Michael Okwusogu

Michael Okwusogu London, UK • --• LinkedIn Senior Financial Services Executive Performance-driven executive with 15+ years of extensive experience driving operational excellence. Demonstrated success spearheading operational and cultural transformations, maximising bottom-line savings, and driving profitability through effective and right-fit digital transformation and utilisation of data management and analytics. Proven expertise in directing all facets of operations with demonstrated success in developing and executing strategies to drive global alignm ent, standardisation, and process improvement. Well-versed in directing the development and implementation of the operational infrastructure and processes. Knack for advancing company’s mission, vision, and effectiveness by overseeing core business operations and working to strengthen the overall operational and financial health of the organisation. Expert at optimising internal processes and increasing organisational cohesiveness and profitability. Forward-thinking leader, an expert in digital transformation and building, directing, and training cross-functional teams through transparency and open feedback. Areas of Expertise • • • • Business Operations Management Strategic Planning & Execution Organisational Leadership & Effectiveness Business Technology • • • • Continuous Performance Improvement Digital Transformation Risk & Change Management Data Management & Analytics • • • • Stakeholder Management Project Management Team Building & Leadership Decision-making Headline career achievements • Global Project manager for LIBOR Transition across the Group comprising 3,000 employees in 15 countries worldwide. • Reduced sales quality issues by 80% and ID&V quality control issues by 75% by introducing a dashboard offering an enterprise-wide view across business lines and support functions. • Rolled-out the group best-practice risk management framework and delivered thought leadership in risk identification, management, and resolution among all business units. • Introduced lean management risk mitigation strategies and “follow the sun” model that enabled the global prime finance business unit to generate $314M in additional revenue, reduced drop-in fails by 80%-90%, headcount by 50%, and wastage by 30%. • Successful delivery of multiple complex regulatory change programmes such as LIBOR Transition, CSDR, GDPR, China Connect, MIFID, CASS, SOX, Dodd-Frank, Saudi Capital Markets , TARGET2, Transaction reporting. • Devised, drafted and implemented enterprise-wide data management office and governance framework in HSBC Saudi Office aligned to Group best practice. First office of its kind in HSBC Saudi Arabia. Career Achievements ValueX Partners Ltd, London, UK & Dubai, UAE 2021 – 2023 Director Business Management and Board Advisory support to clients helping them decipher and navigate the evolving world of digital, data, technology, Ai/ML with its effect on their ability to prosper. Also support firms requiring operational transformation. VXP designs and implements digitally engineered transformative operating models hardwired to the future for today. • • • Contributed actual business execution experience to EXCO and Boards to achieve fulfil strategic objectives and spearhead all phases of change and transformation projects from inception to completion. Designed a best in class framework for operational and performance management excellence on a sustainable platform, consistently. Established B2B2C tech start up at early growth stage with strategy, project management, product design/management and making them investor ready by providing management and board advisory services. Bank ABC Group, Manama, Bahrain Chief Operating Officer, Group Treasury & Financial Markets 2019 – 2021 Page 1|4 Directed multi-year business transformation initiative for the group treasury and financial markets and reported overall activities to the Group Treasurer. Spearheaded a new electronic FX trading platform rollout, including LIBOR transition, while serving as global project manager. Anticipated, captured and implemented new industry and regulatory changes across financial services. Defined and executed strategic goals. Managed $100M in revenue to predict and inform the best times and ways to maximise revenue generation based on customer behaviours. • • • • Delivered exceptional leadership support in wide-ranging review of market data services cost base of $4M annually while devising strategies to achieve $730K collective savings in three years, with first-year $243K savings. Headed the identification and onboarding of a new market data provider with superior support and quality for specific products and international markets. Worked with Group Risk to devise and implement industry standard Compliance, AML, KYC and due diligence business unit governance framework and infrastructure as well as revamped IT support, change management, and new product development structures. Oversight of Markets operations unit supporting Group Treasury & Financial markets business unit via greater cohesiveness and alignment on core objectives and goals. • Improved income-generating capabilities, franchise view, cross-marketing, and client management processes in coordination with wholesale banking. • Project Manager for eFX global trading platform driving through standardisation and operational efficiency to increase sales and trading revenue in a more coordinated fashion. 1st phase saw FM Sales revenue increase approx. 10% in 1 quarter. Global Project manager for LIBOR Transition across the Group comprising 3,000 employees in 15 countries worldwide and transaction reporting. • HSBC Securities Services, London, UK Senior Business Analyst, Securities Services 2018 – 2019 Analysed business processes as well as identified opportunities and strategies to improve business efficiency and reported directly to the Global Head of HSS Operations. Created and facilitated process design changes by conducting business and systems process analysis and design at a complex level; focusing on quality improvement and data management. Led business process and workflow mapping/analysis using data capture and modelling technologies, methods and tools. • Designed a division operating model focusing on generating significant trading desk revenue, increasing assets under management, as well as developing greater governance, transparency, and productivity. • Advice senior management on their operational growth strategy globally. Devised and articulated 3-5 year operational strategy across their geographies. Identified talent gap as a burning bridge and advised on devising and implementing a robust, flexible, and adaptable talent management and enterprise wide learning and development strategy better supporting their growth objectives. • HSBC Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, KSA Chief Operating Officer -) 2015 – 2018 Headed root and branch transformation programmes to improve business activity. Delivered strategic direction in the effective management of T+2 trading and settlement cycle, qualified foreign investor trading capabilities, and independent custody model. Commended by the executive leadership in timely addressing internal challenges surrounding lack of governance and common goals causing enterprise-level legacy issues. • Implemented cost management efforts, lean management principles, automation, and waste reduction strategies that increased efficiency, saved $2M costs, and achieved $866K improvement in operational losses. • • Earned promotion from Head of Operations to COO position for delivering exceptional services across the department. Reduced sales quality issues by 80% and ID&V quality control issues by 75% by introducing a dashboard offering an enterprise-wide view across business lines and support functions. • Implemented a compliance & conduct culture through training and development, peer support and robust financial and risk metrics, Led transformation effort and enforced improvement strategies that minimised all audit issues by 80%. • • • • • Generated a 25% reduction in annual ICT projects and implemented enforced robust governance/risk management via the establishment of metrics by steering a COO office reorganisation. Enhanced IT governance and control by transitioning front-to-back trading and post-trade management capability through delivery of an 18-month programme as part of entire bank's IT digital strategy. Maximised client satisfaction rate by delivering top-notch services, revolving marketing towards capital markets, and redefining strategies across corporate branding, CSR, vision, and joint marketing with the wider Group. Introduced training programmes and individual coaching for the capacity building and professional development of staff. Page 2|4 • Successfully Delivered Saudi Capital Market liberalization initiatives e.g., T+2 trading and settlement cycle, Qualified Foreign Investor trading capabilities, an Independent custody model and key corporate structures as part of MSCI and FTSE index inclusion. Dodd-Frank, SOX, CSDR. Head of Operations -) Steered a highly-qualified team of 40 staff and managed SAR17M budget to apply transformation capability by revamping IT, operations, procurement, and CRE as well as resolving systemic/structural FCC and FCR audit issues. Plugged leadership vacuum and improved employee skillsets. Oversaw the formation of IT team and implementation of the CRM system. Enforced performance management metrics to increase staff productivity. Drafted procedures/desk instruction manuals. • • Rationalised operations headcount from 37 to 21, initiated smart goals, and implemented career development plans that saved $614K cost annually and earned recognition as a Top Performer and Role Model. Achieved 45% increase in project deliverables by reducing the book of outsourced IT work by 28%. • Conducted company-wide assessment and secured management buy-in through a well-designed strategy briefing paper, to efficiently close all regulatory concerns within the six-month timeframe. • • Drove positive outcomes by building the middle office and restructuring the operations department. Rolled-out the group best-practice risk management, compliance, due diligence, KYC and AML framework and delivered thought leadership in risk identification, management, and resolution among all business units. • Championed local regulatory ring-fencing and segregation requirements between the Saudi entities and HSBC. Established an entity segregation committee to resolve issues plaguing both entities through metrics and deadlines. HSBC Bank, Global Banking & Markets, London, UK Manager, Prime Finance Operations 2008 – 2014 Played a key role as Global Manager for prime finance collateral management across sites in London, New York, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong, with additional responsibility for the South African collateral management book. Provided strategic leadership to a team of 19 members to apply industry best practices by developing the re-engineering programme for worldwide rollout. Built a nine-person operations team in Kuala Lumpur to spearhead collateral management operations. • • • • • • Achieved $200B in AUM at triparty agents and increased AUM by $187.5B from $12.5B, within only six years by upskilling staff and optimising collateral management capabilities. Slashed $1.6B in collateral optimisation of unused assets by identifying $4M triparty agent charge as well as unnecessary payments of $250,000 in custody fees. Introduced lean management risk mitigation strategies and “follow the sun” model that enabled the global prime finance business unit to generate $314M in revenue, reduced drop-in fails by 80%-90%, headcount by 50%, and wastage by 30%. Led and successfully restructured market data services with third party vendors realising multiyear cost efficiency gains at minimum 20%. Secured #7 spot in international securities finance global survey from #23 in year one and maintained top ten position. Successfully Delivered the following Capital Market liberalization and regulatory initiatives inclusive of communications and engagement strategies China & HK: China Connect, Thailand: Foreign brokerage onshore access. Taiwan: Foreign brokerage onshore access. Europe: Target2, EMIR, MIFID. UK: CASS, UK settlements to T+0.Brazil: Stock borrow and loan local market access. Global: Dodd-Frank, SOX, AML, FCC, KYC, FATCA, CRS, UK IGA Additional Experience - Head of Collateral Trading & Financing (2007 – 2008), Calyon Financial, London Manager, Equity Finance Trade Support (2004 – 2007), Royal Bank of Canada Capital Markets, London Education Executive Master of Business Administration Bayes Business School, City University, London Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Government with Law London Guildhall University, London Page 3|4 Certifications Advanced Management & Leadership Programme Leadership, Management, Business, Innovation/AI/blockchain, Fintech, and Social Impact Professional Associations, Awards, & Community Involvement Bank ABC Group: Member, Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary of various Governance, Risk, and Management Committees HSBC Bank: KSA Member & Chairman of various Governance, Risk, Management Committees and MANCOM, UK Member, Operations Management, Global Equity Finance Operations, and Collateral Trading & Financing Committees Technical Skills Bloomberg, Reuters, Global 1, SBUA, Advent, Equilend, Pirum, Triparty platforms, Teams, BlueJeans, Asana, Discord, Slack, Innovation and ideation tools, Google Suite, and MS Office Suite. Securities borrowing / lending & trading / collateral management systems . Page 4|4