Consultant
Education and Qualifications – MBA | Bachelor of Engineering | Electrical
Hobbies and Interests - Away from the Programme Manager world I enjoy reading I have a keen interest in
outdoorsportswithspecificinterestinTennisandhave taken up cycling recently. Admittedly, I have just begun
to learn to swim.
References are available upon request