Jason Kelland

Hydra Lynx Ltd is a startup offering financial trading platforms for retail algorithm traders

• Achieved revenue growth targets in year one for this startup
• Created customer service diversification strategies, to expand offerings beyond England to European customers
• Implemented business strategies, increasing revenue and effectively targeting new markets.
• Strengthened customer relationships with regular communication, timely platform upgrade delivery, and high-quality services (100% customer retention in year one)
• Expanded market presence through successful negotiation of key partnerships across in Europe and Singapore.
• Launched 2 new innovative products/services that captured new market share while maintaining competitive pricing structures;
• Directed business transformation project moving the base of operations from UK to Portugal for operational and tax efficiencies;
• Devised and implemented innovative digital and referral marketing campaigns to promote new services and retain existing customers (50% of new customer in year one have been through referrals)
• Documented processes and drafted SOPs to comply with regulations and company policies.

• The Digital Fast Lane, is a Digital transformation division of Nedbank ( leading South African bank)
• Worked across sales, marketing and partnerships to launch and build a new market leading digital platform brand (Avo by Nedbank)
• Part of the founding team of leaders focussing on Commercialisation and Go To Market delivery programmes;
• Instrumental in driving company-wide culture shift towards embracing innovation and adaptability, ultimately resulting in more agile behaviour across the business;
• Designed partnership strategies around key Customer Value Propositions including transactional banking retention benefits, credit card offer bundling, and business banking partnerships;
• Project Managed 'Avo by Nedbank' brand conceptualisation, design and launch;
• Hired, trained and launched the Avo Business Sales Team capability (over 50 people strong);
• Hired and managed an in-house Digital Marketing Agency for Avo, including copywriters, designers, digital video creation, social media, public relations, and campaign management;
• Collaborated with key stakeholders across the bank to integrate the offering into core banking products and services;
• Increased brand awareness by developing and implementing strategic marketing campaigns.
• Hired and managed a team of 16 marketing professionals for successful product launches and promotions.
• Enhanced customer engagement with targeted social media strategies and content creation.
• Established strong relationships with key industry influencers to elevate brand reputation.
• Marketing budget management (R40m/year), ensuring optimal allocation of resources for maximum return on investment.
• Implemented data-driven decision-making processes to guide innovative marketing strategies - implemented daily cross-functional stand ups to review data (acquisition, drop-offs, customer engagement paths, digital channel engagement etc) from across the platform highlighting successes and ensuring teams were focussed on the right corrective actions
• Collaborated with business sales teams to develop integrated partner campaigns that increased overall revenue growth and improved customer satisfaction
• Completed, submitted and presented monthly reports to C-Suite executives, highlighting all campaigns, sales activity, digital engagement metrics, and key customer insights - the report was used as a benchmark in reporting and included in investment case packs to Group Executives
• Developed comprehensive financial models to support executive decision-making and drive revenue growth.
• Designed innovative solutions to complex business problems, resulting in improved customer acquisition and retention levels (platform growth exceeded 1m net new customers to the bank within the first year).
• Managed strategic partnerships with external agencies, ensuring successful project delivery within time and budget constraints.

• After an extensive period working in Africa, I was seconded to help the company establish a professional PMO environment within their Enterprise Business Services (technology) division
• Responsible for managing the Programme Management Office (PMO) and Chief of Staff to the Group CTO;
• Implemented PMI into the PMO to deliver world-class change projects into the organisation;
• Managing and chairing the Demand Management forum across the business (project pipeline optimisation);
• Managed the portfolio of incoming projects from Sub-Saharan Africa business entities (on average over 100+ projects were running at any one time);
• Oversight of multi-year program delivery within the constraints of agreed scope, schedule, functionalities, and budget;
• Establishment of a strategy of continuous risk management, enabling proactive decision making and actions throughout the program life cycle;
• Managed stakeholder expectations from C-Suite through to executives of the various Multichoice business units;
• Financial management – including administration of financial tracking and performance across all key projects (such as savings realised, new growth, etc.);
• Communication and reporting of EBS-wide project status to leadership and senior management;
• Streamlined project management processes by implementing agile methodologies and improving cross-functional team communication.
• Enhanced project delivery efficiency by optimizing resource allocation, reducing waste, and addressing bottlenecks.
• Mentored junior project managers in best practices, fostering a culture of continuous learning within the team.
• Improved stakeholder satisfaction by maintaining transparent communication channels and providing regular progress updates.
• Championed process improvement initiatives by identifying areas of inefficiency and proposing innovative solutions for optimization.
• Spearheaded change management efforts during organizational transformations to minimize disruption while achieving desired outcomes efficiently.

• Starting out in a strategic Project Manager role, I worked for Group to rollout an Africa wide retail strategy
• Due to exceptional delivery I was promoted to Head of Sales & Distribution Africa
• Responsible for aligning and coordinating 16 countries to a single sales & distribution strategy;
• Comprehensive oversight and input to legal agreements with multi-national retail groups, negotiation of in-country distribution and logistics capabilities, and implementation of multi-country operational frameworks;
• Strong collaboration and partnership with in-country leadership to drive the corporate growth objectives;
• Financial Management of the $50m Sales rebate budget for key retail accounts;
• Key Projects and Achievements Rollout of 16,000 direct sales points across 16 countries within 3 years;
• Achieved annual sales of over 2m decoders across Sub-Saharan Africa
• Signed collaboration deals across Africa, for product bundling, retail cooperation, payment solutions, and joint product development;
• Key relationship manager of strategic partners (including Samsung, LG, Hisense and Sinotech) for the Africa business;
• Growth of Customer service agency network (over 400%) in key locations, through my own Program of work called Service Channel Partners (SCP);
• Increased sales revenue by implementing innovative marketing strategies and optimizing team performance.
• Expanded market share with targeted sales initiatives and strategic partnerships.
• Delivered engaging presentations at industry events, showcasing company offerings
• Conducted regular territory analyses to ensure optimal resource allocation and maximum coverage of target markets.
• Optimized pricing strategies by monitoring competitor activities, analyzing market trends, and considering internal cost structures for profitability maximization.
• Conducted team meetings to reinforce goals and objectives and set clear expectations about policies and procedures.
• Coached and counseled sales personnel, assisting with individual selling efforts and helping sales representatives reach targets.
• Recruited and hired top-level talent to add value and expertise to sales department.

• Contract Programme Manager on a company wide business transformation project (including the specification, configuration and installation of an enterprise system to manage Trading and Business Operations – SAP)
• Management of multiple 3rd party SAP vendors and consultancies in their provision of professional services to Grindrod Trading;
• Development and execution of the business case supporting the companies 10 year strategic growth plan;
• Day to day management of all project activity and co-ordination with the Group Project Office and external Project Assurance teams;
• Working with key stakeholders and executives to agree a set of measurable benefits to be realised as part of the delivery;
• Financial management of the end to end project delivery (business change and technology delivery);
• Provided strategic guidance on complex technical issues, enabling Grindrod executives to make informed decisions based on expert analysis.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop integrated technology solutions that aligned with business goals.
• Built strong relationships with key stakeholders, fostering open communication channels for successful project outcomes.
• Championed effective change management by engaging with end-users, providing training resources, and offering ongoing support during technology transitions.
• Contributed ideas and suggestions in team meetings and delivered updates on deadlines, designs, and enhancements.
• Communicated and explained business requirements to 3rd party vendors to understand and implement functional demands.

• Derivco designs and develops trailblazing technology for Microgaming, one of the world's biggest suppliers of online gaming
• I joined Derivco on a temporary basis after relocating back to South Africa
• Management of a portfolio of projects across the Back Office and Banking environments, ranging in size from medium to large;
• Projects include PCI Compliance, Land Based gaming rollouts across South American markets, 3rd Party integration (of gaming machines) and regulated market compliance (legal and statutory compliance);
• Performance management of Agile and Waterfall (PMI) based development teams, ranging in size from 5-10 people per team (matrix management)
• Contributor to best practices within the company in relation to PMO functions, including roles and responsibilities of Agile team members, software delivery cycles and deployment best practices, and governance;
• Extensive external stakeholder management and reporting, verbal and written;
• Led cross-functional teams for successful project delivery within scope, schedule, and budget constraints.
• Developed comprehensive project plans, identifying risks and mitigation strategies for timely completion.
• Implemented change management processes to accommodate evolving project requirements while minimizing disruptions.
• Collaborated with business analysts to gather requirements, ensuring projects met client needs and expectations.
• Ensured compliance with industry regulations by staying current on changes in legislation or guidelines relevant to projects'' scopes.
• Presented regular status reports to executive leadership, providing insights into progress made toward achieving key milestones.
• Nurtured strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, building trust and credibility that facilitated smooth collaboration on shared goals.
• Facilitated workshops to collect project requirements and user feedback.

• D&B (NYSE: DNB) is the world’s leading commercial credit risk rating agency, with headquarters in New Jersey, USA
• The company has a global presence with annual revenues in excess of $3 Billion and over 5,000 employees
• Reported to the CTO and directly responsible for the largest Agile development team in Ireland (50 onshore and 100+ offshore );
• Responsible for the operational and technical transition of a $500M revenue Global Risk Platform (DNBi) from San Mateo, California, to DBIS in Dublin;
• Areas of responsibility included, Software Development (SCRUM teams), Database Development and Administration, Business Analysis, Quality Assurance, Build and Release Management, Service Management, Infrastructure, Project Management and Financial Controls;
• Complete end to end responsibility for the both the strategic and tactical decision making to shut down and transition the operations in San Mateo;
• Key Projects and Achievements Significantly reduced the on-going operational costs (40%) of the maintenance and development on the platform in line with strategic corporate goals;
• Program management of the delivery of 7 major transition projects (including the governance framework) that delivered the overall objectives 3 months ahead of schedule and 25% under approved budget;
• Renegotiated with global customers and account managers, on Service Delivery Levels and Maintenance contracts (due to the location change and major overhaul of the operations division to reduce cost)
• Managed cross-functional teams for successful project completion within deadlines and budgets.
• Developed strategic plans, setting clear objectives and achievable milestones for the team.
• Implemented risk management strategies to mitigate potential barriers to project success.
• Optimized resource allocation, effectively balancing priorities and managing competing demands.
• Established strong relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring support for program initiatives.
• Led change management efforts, supporting staff through transitions and promoting buy-in for new initiatives.
• Conducted comprehensive program evaluations, identifying areas for improvement and recommending actionable solutions.
• Streamlined communication channels to facilitate efficient collaboration among team members and stakeholders.
• Addressed and resolved technical, financial, and operational concerns by working with team members and directors.
• Collaborated with business leadership to set priorities based on business needs, resource capacity and risk exposure.

• D&B (NYSE: DNB) is the world’s leading commercial credit risk rating agency, with headquarters in New Jersey, USA
• The company has a global presence with annual revenues in excess of $3 Billion and over 5,000 employees
• Reported to the European Technology Development Director and responsible for delivery of technology and business solutions across Europe;
• Full range of Programme and Project management best practices (Planning, scheduling, risk management, communications, quality management)
• Worked extensively with executive leadership and external performance coaches to design and implement an Employee Satisfaction programme, which directly contributed to individual productivity gains and improved team commitment;
• Followed PRINCE2 and MSP methodologies to plan and deliver world-class projects and programmes within D&B;
• Key Projects and Achievements Project Optimiser: Batch delivery system, which produced measurable performance improvements, revenue gains and cost reductions against the existing mainframe based systems
• The new Oracle grid based system was the first real-time batch delivery system to be implemented in D&B and to this day is the de-facto baseline batch system;
• Barclays Credit Management System: Worked closely with the customers IT team over a period of 3 years to deliver an end to end integrated Java/XML based Credit Management solution
• The project helped ease and facilitate the path to the UK business signing one of the largest data deals in 2009;
• UK Companies Act: Program managed the introduction of the UK Companies Act (2006)
• The legislation resulted in many of D&B's legacy systems falling foul of the Act, and the data repositories becoming defunct
• I managed the programme and 6 PMs, in the largest IT project in 25 years in D&B UK.

• Realwave Media specialised in contract Consulting, Programme and Project Management
• Specialist in Supply Chain Logistics and Business Process Reengineering
• Consulted to key customers on ERP implementations, specifically in the domain of Warehouse/Inventory management, Import/Export, Stock Control, Sales Modules, and Financial System Integration;
• Introduced an integrated stock pick system to a large 3rd party logistics provider and consulted on a number of areas including warehouse layout optimisation, process improvements for stock efficiency, and JIT ordering;
• Project managed the design, development and implementation of a large integrated B2B ecommerce platform across a base of over 150 customers
• The B2B platform produced measurable improvements in stock control, reordering processes, pick and pack operations, and debtor collections;
• Managed several national customer accounts, with responsibilities including pipeline management, account growth and product fulfilment;
• Developed innovative strategies for clients, resulting in increased revenue and business growth.
• Conducted thorough market research and analysis, providing valuable insights for client decision making.
• Provided ongoing support to clients post-implementation, ensuring long-term success of implemented solutions.
• Evaluated client needs and expectations, establishing clear goals for each consulting engagement.
• Managed client relationships through regular check-ins and updates on project progress.
• Facilitated workshops with stakeholder groups to gain consensus on priorities and approaches for tackling identified issues or opportunities.

• MVA Consultancy provides advice on transport and other policy areas, to central, regional and local government, agencies, developers, operators and financiers
• A diverse group of results-oriented people, we are part of a 350-strong team worldwide
• Through client business planning, customer research and strategy development we create solutions that work for real people in the real world
• Reported to the IT Director; Principal Consultant deployed to the European Commissions 4th Framework based in Belgium;
• Worked with Dr Tim Wood (IT Director MVA Ltd) on a number of high profile international Intelligent Transport Systems project proposals in Europe and Asia;
• Key Projects and Achievements TRIDENT
• Nominated to represent the TRIDENT consortium on TPEG (Transport Protocol Experts Group) based in Geneva, Switzerland
• Worked to harmonise multi-modal XML based data standards in this multi-million pound initiative to develop RDS across Europe;
• Xchange Technologies: Responsible for the launch of an internal project/business called XChange Technologies, attracting the attention of the UK Dept Of Transport and several leading businesses in the sector
• XChange Technologies was a breakthrough in the way a research oriented technology could be adopted mainstream utilising a hosted licence model with local integration;
• Developed comprehensive strategies with key stakeholders to drive organizational growth and success.
• Managed large-scale projects, ensuring timely completion within budget constraints.
• Led cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality results on complex assignments.
• Implemented innovative solutions to address challenges and enhance business performance.
• Delivered exceptional presentations for C-level executives, showcasing project progress and results.
• Collaborated with subject matter experts to develop best practices and industry-leading methodologies.
• Served as a trusted advisor for private and public clients navigating complex industry landscapes.
• Participated in industry conferences, staying up-to-date on current trends and emerging technologies.

• Southern Focus Consulting was established in 1994 in Durban, South Africa, as a leading empowerment IT, Business and Financial Consulting services firm
• Reported to the CEO and had responsibility for the Microsoft Development and Consulting division;
• Built-up and managed a multi-disciplinary software development division from the ground up;
• In conjunction with major projects, I managed the division, and had 4 junior Project Managers running countless smaller IT Software Developments in technologies such as SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft;
• Optimized resource allocation for multiple projects, resulting in timely deliveries and increased customer satisfaction.
• Managed a cross-functional team of developers, QA analysts, and UX designers to create high-quality software products.
• Improved overall project efficiency by setting clear goals, milestones, and expectations for the development team.
• Mentored junior developers through regular performance reviews and one-on-one coaching sessions, fostering professional growth.
• Established strong relationships with stakeholders to ensure alignment of business objectives with software development efforts.
• Coordinated product releases by collaborating closely with marketing, sales, and support teams to maximize impact in the market.
• Reduced time-to-market for new features by adopting an iterative approach to software development based on user feedback loops.
• Evaluated emerging industry trends, technologies, and best practices to inform strategic decisions regarding future projects or product enhancements.
• Championed a culture of innovation within the development team by encouraging experimentation with new technologies or approaches to problem solving.
• Presented project updates during executive meetings to maintain transparency around progress towards key objectives while addressing any concerns raised by leadership stakeholders.
• Balanced competing priorities and resource constraints to deliver optimal results within the context of project timelines and budgetary restrictions.

• Managed a software development team of 6 people, and had multi-million VC funded budgets to research and develop high volume 3rd party e-commerce processing systems;
• Designed and implemented the core transactional hub of a cutomized e-commerce provider in Coldfusion 4;
• Managed IT projects which involved integrating client back end inventory systems into proprietary transactional B2B and B2C systems;
• Developed a partnership with Thawte Security in Cape Town to provide digital security and online encryption technologies for outsourced ecommerce;
• Delivered high-quality presentations to stakeholders, effectively communicating project objectives and results.
• Established trusted partnerships with key industry influencers, expanding the company''s network of resources and contacts.
• Delivered outstanding service to clients to maintain and extend relationship for future business opportunities.
• Developed comprehensive project plans for successful execution and timely completion of projects.
• Implemented risk mitigation strategies to minimize potential issues and ensure smooth project progression.

• Project Managed the design and development, from of a new ERP system for this leading footwear manufacturer in Durban;
• The projects main objective was to remove the companies dependency on the legacy custom written Informix based system;
• The project involved deep sessions with sector experts on footwear stock/inventory and manufacturing, sales and purchases processes, as there were no off the shelf solutions available at this time;
• My primary role was to provide the small in-house team with leadership and project structure, and work with internal stakeholders to ensure all nuances of this highly complex business were taken into consideration in the design;

• Supported a small team of network technicians to support the Johannesburg based business team;
• Hands on management of the Novell Network Infrastructure;
• Developed vendor relationships and participated in Service Level Agreement negotiations;
• Provided technical and leadership support on a large infrastructure project to migrate the software and infrastructure of DTTI SA from Novell Netware 3.11 to the Active Directory based 4.01;
• Participated in the design of a national Active Directory structure for a NetWare 4.01 implementation across the national network with the support of external consultants;

• Network technician for the Durban and Johannesburg based offices with specific duties to maintain the Windows and SCO-UX networks;
• Network and desktop support for 300 users in the Durban office with remote and call centre support for 200 Johannesburg based users;