1. Simon Hall
Curriculum Vitae
Personal Details
Apt 2/1, 66 Howard Street,
Glasgow,
G1 4EE
Mobile Phone
E-Mail
LinkedIn
07850741246
fifty4degreesnorth@hotmail.com
http://uk.linkedin.com/in/simonhall68
Profile
An experienced contract change programme and senior project manager with a proven track record of
successful change & business operations service delivery within the financial services sector
(investment/wealth, third party administration, reinsurance, banking, life and pensions companies); and
within various government sectors, gained as a change delivery project, PMO, IT, product and business
implementation and BAU service delivery and release manager over a period of 20 years. Hands on
experience of all functions and stages in a project lifecycle utilising a variety of methodologies.
Strong leadership, communication and influencing skills (comfortable with operating at board level), people
and line management, project and development methodologies (incl. Prince 2, PMP, PMI, RAD, Agile,
Scrum, Lean, Six Sigma), business analysis, transformation and transition (incl. development and
implementation of Target Operating Models (including end to end customer journeys), regulatory change,
business process improvement/reengineering, workflow design and implementation, MI implementation,
product proposition and marketing, training and coaching, development and release management, data
migration, investment product and Life & Pensions platform design and implementation, product propositions
(fund launches/Tax Transparent Funds), investment propositions, implementation management, service
delivery management, PMO management and consultancy. Expert in budget formulation (including
business /benefits case provision) and management (up to £20m yearly) and resource allocation and
management across multiple projects and releases.
Experienced in third party management including RFP/due diligence/vendor selection/SLA
process/production, contract negotiation/implementation & management and IT development into BAU.
Significant exposure and successful management of agile/scrum/RAD software development, including back
and middle office systems, CRM, web based e-solutions, infrastructure upgrade and replacement and data
migration activities.
Experienced manager of change/project managers and service delivery managers across programme, PMO,
business analysis, IT development and implementation functions. Business results orientated and profit-
focused with a strong focus on the definition, measurement and realisation of operational business benefits.
External Qualifications
 PRINCE2 Practitioner (Projects In a Controlled Environment)
 B.Sc. Management Studies part-time (Honours) - 2:1
Computer Training & Experience
 MS Office Professional - all versions - advanced user to visual basic programming standard
 MS Project - all versions - advanced user to visual basic programming standards
 Nimbus Control – process improvement/re-engineering software
 Lotus Notes - advanced user with design experience
 SharePoint – advanced user
 VBA – advanced user
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2. References
References are readily available on request.
Feb ‘14 – present (contract end July 2015) Edinburgh
HSBC Securities Services (HSS), Senior Project Manager, Client & Business Change – Product
Proposition & Client Implementation
Duties & Achievements
Senior client facing project manager on a Tax Transparent Funds (TTF) tax product offering, focussing on
client bespeaking of the core solution, asset migration and implementation.
Currently nearing the end of programme implementation, having delivered the core platform and bespoke
client elements to live BAU early April 2015. Asset take-on and management is now fully underway with
over £10bn of assets migrated with £4bn remaining (June 2015). It is expected that further custody and TTF
'asset injection' activities will take place with the client late 2015/early 2016. Solution includes delivery of
platform capabilities to Fund Accounting, Transfer Agency and Custody departments within HSBC. TTF
platform is now under consideration for use by several potential clients.
Role involved senior stakeholder management with HSBC and with the client and their investment manager
third parties. Development and implementation of internal and external Operating Model changes, SLAs
and legals, staff training, internal system development across 6 locations globally, external development
links to client and external investment managers (reporting and data extracts).
Programme delivered to schedule and implemettaion in full progress with minimal post implementation
incident management issues. Programme implementation highly praised by external client and internally
within HSBC.
Mar ‘13 – Sept ’13 Glasgow
National Australia Bank, Senior Project Manager, Business & Private Bank – Wealth Proposition
Implementation
Duties & Achievements
Following National Australia’s decision to exit the in-house wealth advice market and close down of the
support structure, I was brought in to implement the replacement wealth proposition solution. At a macro
level this involves: -
1. Running a strict criteria led due diligence process that has resulted in the long list of 11 potential
suppliers, 5 of which went forward to the RfI/RfP stage, 2 of which went forward to a detailed due diligence
stage involving site visits; being whittled down to one supplier. This selection has been ratified by the
bank’s executive board and the contractual negotiations are now coming to a close.
2. Key stakeholder engagement across all channels of business to obtain stakeholder buy-in and securing of
business SME resources to support the project.
3. Production of a joint client/supplier plan to support the implemention timeline plus all supporting
governance meeting set-up and facilitation & supporting governance materials.
4. Production of a Target Operating Model, all supporting business processes & customer journey materials
plus traing materials, training delivery plans and all logistics.
5. Implementation of post go-live governance structure and relationship management function.
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3. Dec ‘11 –Mar ‘13 Telford
AdminRe, Programme Manager, ExtraNet Solutions, Documentation System Replacement, Legacy
System Re-Platforming
Duties & Achievements
Managing a programme of work to support my client's requirements for upgrading their core IT system,
replacing their imaging/document retention solution, plus client facing extranet solutions to improve
efficiencies and customer service in support of my client's growth strategy.
I was brought in to turn around a portfolio of high visibility projects that delivered stability and significant
realised benefits to my client. Responsible for £10m + budget plus management of 3 senior project
managers inc. a resource pool of 30+ staff (direct management/matrix management) and 60+ offshore third
party staff
1. Implemented a replacement for an in house document imaging and scanning solution with the market
leader software provider (Documentum/Captiva) for both my client and their major client (a well known
brand in the L & P space). This was a two stage implementation (Jan and April 2012) across multiple sites
and fully addressed the stability issues experienced prior to implementation. The net result is a stable and
productive solution resulting in significant benefit savings in the back office function plus a significant
reduction in application support costs.
2. Implemented an IFA web portal related to a major acquisition of a book of business by my client in
December 2012. This was my client's first exposure to deploying an extranet solution and this has served as
a successful example of a Proof of Concept to be utilised going forward for web deployments.
3. The conversion of my client's legacy system from an outdated technology platform (VB5 and VB.net) to
industry current standard (C#). This is a multi release programme of work, with the Proof of Concept
release successfully going live in November 2012 and the first quarterly release successfully live in March
2013. The remainder of the implementation will be via quarterly releases over Q2 – Q4 2013.
4. Provision of a tactical data correction tool (delivered July 2012 with three additional releases over the
latter half of 2012) plus the commencement of a strategic transactional extranet solution.
Nov '10 – July ‘11 Canary Wharf, London
Standard & Poor’s, Portfolio Management, Senior Change Manager – Service Delivery
Duties & Achievements
 Implementation of a regulated business entity in 2011, including FSA application submission, legal’s,
system and process enhancement, service delivery business model implementation including
prototyping and implementation of new and improved product offerings adhering to FSA regulations
and internal governance standards. The regulatory change application was successful and fully supports
the new business model.
 Business MI implementation to support strategic and operational decision-making. This also supported
the measurement of expected benefits realisation against actual gains made. It also modelled seasonal
resource demands to enable effective targeting of resources and informed budget formulation and ‘what
if’ scenario planning.
 Increasing IT system automation and capabilities – implemented a report production tool to solve a
critical business risk (key production and distribution component) using agile ‘sprint development’
methodology using a global ‘virtual’ team (business owner in UK, developers in UK, USA and
Australia. Negotiated signed-off business design with a number of separate and distinct departments and
governance bodies. Completely replaced systems supporting translation services (a key risk mitigated)
to improve service delivery productivity and reduce system unreliability.
 Procurement of additional data services via third party data suppliers to improve data quality and
availability in order to increase fund coverage and market penetration.
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4.  Procurement of additional data services via third party data suppliers to improve data quality and
availability in order to increase fund coverage and market penetration.
 Business process re-engineering to support regulatory change – provision of a Target Operating Model
from ‘as is’ to ‘to be’. This was designed to support the FSA application and to identify weaknesses in
the service delivery chain and improve workflow capacity via the MI tool detailed above. Fully
managed business transition activities.
 Implementation of a global PMO with underlying project management governance and methodologies
embedded within the organisation in a company with minimal change management cultural experience.
June ’10 – Nov ‘10 Edinburgh
Standard Life, Investment Proposition Programme, Senior Change/Project Manager
Duties & Achievements
 Project manager responsible for all aspects of Standard Life's investment proposition programme first
phase comprising the launch of a fully researched Quality and Choice range providing 'off the shelf'
fund choices and also MyFolio, SL's first risk based fund offering comprising of three different suite
offerings. Additionally offer risk-based suites as insured funds under life and pensions product
wrappers.
 Manage a multi-strand development & business transition programme plan to design, develop and
implement the first phase of SL’s investment proposition covering fund analysis, research and selection,
asset allocation model construction, marketing, training, legal agreements, fund set up and launch, fund
performance MI reporting, web site content launch, integration with other SL product offerings (Wrap
and AdviserZone) and implementation. Employed agile collaborative production of evolving business
requirements (in a non-IT build project) to shape and determine product offerings and the associated
components to support successful implementation.
 Responsible for all programme control mechanisms including business case and resource estimation,
forecasting and control, reporting, configuration, risks and issues and governance, including
representation at a number of senior internal governance boards.
 Manage senior stakeholder expectations within Standard Life Assurance, Standard Life Investments and
Standard Life Wealth businesses.
 The project went live early (by three weeks; >10%), within budget (>10%) and to a very high quality.
 Managed virtual teams across a number of business and technical departments across all three business
entities to deliver a number of key deliverables i.e. marketing, training, FSA regulatory application for
launch and full implementation into customer facing channels.
 Personally managed/delivered a number of marketing deliverables to compensate for a lack of specialist
business expertise in that function.
 Intervened to successfully solve a live pensions system issue that was affecting BAU service delivery
and also threatening the project go-live
 Personally tested and assured online platform launch content to protect go-live dates.
 Since launch in September 2010, Assets under Management (AUM) has reached over £2.2b (source:
Standard Life March 2013), exceeding expectations. There has also been a higher than expected
investment in the actively managed suite of funds, increasing profitability.
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5. June '08 – Jan ‘10 Telford
AdminRe, Third Party Data Migration, I.T. Development & BAU Senior Project Manager
Duties & Achievements
 Manage the delivery of a number of software releases to facilitate a multiple migration of data 'drops'
from a third party client onto in-house systems, incorporating system enhancements to provide client
required functionality required for each customer segmentation type.
 Manage a third party software provider to agreed quality standards and to agreed timescales including
all aspects of resource allocation (30+ staff).
 Responsible for all I.T. programme control mechanisms including planning, reporting, configuration,
financials, contracts, risks and issues & governance.
 Manage a number of programme stakeholders to ensure appropriate dependency deliverables to and
from the I.T. programme stream.
 Successfully supported nine migration releases, including off-shoring elements, resulting in over 1.5
million complex customer records successfully migrated onto in-house systems.
 Formulation and maintenance of several I.T. software delivery and resource plans ensured alignment of
design, build, test, go-live and post go-live ‘warranty’ support deliverables to programme go-live key
dates.
 Managed a number of senior stakeholders, internal and external, by effective representation at board
level governance meetings.
 Additionally managed BAU service delivery development/implementation in support of I.T. director.
Oct ’06 – Apr ‘07 Salisbury
Friends Provident, WRAP Programme, PMO Manager
Duties & Achievements
 Set up new Programme Management Office, on-board new staff and ensure that mechanisms were in
place to ensure the programme was supported and controlled to adhere to cost, time and quality
constraints.
 Managed a multi strand programme plan to implement an investment platform including public website
and adviser/client secure website aligned to back office systems.
 Responsible for all programme control mechanisms including reporting, budget management (£25m+
programme lifecycle budget), configuration, risks and issues and governance.
 Active management of the third party core system IT supplier and web portal provider.
 Hand-off PMO management to a less experienced permanent member of staff.
 Transferred knowledge to 6 new PMO staff members ensuring support for planning, configuration
management, quality management, facilities, finance and governance were in place quickly. Mentored
individual staff members to quickly instil knowledge and skills required.
 Managed the HR and facilities/infrastructure elements of a rapidly increasing staff count including
engagement with recruitment specialists, candidate selection (inc. interviewing) of senior project
personnel required.
 Successfully chaired a large portion of the programme governance meetings on behalf of the
Programme Director.
 Worked intensively with third party supplier to ensure development plan aligned to critical programme
milestones. Intervened on cost and scope creep experienced with web portal provider.
 Permanent PMO staff secured and a successful handover completed within the desired timescale
indicated at the outset.
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6. Mar 06 – July ‘06 Glasgow
Wealth Management (NAG), Nominee Services, Senior Change Manager
Duties & Achievements
 Manage the vendor selection, due diligence and the sale of a nominee share service to a third party.
 Create and execute a data migration and communications implementation plan.
 Create and manage client data ‘roll-off’ plan to third party vendor.
 Hand-off of project implementation element to a permanent staff member.
 Carried out due diligence vendor selection on behalf of project sponsor, maximising profitability to
client including ongoing commission revenue stream.
 Reduced cost of testing by adopting a non-technical and quality rich approach.
 Successful implementation plan, communication plan (based on client ‘footprint’ MI characteristics)
and data migration plan handover to permanent staff member.
March '04 – Jan ‘06 London & Glasgow
Wealth Management, (WRAP Programme, PMO Manager & Implementation Manager
Duties & Achievements
 I.T. & Implementation Programme Office Manager – responsible for all programme control
mechanisms including reporting, configuration, risks and issues and governance.
 Managed a multi strand programme plan to implement an investment platform including public website
and adviser/client secure website.
 Implementation manager – manage all activities to ensure the successful launch of the MLC public and
adviser website including management of infrastructure and development resource based in Australia.
 First NAG technology project release to receive a ‘green’ audit review, stakeholder review also
extremely positive.
 Implementation of multiple ‘back-office’ technical releases and infrastructure upgrades/changes
successfully to enable website launch to proceed.
 Production of agreed legal contracts and SLAs with fund management firms
 Significant exposure to middle and back office functions within the investment and wealth product
function
 Managed the successful launch of the public MLC website and associated advisor and client tools to the
UK market including all aspects of training and post-implementation support.
Oct ‘95 – March ‘04 UK Wide
Various Public Sector Programme Roles – PMO Manager, Senior Project Manager, Senior
Implementation Manager, Senior Business Analyst
Roles
 Management of PMO for two major programmes including support services and estate management
 Portfolio implementation manager UK wide
 Senior project manager on major data migration programmes and system replacement/business change
programmes
Work Exceptions May ‘07 – May ’08 ; Jan ’10 – May ’10; July ’11 – Nov ’11, Sept 2013 – Feb
2014
Sabbatical
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7.  Conscious decision to take some well earned time off to travel to France, S.E. Asia, South Africa and
the USA to visit friends and see/experience new places and cultures. Included 2 months in South Africa
and 9 months in USA (2007 – 2008).
 Took time off to spend with my eldest daughter and wife in preparation for the birth of our second
daughter in July 2010.
 Attended to property investments and new investments in France, Brazil, United States and the Cayman
Islands (2013 – 2014).
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