John Yew Meng Yong

Strategic Leadership:
• Developed IT Roadmaps and Budgets: Aligned technology with business strategies across the Asia Pacific region, ensuring cohesive planning and fiscal responsibility.

• Led Program and Project Governance: Established and enforced governance frameworks, ensuring proper control and comprehensive reporting for all initiatives.

• Curated Business Cases: Developed compelling business cases for technology investments, serving as a key representative on the business case review board alongside the CIO.

• Collaborated with C-Level Stakeholders: Engaged with C-suite executives on strategic investments and change management, driving impactful transformations.

Tactical Leadership:
• Guided Program Groups: Ensured alignment of program groups with the IT roadmap, facilitating strategic coherence.

• Spearheaded Workforce Upskilling: Led efforts to upskill a total of 150 employees across the Asia Pacific workforce, enhancing competencies and capabilities.

• Managed IT Reporting and Procurement: Directed IT reporting, budgeting, procurement, and contract management, promoting operational efficiency and fiscal responsibility.

• Ensured ROI on IT Systems: Ensured return on investment for IT systems in accordance with meticulously curated business cases, driving financial prudence.

• Developed AI Centre of Excellence: Established an AI Centre of Excellence and a service line program in the Asia Pacific region to support ongoing change management in AI delivery through ServiceNow
Key Project Achievements:
• Boosted Productivity: Achieved a 20% increase in productivity through ADKAR change management for AI and Microsoft Copilot adoption. Managed a budget of 600K SGD.

• Reduced Resume Search Time: Implemented AI for talent management, reducing resume search time by 30%.

• Increased Workforce Productivity: Introduced AI chat capabilities for document search, resulting in a 20% increase in workforce productivity. Managed a budget of 800K SGD.

• Enhanced Business Intelligence: Led data analytics transformation and established AI service lines, enhancing business intelligence adoption by additional 20%.

Strategic Leadership:
• Governance & Reporting: Established comprehensive program and project governance frameworks, facilitating seamless monitoring and robust reporting mechanisms. Consistently delivered projects on time and within budget.

• IT Roadmaps & Change Management: Spearheaded the development of IT roadmaps across Asia Pacific, driving organizational change and innovation. Implemented processes that enhanced efficiency and agility, leading to a 20% increase in project success rates.

• Team Management: Directed a high-performing team of 25 professionals, including 6 managers, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence. Mentored and developed team members, resulting in a 15% improvement in employee satisfaction and retention.

• Stakeholder Collaboration: Engaged with stakeholders at all levels, from business and IT executives to C-suite and third-party partners. Built and maintained strong relationships, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and facilitating successful project outcomes.

• Business Case Governance: Created and governed business cases to ensure robust ROI on technology investments. Successfully justified and secured funding for key initiatives, driving business growth and technological advancement.

• Budgeting & Procurement: Led IT budgeting, procurement, and contract management, optimizing resource allocation and cost efficiency. Achieved a 15% reduction in procurement costs through strategic vendor management and negotiation.

• Continuous Improvement: Championed continuous improvement initiatives, enhancing team skills through targeted training and certification programs. Facilitated a culture of lifelong learning and professional development.

• Business Analysis & Partnering: Established a Business Analysis and Business Partnering Pillar for South-East Asia. Aligned technology, processes, and personnel with strategic transformation goals, ensuring seamless integration and value delivery.

• Resource & Project Demand Alignment: Ensured resource, skill, and project demand alignment, optimizing team performance and project success. Implemented resource management strategies that increased project efficiency by 25%.

• Annual IT Budget Planning: Led the annual IT budget planning, governance, and project approval processes. Streamlined approval workflows, reducing cycle times by 30% and enhancing decision-making agility.


Tactical Leadership:
• Performance Review: Conducted quarterly reviews of team KPIs, personal development plans, and career progression, ensuring continuous growth and high performance.

• Competency Management: Maintained team competency in line with skill matrix requirements, fostering a culture of excellence, proficiency and continuous improvement

• Project Alignment: Efficiently handled project alignment seeking common ground, ensuring swift and effective resolution to maintain project momentum and client satisfaction.
• Culture Inclusiveness: Promoted a culture of inclusiveness through team engagement activities and skip-level meetings, enhancing team cohesion and morale.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Ensured alignment between business and IT stakeholders on project timelines and priorities, facilitating seamless collaboration and project success.

• Adherence to Standards: Maintained strict adherence to the Business Analysis statement of work, ensuring project deliverables met predefined standards and expectations.

• Utilization Rate: Achieved a utilization rate of at least 95% with a skilled and motivated team, optimizing resource allocation and productivity

IT Operations:
• Change Management: Managed IT change requests, ensuring smooth and controlled implementation of changes with minimal disruption.

• Vendor Management: Collaborated with external vendors to procure and maintain IT equipment and services, ensuring cost-effectiveness and quality.

• IT Policy Development: Developed and enforced IT policies and procedures to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations.

Key Project Achievements:
• Supply Chain Optimization: Spearheaded the implementation of Kinaxis Rapid Response, enhancing supply chain visibility, accuracy, and responsiveness by 25%. Successfully managed a budget of £4.5 million.

• Contract Manufacturer Integration: Streamlined the integration of 16 contract manufacturers, reducing integration time by 20% through the creation of a comprehensive playbook. Managed a budget of £4 million.

• E-commerce & Retail Growth: Drove a twofold increase in e-commerce and retail growth by harmonizing SAP S4 Hana processes and DOMS. Effectively managed a budget of £8 million to achieve these results.

• Standardization & Sales Increase: Standardized retail systems and processes, resulting in a 15% reduction in go-to-market time. Leveraged customer insights and stock availability to boost sales by 10%, with a budget of £10 million.

• IT Budget Management: Led the annual IT budget planning and governance processes, achieving a 15% reduction in operating costs through strategic budgeting and resource allocation

Strategic Leadership:
• Reported to the Regional CIO: Provided strategic advice, insights, and leadership, facilitating informed decision-making.

• Established Program and Project Governance: Developed comprehensive governance frameworks, monitoring systems, and reporting mechanisms, ensuring transparency and accountability.

• Developed IT Roadmaps and Processes: Crafted and implemented IT roadmaps, optimized processes, and led change management initiatives across the Asia Pacific region.

• Managed Teams and Partnerships: Directed and mentored a high-performing team of 6 direct reports, complemented by a strategic outsourcing partner.

• Collaborated with Stakeholders: Engaged in close collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including business and IT executives, C-suite leaders, and third-party partners, fostering strong relationships and alignment.

• Created and Governed Business Cases: Developed and managed business cases to ensure optimal ROI on technology investments, driving financial prudence.

• Established IT Budgeting and Procurement Governance: Instituted governance frameworks for IT budgeting, procurement, and contract management, enhancing fiscal responsibility and operational efficiency.

• Promoted Continuous Improvement: Fostered a culture of continuous improvement by facilitating targeted training and certification programs, enhancing team skills and capabilities.

• Aligned Technology and Processes: Ensured alignment of technology, processes, and personnel with overarching strategic transformation goals, driving cohesive execution.

• Optimized Resource Management: Ensured seamless alignment of resources, skills, and project demands, optimizing operational effectiveness.

• Led Annual IT Budget Planning: Spearheaded the annual IT budget planning, governance, and project approval processes, reinforcing financial discipline and strategic alignment.

Tactical Leadership:
• Reviewed team KPIs, personal development plans, and career progression quarterly: Ensured continuous improvement and alignment with organizational goals.

• Maintained team competency according to skill matrix requirements: Fostered a culture of skill enhancement and professional growth.

• Handled project escalations and ensured effective resolution: Maintained project momentum and stakeholder satisfaction.

• Ensured alignment of business and IT stakeholders on project timelines and priorities: Facilitated collaborative and cohesive project execution.

• Achieved a utilization rate of at least 95% with a skilled team: Optimized productivity and resource efficiency

Key Project Achievements:
• Increased Sales Revenue: Boosted sales revenue by 20% and supply chain accuracy by 15% through IT supply chain transformation. Managed a budget of 10 million SGD.

• Strategic IT Roadmap: Established an IT roadmap aligning with business strategic goals to double growth in four years.

• Reduced Operating Costs: Achieved a 15% reduction in operating costs through annual IT budget governance and cost-saving initiatives.

• SAP Implementation: Implemented SAP Integrated Business Planning across 7 countries, enhancing supply chain accuracy and visibility. Managed a budget of 10 million SGD.

• Robotic Process Automation: Implemented RPA to reduce manual work and increase productivity. Managed a budget of 700K SGD.

• Modernized POS Systems: Standardized POS systems globally with Cegid, gaining consumer insights to increase revenue. Managed a budget of 2.5 million SGD.

Strategic Leadership:
• Reported to the CIO: Provided strategic advice and insights, facilitating informed decision-making.

• Managed Team of 7: Led direct reports and strategic partners, fostering collaboration and productivity.

• Collaborated with Executives: Worked closely with business and IT executives, C-suite members, and third-party partners.

• Led IT Transformation: Directed the IT roadmap, system replacements, new organizational structure, and creation of a B2C division for energy retail.

• Oversaw IT Budget and Governance Implementation: Led annual IT budget, governance, and operational procedures for projects and business as usual.

• Implemented Business Continuity Planning: Developed and executed disaster recovery plans with yearly exercises.

• Established Business Cases: Ensured ROI on technology investments through compelling business cases and governance.

• Improved Team Skills: Enhanced team capabilities through targeted training and certification.

• Built IT Structure: Established IT structure for applications, infrastructure, security, and program management office.

• Aligned Technology with Goals: Ensured technology, processes, and personnel alignment with strategic transformation goals.

• Ensured Resource Alignment: Managed resource, skill, and project demand alignment to meet organizational objectives.

Tactical Leadership:
• Quarterly Reviews: Conducted thorough quarterly reviews of team KPIs, personal development plans, and career progression.

• Maintained Team Competency: Ensured team competency in alignment with skill matrix requirements, fostering continuous improvement.

• Handled Project Escalations: Managed and resolved project escalations efficiently, ensuring smooth project progression.

• Annual BCP Exercises: Led annual Business Continuity Planning (BCP) exercises to ensure organizational preparedness.

• Standardized Processes: Standardized procurement, vendor management, RFP processes, and evaluation methodologies for consistency and efficiency.

• Implemented Stage Gates: Established stage gates for project milestones to ensure effective project management and delivery.

• Project/Program Management: Directed multiple projects and programs, ensuring successful delivery through meticulous planning and execution.

• IT Infrastructure Team Setup: Established and led IT infrastructure teams based on network and compute requirements, enhancing overall IT capabilities.

• End User Computing Team Setup: Formed and managed end user computing teams to support and optimize user experiences across the organization.

• IT Audit Excellence: Conducted IT audits for 4 years, maintaining exemplary standards with no more than 1 major IT finding.


IT Operation Experience:
• IT Infrastructure Management: Successfully managed and maintained a robust IT infrastructure, ensuring high availability and reliability of all systems and networks.

• System Monitoring: Implemented and monitored system performance, proactively identifying and resolving potential issues to minimize downtime.

• Incident Management: Led incident response efforts, ensuring swift resolution of IT incidents and minimizing impact on business operations.

• Change Management: Managed IT change requests, ensuring smooth and controlled implementation of changes with minimal disruption.

• Vendor Management: Collaborated with external vendors to procure and maintain IT equipment and services, ensuring cost-effectiveness and quality.

• Security Management: Implemented and maintained security measures to protect IT infrastructure and data, including firewalls, antivirus, and intrusion detection systems.

• Disaster Recovery Planning: Developed and tested disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity in the event of a major IT outage or disaster.

• User Support: Provided technical support to end users, resolving IT issues promptly and ensuring high levels of user satisfaction.

• IT Policy Development: Developed and enforced IT policies and procedures to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations.

• Performance Optimization: Continuously optimized system performance and capacity, ensuring efficient use of IT resources.

• IT Asset Management: Managed IT assets, including hardware, software, and licenses, ensuring proper inventory and lifecycle management.

• Backup and Recovery: Implemented and managed data backup and recovery processes to ensure data integrity and availability.

• Continuous Improvement: Identified opportunities for improvement and implemented initiatives to enhance IT operations and service delivery.


Key Project Achievements:
• Generated Additional Revenue: Led the B2C energy retail transformation, resulting in an additional SGD 1.3 million in revenue. Budget: SGD 2 million.

• Modernized B2B Business: Scaled revenue growth by 15% through modernization initiatives. Budget: SGD 1.3 million.

• Reduced Overall Spend: Achieved a 15% reduction in overall spend through effective annual IT budget management.

• Decreased Value at Risk: Reduced value at risk for energy hedging by 15% with real-time market insights and VAR scenario analysis via CTRM

Strategic Leadership:
• Reported to the Delivery Director: Provided strategic insights and guidance to support high-level decision-making.

• Led a Team of 4 Members: Fostered a collaborative and high-performing team environment, driving successful project outcomes.

• Coordinated with Business and IT Sponsors: Ensured seamless collaboration and alignment with third-party strategic partners, enhancing project efficiency and success.

• Collaborated on RFP Bid Responses: Worked closely with business units to develop compelling and competitive bid responses for RFPs, contributing to new business opportunities.

• Oversaw BCP and DR Implementation: Directed the implementation of Business Continuity Planning (BCP) and Disaster Recovery (DR) protocols, conducting yearly simulated exercises to ensure client readiness and resilience.

Tactical Leadership:
• Client Requirement Analysis: Expertly analysed client requirements to develop comprehensive project, resource, communication, and risk plans, ensuring all aspects were meticulously addressed.

• Quarterly KPI Reviews: Established and conducted thorough quarterly reviews of team KPIs, driving continuous improvement and high performance.

• Skill Matrix Alignment: Ensured that team skills met project demands by maintaining and updating the skill matrix, fostering a culture of proficiency and continuous learning.

• Project Escalation Management: Efficiently managed project escalations, ensuring timely and effective resolution to maintain project momentum and client satisfaction.

• IT Transformation and Cloud Migration: Led significant IT transformation initiatives, including cloud migration and co-location, for high-profile clients like NOL, CISCO, and Thomson Reuters. Leveraged Azure to enhance scalability, reliability, and security, resulting in optimized cloud infrastructure and seamless integration.

• Co-location Expertise: Directed co-location projects, ensuring efficient resource allocation and robust infrastructure management. Delivered high-availability solutions and minimized downtime for critical systems.

• Azure Cloud Integration: Implemented Azure cloud solutions to drive digital transformation, enhance operational efficiency, and support strategic business goals. Managed the migration of applications and data to Azure, ensuring secure and scalable cloud environments.

Key Project Achievements:
• Reduced Total Cost of Ownership: Implemented co-location and cloud-based solutions, reducing total cost of ownership for clients. Enhanced infrastructure efficiency and optimized resource utilization, achieving significant cost savings. Budget: SGD 3 million.

• Enhanced Cyber Defence and Detection: Increased cyber defence and detection capabilities, ensuring robust security and data protection. Implemented advanced threat detection and response mechanisms, mitigating potential risks and enhancing overall security posture.

• Increased System Availability and High Availability: Improved system availability and high availability through strategic co-location and cloud solutions. Achieved near-zero downtime, ensuring continuous business operations and enhanced user experience.

• Scalability for Business Growth: Designed and implemented scalable cloud infrastructure to support business growth. Enabled seamless scaling of resources, accommodating increasing business demands and ensuring future readiness

Strategic Responsibilities:
• Reported to the Project Manager: Provided strategic advice and insights to support project leadership and successful outcomes.

• Led a Team of 4 Members: Fostered a collaborative environment, working closely with business and IT SMEs to drive project success.
• Prioritized Client Requirements: Efficiently prioritized client requirements, producing detailed business requirement documents that ensured clear communication and alignment with project goals.

• IT Functional SME: Acted as a subject matter expert for IT functions, coordinating with third-party vendors to ensure seamless project execution and successful delivery.

Tactical Leadership:
• Fit-Gap Analysis: Conducted thorough fit-gap analysis of the target operating model, identifying areas for improvement and aligning solutions with organizational goals.

• Comprehensive Project Documentation: Developed detailed project documentation, including project plans, communication strategies, change management, and risk mitigation, ensuring all aspects were meticulously addressed for seamless execution.

• Budget Management: Oversaw project budget approval, monitoring, and reporting, ensuring optimal resource allocation and cost control.

• Procurement Processes: Established RFQ and RFP processes for procuring turnkey project services, ensuring consistency, transparency, and efficiency in vendor selection and contract management.

• Stakeholder Collaboration: Coordinated with key stakeholders to ensure alignment and support for project objectives, facilitating successful outcomes.

• Risk Management: Implemented proactive risk management strategies to mitigate potential project risks and ensure smooth project delivery.

• Change Management: Led change management initiatives, effectively guiding teams through transitions and ensuring minimal disruption to operations.

Key Project Achievements:
• Optimized Container Routes: Implemented advanced sea freight route optimization strategies, resulting in a significant reduction in cost to serve. Enhanced route efficiency led to faster delivery times, increased vessel utilization, and minimized fuel consumption. Budget: SGD 4.5 million.

• Increased Operational Efficiency: Achieved a 20% increase in operational efficiency by optimizing container loading and unloading processes. Streamlined port operations and reduced turnaround times, contributing to overall cost savings.

• Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: Improved customer satisfaction through more reliable and timely deliveries. Implemented real-time tracking and communication systems, providing clients with greater visibility and control over their shipments.

•Reduced Carbon Footprint: Decreased the environmental impact of shipping operations by optimizing routes and reducing fuel consumption. Contributed to sustainability goals and improved corporate social responsibility

Strategic Responsibilities:
• Reported to the Project Director.
• Managed a team of 18, with 5 direct reports.
• Engaged with business executives and fourth-party vendors as key stakeholders.

Tactical Leadership:
• Analysed client requirements, especially in taxation, to develop comprehensive project documentation including project plans, communication strategies, change management, and risk mitigation.
• Oversaw project budget approval, monitoring, and reporting.
• Provided team feedback for annual performance evaluations and participated in the promotion board.

Key Achievements:
• Reduced paper filing and increased tax collection accuracy through modernization of the taxation system.
• Implemented a bespoke taxation system and Cognos Datawarehouse.