ASHOK KUMAR M
Bangalore
Summary
Dynamic leader with a proven track record at Wells Fargo, driving digital transformation and Lean Six Sigma initiatives. Achieved a 30% improvement in turnaround time through RPA solutions while enhancing stakeholder engagement and team development. Expert in process optimization and change management, delivering significant operational efficiencies and cost savings. Forward-thinking professional offering advanced experience in overseeing operations, driving business strategy and overhauling distribution networks. Highly proficient in business development and strategic planning resulting in consistent growth and profitability. Proven leader with track record of successful communication, client relationship building, and achievement of sales goals.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Vice President – Operational Excellence
Wells Fargo
01.2021 - Current
- Leading a global digital transformation program in Payment Operations (ACH Wires) for Hypercare clients (Product owner for Light Weight Work Flow development in Alfresco and Alteryx solution)
- Automated 6 manual tools using VBA and Power Apps yielding a reduction in cycle time and improving efficiency
- Led the RCSA Program across key enterprise functions viz. FCO-Change Governance, CTR-Regulatory Reporting, Financial Crimes Operations, Conduct Management & Ethics, Public Affairs and Government Relations, resulting in improved controls effectiveness.
- Directed an end-to-end process modelling (value chain) project in Supply Chain Management for Third-Party Operations Affiliates (TPOA)
- Led a cross-border Corporate Risk Model transformation (IT&V) project using Lean-Agile methodologies, resulting in $583K in savings and creating capacity for 6 additional engagements annually.
- Implemented controls framework and RPA solution for letter generation process in Commercial Banking - Payoff Quotes Operations through Robotic Process Automation, improving turn-around-time (TAT) by 30%.
- Led an enterprise-wide transformation program in APAC HR Resource Onboarding, reducing lead time from onboarding to production readiness from 16 days to 2 days, with savings of $17.8M.
- Championed the migration of A/c Reconciliation Processes in Consumer Lending to an AI-based platform (EZOPS), enhancing efficiency with predictive insights, interactive dashboards, and proactive planning.
- Delivered Lean Six Sigma & Transformation training to over 300 professionals, achieving a learner satisfaction score of ~4.9/5.
- Provided ongoing project coaching and mentorship, guiding professionals through their projects and recommending them for appropriate Lean Six Sigma certification levels.
- Received a Performance Excellence award from the global leadership team for consistent delivery of high-impact initiatives.
Associate Director –Enterprise Transformation
UBS Business Solutions
10.2015 - 01.2021
- Developed Proof of Concepts using Design Thinking principles in global KYC operations to improve customer journey map and implemented Balanced Scorecard to design new KPIs
- Led Lean and Value Stream Optimization Transformation programs across various UBS LOB’s and its Vendor partners, improving Operational Efficiency and reducing costs:
- 15% efficiency gain on 116 FTEs in Financial Data Management Operations.
- 30% faster turnaround in Group Finance Operations (Daily Balance Sheet, Ledger Integrity)
- 7-10% improvement in Overall Process Efficiency in Securities Settlements, FRC Equities & Middle office Ops
- 5% efficiency gain on 320 FTEs, OPE improvement, Skill variability reduction in Securities Operations (Fixed Income, Settlements, Stock Borrow Loan and Options)
- 10% efficiency gain on 160 FTEs in Exchange Traded Derivatives Operations
- Optimized Legal operations (GGC) by sourcing and implementing an external tool for Notices, improving efficiency.
- Standardized Regulatory Reporting and enhanced controls effectiveness in Independent Risk Management.
- Implemented AOM-WFM (Third party program) across Group Operations, increasing Productivity by 15%-20%.
- Standardized processes in Group Reconciliation Utility with Balanced Scorecard implementation for Metrics.
- Led Agile transformation in multiple IT units (SBL, Collaterals, GRU, CCS), improving efficiency by 15%-30%.
- Optimized Shared Mailbox operations across multiple projects, with savings of ~20 FTEs.
- Executed Change Management methods for the sustainability of the results across all programs led.
Senior Manager – Quality
American International Group (AIG)
11.2013 - 07.2015
- Led large scale Global IT Transformation Programs leveraging Lean-Agile methodology, yielding delivery efficiency, RFT, and improved NPS across AIG SSO & Vendors:
- AIG SS - Production Support Team TOM, Philippines - 9 FTE benefit
- AIG SS - Application Enhancement Agile Transformation, Latin America - 18 FTE Benefit
- AIG Global - HR-IT Application Enhancement & Production Support - 15 FTE benefit
- Spearheaded Lean-Value Stream Optimization in Life & Retirement, Fuji Fire Marine (Japan) & LAC Projects (Value Ratio Improvement from 14% to 40%)
- Instructed over 200+ Resources (Software Engineers, Project Leads, Project Managers, Production Support - global teams) on Agile, Lean & Continuous Improvement methodologies.
Manager – Quality/IT
HCL Technologies
09.2012 - 11.2013
- Led large scale Lean-Value Stream Optimization & Target operating model program in Application Maintenance & Production Support (Access Channel applications, Global Business Messaging Services, Global Markets Listed Derivatives) for a Global Banking Client.
- Benefit: 23 FTE & Value ratio improvement of 30% leading to better Ticket resolution, RFT, Turnaround time & customer satisfaction.
- Trained and coached 120+ resources (Senior leaders, Project managers & leaders, Developers & Production support specialists) on Lean, Statistical Process Controls & Continuous Improvement tools.
Manager – Business Excellence - WFM
ANZ Bank
11.2010 - 08.2012
- Led the implementation of the AOM-Work Force Management Program across Business, IT, and Shared Services Operations for 60+ teams, in collaboration with third-party vendor Active Operations Management Ltd.
- Managed vendor relationships to ensure smooth execution of the WFM Program, including application maintenance, capacity planning simulations, and skill optimization through cross-training initiatives.
- Directed a team of Program Analysts, Project coordinators, Asst Managers to drive AOM program.
- Delivered process improvement outcomes through strategic leadership, mentoring, and coaching.
- Mentored three Six Sigma Green Belt projects in Institutional Banking Operations, achieving a 40% productivity improvement, cost savings of $21,000 (AUD 115,290), and a 5.49 FTE gain.
- Led 12 Continuous Improvement projects across Retail, Institutional, and Commercial Banking Operations, partnering with senior leaders to enhance performance.
- Coached operational leaders on effective capacity planning and productivity optimization, aiding their attainment of AOM certification.
- Trained over 300 employees on AOM methodologies, enabling them to utilize data insights for continuous improvement.
Lead – Process & Quality (IT)
Cognizant Technologies
04.2010 - 11.2010
- Co-led enterprise Transformation project in the Travel Finance (Target Operating Model).
Team Lead – Business Services & Operational Excellence
Fidelity Investments
02.2007 - 04.2010
- Led a team of 30 – SQL Developers, Process Associates, Work Group Leads in the Operations Services Group, Enterprise Business Services.
- Mentored 3 Green Belt projects in Enterprise Business Services / Institutional Operations yielding an efficiency improvement of 10%.
- Spearheaded (as a Product Owner) the IT development program for Capacity Management & Work tracking system (from Requirements gathering to Implementation) tool creation, partnering with an external Technology Vendor.
- Identified and transitioned 16 additional processes in Remediations and managed remote migrations, leading to cost savings.
- Trained 100+ batches on Lean Six Sigma (Quality awareness, GB & YB) at the enterprise level.
- Won Best Six Sigma Trainer Award (4.8/5) & best Team Award (YEI) for consistent performance.
- Implemented best practices to improve productivity and delivered benefits of 4 FTEs.
Process Lead - Operations
AXA Business Services
08.2002 - 02.2007
- Led cross-functional global Lean Six Sigma Black Belt project (offshore) on Query Incidents reduction for AXA Sun Life (40% improvement in TAT).
- Attained Best Process Improvement Idea of the year award for automation of ASP Policy Schedule, yielding Cycle time reduction from 8 minutes to 2 minutes.
- Spearheaded Work Tracking System application development as a Product Owner for Life & Pension, Remediation processes.
- Transitioned 3 Life Annuity processes (30 FTEs) & 25 FTE Remediation processes from AXA UK to offshore location (Pune, India).
- Attained 15+ performance awards (@ individual & team level) for exceeding SLAs.
- Audited 50+ teams in Group Finance and Group Operations for ISO certification, assisted teams to increase conformance % to standards and attained management award for the contribution.
- Led & managed remote transition of 6 sub-processes from the UK to India leading to cost savings.
- Led a team of 15 Process Associates, SMEs, in Life Products- Servicing, Accounting and Maturity.
Education
P.G. Diploma - Applied Statistics
IGNOU
01.2023
M.B.A - International Business
Pondicherry University
01.2012
B.Sc. - Chemistry
Bangalore University
01.1997
Skills
- Digital Transformation
- Lean Six Sigma
- DMAIC
- DFSS
- DMADV
- Agile
- Scrum
- Kanban
- Business Process Reengineering
- Value Stream Optimization
- Target Operating Model
- Process & Technology Integration
- Continuous Improvement
- Planning & Execution
- Stakeholder Management
- Offshoring/Transition management
- Third-party tools deployment
- Product ownership
- Product management
- Business Practice Development
- Transformation Roadmap
- Negotiation
- Team Building
- Conflict Management
- Change Management
- Cross Functional leadership
- Consulting
- Operations Management
- Vendor Management
- Workforce Management
- Capacity Creation
- Productivity Releases
- IT-Production Support
- Team management
- Team development
- Risk Controls
- Self-Assessment
- Regulatory Reporting
- FMEA
- Controls Testing
- Risk Analytics
- Risk Transformation
- Lean Six Sigma trainings
- Agile Trainings
- Project coaching
- Mentoring
- Project reviewstraining
Certification
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt – Wells Fargo, AXA
- Scrum Master – Scrum Alliance
- Change Management – UBS
- Business Consultant – BCG/UBS
- L4 Work Force Strategy Coach – AOM/ANZ
- Balanced Scorecard, KPIs - External
- Advanced Excel, VB Macros for Analytics – External
- ISO – Internal Auditor – KPMG/AXA
- Business English Certificate (BEC) – Cambridge University, British Council (India)
Professional Development
- Product Management
- Risk Controls Self-Assessment (RCSA)
- Independent Risk Management, Internal Testing & Validations
- Generative and Agentic AI
- Alteryx – Wells Fargo
- Digital Transformation, Tableau, RPA, AI, Python & Alteryx
- Lean 5 lens
- Agile methodology – UBS
- Advanced Consulting Skills - Boston Consulting Group/ UBS
- DevOps Practices for IT Delivery - External
- Active Operations Management, Workforce Management - AOM/ANZ (Australia)
- IMPACT (Leadership development Program) - Fidelity
- FSA Regulations from CII, UK - AXA
- Pre-sales Workshop - IIM, Bangalore
- ASQ - Black Belt - External
Timeline
Vice President – Operational Excellence
Wells Fargo
01.2021 - Current
Associate Director –Enterprise Transformation
UBS Business Solutions
10.2015 - 01.2021
Senior Manager – Quality
American International Group (AIG)
11.2013 - 07.2015
Manager – Quality/IT
HCL Technologies
09.2012 - 11.2013
Manager – Business Excellence - WFM
ANZ Bank
11.2010 - 08.2012
Lead – Process & Quality (IT)
Cognizant Technologies
04.2010 - 11.2010
Team Lead – Business Services & Operational Excellence
Fidelity Investments
02.2007 - 04.2010
Process Lead - Operations
AXA Business Services
08.2002 - 02.2007
P.G. Diploma - Applied Statistics
IGNOU
M.B.A - International Business
Pondicherry University
B.Sc. - Chemistry
Bangalore University