Shakir Jussab

Commercially astute and delivery-focused transformation leader with 15+ years' experience driving large-scale, end-to-end change across financial services, banking, and insurance. Proven track record delivering complex, cross-functional programs spanning regulatory change, commercial operating model transformation, SaaS and cloud migration, and customer experience optimisation. Extensive experience acting as the bridge between executive strategy and operational delivery, leading global teams (up to 1000 FTE) across multiple regions and time zones.

Strong background in embedding governance, managing ambiguity, and driving measurable business outcomes in highly regulated environments. Deep expertise in regulatory programmes (FCA, SMCR, GDPR, AML/KYC, ESG), core banking transformation, and global process harmonisation. Technically fluent across AWS, IBM, and GCP environments, with hands-on leadership in SaaS migrations and digital transformation initiatives.

Recognised for building high-performing teams, influencing senior stakeholders and regulators (FCA, US FRB, Sharia Council), and delivering scalable target operating models that enhance customer outcomes, operational efficiency, and commercial performance.

Programme Manager – Digital Authentication & Identity Transformation at Yorkshire Building Society (2025-11 – 2026-05)

Led a strategic enterprise-wide digital authentication transformation programme, overseeing migration from legacy on-premise identity services to IBM Security Verify cloud platform across Yorkshire Building Society and associated brands. Budget Managed - £100m

• Directed four interdependent workstreams covering data migration and validation, digital channel uplift, customer and product authentication migration, and cross-brand digital unification.
• Led end-to-end migration of customer authentication services from on-premise infrastructure to IBM Verify SaaS/cloud platform, improving scalability, resilience, and security posture.
• Oversaw digital uplift initiatives across mobile banking, online banking, and telephone banking channels, ensuring consistent and secure customer authentication journeys.
• Managed large-scale customer, product, and identity migration activities, including validation, reconciliation, testing, and operational readiness.
• Delivered digital identity harmonisation across multiple YBS brands, enabling a unified authentication and customer access model.
• Coordinated cross-functional delivery teams across Technology, Operations, Risk, Security, Digital, and third-party suppliers within a regulated banking environment.
• Embedded governance, RAID management, and stakeholder reporting across complex parallel delivery streams while ensuring alignment to regulatory and operational resilience requirements.
• Supported secure customer experience enhancement through modern MFA, identity management, and cloud-based authentication capabilities aligned to enterprise digital strategy.

VP – Programme Delivery Lead at Starling Bank (2024-07 – 2025-08)

Led enterprise-wide transformation programmes spanning technology, operations, and customer-facing functions, driving delivery of strategic change across a regulated digital banking environment. Budget Managed - £27m

• Directed cross-functional transformation across Technology, Operations, Risk, Compliance, and Customer functions, aligning delivery to strategic growth and operational objectives.
• Acted as the bridge between executive strategy and delivery, partnering with C-suite, boards, and regulators to drive decision-making, governance, and programme outcomes.
• Led global process optimisation and operating model enhancements, improving customer journeys, onboarding, and service delivery across digital banking channels.
• Defined and executed integrated change and communications strategies, enabling adoption of new platforms, processes, and capabilities across business and technical teams.
• Delivered large-scale SaaS and cloud transformation programmes (AWS), including core banking platform uplift and AI-enabled product integration.
• Established and implemented Target Operating Model (TOM) changes, including process redesign, capability alignment, and scalable operating structures.
• Managed complex vendor ecosystems (AWS, IBM, Deloitte, AI/LLM providers), ensuring delivery alignment, commercial value, and technical integration.
• Led mobilisation and execution across hybrid Agile delivery teams, embedding SAFe and Scrum to drive pace, accountability, and delivery quality.
• Oversaw risk, governance, and resilience frameworks including BCP/DR design and testing, ensuring operational continuity and regulatory compliance.
• Drove stakeholder engagement across senior leadership and cross-functional teams, maintaining alignment across competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Delivered digital identity, authentication, and Open Finance capabilities, supporting secure customer growth and regulatory alignment.
• Enabled innovation through AI-driven automation and customer journey optimisation, improving operational efficiency and service outcomes.

Senior Programme Manager and SDLC Consultant at Iron Mountain (2023-07 – 2024-01)

Led multiple large-scale complex IT programmes across concurrent Agile work streams, ensuring SaaS lifecycle delivery and integration. Budget Managed £10m

• Development, implementation and testing of BCP / DR frameworks and processes
• Directed full project lifecycle delivery from low-level design to implementation, ensuring scope, budget, and timelines were achieved.
• Delivered cloud migration and authentication enhancement, including transition from IBM ISAM to IBM Security Verify, aligning with enterprise TOM principles.
• Partnered with internal tech leads and external suppliers to embed governance and risk controls across hybrid delivery environments.
• Applied Design Thinking and Leadership Coaching principles to improve operational effectiveness across hybrid teams.
• Strengthened stakeholder engagement and strategic planning with UKGI and regulatory bodies.
• Directed large-scale regulatory transformation and digital modernisation of complaint and remediation systems.
• Influenced senior stakeholders to drive prioritization and adherence to Target Operating Model (TOM) standards.

Regulatory Programme Manager – Interim at Co-operative Bank (2023-01 – 2023-06)

Oversaw Core Banking platform uplift and customer MFA compliance rollout, ensuring regulatory alignment and operational resilience including AD, PAM and Cyber governance. Budget Managed £30m

• Managed architectural design, mobilisation, and supplier collaboration to align delivery to the Bank's Target Operating Model (TOM).
• Enhanced knowledge sharing across Open Finance, data privacy, and regulatory compliance ecosystems.
• Development, implementation and testing of BCP / DR frameworks and processes
• Embedded Scaled Agile (SAFe) and Scrum frameworks for programme delivery, innovation, and stakeholder alignment.
• Partnered with executive leadership and regulators on ESG and operational separation projects with international exposure.
• Spearheaded global Digital Transformation and AI-powered procurement optimisation across AWS and GCP environments.
• Directed tech, design, and supplier (IBM & Deloitte) integration activities within a regulated, risk-heavy delivery environment.
• Delivered enhancements to customer authentication, extending the IBM Verify rollout to cloud and ensuring secure, compliant service delivery.
• Provided leadership across technical change, governance, and risk management, ensuring end-to-end service readiness and TOM adherence.
• Acted as a trusted liaison between C-suite stakeholders, compliance, and regulators, ensuring governance integrity.
• Led cross-functional teams, fostering leadership, innovation, and coaching to embed a culture of continuous improvement.

I hold a BTEC Advanced Science qualification (Distinction) and 11 GCSEs (A*-A), including English, Mathematics and Science. My professional qualifications include PRINCE2 Certification, LEXCEL Banking for Law Firms, and CNR Strategy & Outcome Training. Throughout my career, I have continuously developed my expertise across programme delivery, transformation, governance, regulatory compliance and technology-enabled change.

I have gained hands-on experience working with cloud platforms including AWS, GCP and IBM Cloud, alongside technologies such as Salesforce, SAP, ServiceNow, IBM Security Verify, Loan IQ, Jira and Confluence. More recently, I have supported AI-enabled transformation, intelligent automation and digital innovation initiatives, helping organisations improve customer outcomes, operational efficiency and business performance while embracing emerging technologies..