@Assemblage Entertainment, I lead the ongoing development and execution of cutting-edge technology strategies that empower our animation, VFX, and post-production teams to bring their creative visions to life.• Overseeing and continuously optimizing a scalable, high-performance IT infrastructure, tailored to meet the demanding workflows of world-class production projects.• Collaborating with internal teams to integrate high-performance storage systems, advanced edit stations, and virtualization solutions for seamless production workflows.• Implementing 10 Gig networks for fast, uninterrupted data transfers, providing real-time access to large-scale media assets.• Ensuring redundancy with high-availability ILL links, safeguarding critical production operations against downtime.• Managing high-capacity storage systems, enabling real-time editing, rendering, and efficient asset management across multiple teams and locations.• Leading security awareness initiatives and overseeing TPN audits, partnering with external security experts to enhance cybersecurity protocols, achieving TPN+ Certification.• Collaborate with external security partners to set up Network Operations Centers (NOC) and Security Operations Centers (SOC), enabling proactive monitoring and incident response.

🌐 Driving IT Innovation in Broadcast Media & Entertainment@Prime Focus Technologies, I spearheaded the IT initiatives that supported the company’s digital transformation in the M&E industry. My focus was on enabling efficient IT infrastructure for large-scale Media content workflows. Key achievements include:• Led global IT Infra across India, US, UK, South Africa, Australia & Singapore delivering robust infrastructure management by integrating hybrid cloud, on-prem Infra, and virtual environments tailored for the Broadcast media industry• Managed the infrastructure supporting CLEAR™ Media ERP, enabling global media companies to streamline their content operations from creation to distribution• Spearheaded the deployment of PFT's Media Asset Management (MAM) systems and secure handling of extensive media libraries for seamless operations• Oversaw IT infra including a diverse array of physical servers, virtual machines, substantial storage capacity (Isilon, Media Grid, IBM, HP, Promise SAN), and enterprise-class tape library systems (IBM, Oracle SL3000, Spectra)• Assisted in implementing server virtualization using on-prem VMware, AWS Virtual Infra, and Azure Cloud Infra for critical applications for broadcast operations• Managed 24/7 data center operations, ensuring that high-end servers, Network and storage systems maintained over 99.9% uptime for client services• Supported IT infra for PFT’s media workflows across traditional Broadcast, LIVE Streaming and OTT platforms• Developed DR policies by introducing near-line and deep archival LTO tape backup strategies for media assets• Engaged with C-level executives on yearly CapEx and OpEx discussions, contributing to IT budgeting and strategic planning• Collaborate with external security partners to establish security protocols, helping achieve ISO27001, SOC 2 & TPN+ certifications• Planned and executed cost-effective client data center migrations with 100% adherence to SLAs, ensuring seamless transitions

• Managed IT projects related to servers, storage, and data centers by selecting cost-effective solutions in collaboration with multiple vendors and customers, ensuring smooth project implementation.• Conducted reviews of data center (DC) access controls and environmental controls to maintain operational integrity.• Oversaw 24/7 data center operations by deploying appropriate on-site resources, ensuring round-the-clock functionality.• Performed data center audits and addressed identified gaps to maintain compliance and improve efficiency.• Supported engineers in maintaining 99.9% uptime for high-end servers and storage systems, ensuring seamless backup of client environments.• Deployed a centralized Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) system to streamline OS patch management across various systems and servers.• Managed Business Continuity Management documentation and conducted governance reviews for each service and application.• Led the IT team in routine operations, resource planning for expansions and business continuity planning, and assessing training needs.• Contributed to succession planning across organizational hierarchies, leveraging career progression as a retention tool for high-potential staff.

• Led a team of 6 to manage the Business System solution helpdesk, ensuring seamless production support by efficiently resolving operations and system-related issues.• Provided technical assistance to the team in monitoring storage subsystems, servers, and hosts using Ganglia and Nagios for CPU, memory, and network utilization. Conducted root cause analysis and identified issues in storage, servers, and the archival process.• Managed vendor relationships to streamline technical support under Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMC), warranties, and guarantees for laptops, desktops, servers, switches, and other IT peripherals.• Led a team of local engineers to resolve user-related technical issues and facilitated the installation of new IT systems across the organization.• Configured and managed Tivoli Storage Manager and Data Protector enterprise systems, backing up over 40 terabytes of data nightly across hundreds of Windows, Linux, and Mac servers in a highly distributed environment.• Installed, managed, and maintained HP Polyserve Storage (DL380 12-node EFS cluster / EVA 8000 storage racks with 40TB capacity) and IBM storage systems (FastT600 / EXP 700 with SANergy), integrated with HP ProCurve Core Switches for optimized connectivity.• Oversaw data archival using IBM 3582 and HP eml71e tape libraries and implemented an offsite disaster recovery (DR) policy for storage data.• Managed and maintained over 100 high-end graphics workstations (a mix of IBM, HP, and Apple Mac Pro), as well as IBM HS20 BladeCenter and HP C-class blades for rendering environments, ensuring smooth operations on a gigabit network and 10Gb fiber uplinks.• Administered Active Directory servers (primary and backup) for an environment with over 500 users, • Implemented organization-wide security policies to protect sensitive data, managed and updated antivirus patches across the infrastructure.