Karol Zientarski

Senior Delivery & Program Leader with 15+ years of experience leading large-scale IT and business transformation initiatives across banking, telecom and global enterprise environments. Proven track record in delivering complex, multi-stream programs combining business and technology, with strong focus on finance processes, operating models, enterprise systems (ERP, reporting solutions) and business process transformation. Experienced in driving finance and IT transformation, optimizing business processes, and aligning delivery with strategic objectives and enterprise value creation.

Strong background in stakeholder advisory, cross-functional delivery, and translating complex business requirements into structured, executable programs.

Program Manager, Director at UBS (2023-03 – Present)

Lead delivery of a $25M+ global data center expansion portfolio across multi-region infrastructure and network security initiatives in a highly regulated banking environment

• Lead delivery of a $25M+ global data center expansion portfolio across multi-region infrastructure and network security initiatives in a highly regulated banking environment
• Drive execution across complex, multi-stream initiatives, aligning business and technology stakeholders across engineering, infrastructure, security and operations
• Translate strategic objectives into execution plans, ensuring alignment between IT delivery and business priorities
• Navigate ambiguity and evolving requirements, structuring delivery plans and aligning stakeholders to maintain execution momentum
• Own end-to-end delivery governance, including roadmap, prioritization, risks, dependencies and execution tracking
• Chair senior decision forums, providing transparent reporting, escalation management and actionable recommendations
• Identify and resolve cross-functional risks, bottlenecks and misalignments to ensure predictable delivery outcomes
• Lead transformation from waterfall to hybrid delivery model, improving execution speed, visibility and cross-team coordination
• Oversee portfolio financials, including budget tracking, cost control and alignment with business value and benefits realization
• Line manage and mentor Project Managers in EMEA, strengthening delivery capabilities and execution quality
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, supporting decision-making through structured analysis, trade-offs and execution recommendations

Global PMO Manager – IT & Network Managed Services at Ericsson (2017-06 – 2023-01)

Led delivery of large-scale IT and transformation programs across global managed services environments, coordinating multi-stream execution across Europe, North America and Asia

• Led delivery of large-scale IT and transformation programs across global managed services environments, coordinating multi-stream execution across Europe, North America and Asia
• Managed a global project management function of 40+ Project Managers, enabling delivery of 200+ annual initiatives across multiple client environments
• Defined and implemented delivery governance, operating models and execution frameworks to improve predictability, efficiency, cost optimization and business alignment
• Enabled delivery at scale by aligning demand, capacity and execution priorities across complex, matrix organizations
• Drove improvements in delivery effectiveness by embedding agile and hybrid ways of working across global teams
• Led process optimization initiatives to improve efficiency, reduce delivery cycle time and increase service quality
• Partnered with senior stakeholders and strategic vendors, providing advisory support on delivery strategy, execution risks and transformation initiatives
• Built high-performing PM community, including capability development, mentoring, succession planning and performance management

Local PMO Manager at Ericsson (2017-01 – 2017-05)

Led a local team of 30 Project Managers supporting global delivery operations across multiple concurrent programs

• Led a local team of 30 Project Managers supporting global delivery operations across multiple concurrent programs
• Owned resource allocation and capacity planning, ensuring optimal deployment of project management capability across 100+ annual initiatives
• Aligned local delivery execution with global governance and strategic priorities
• Standardized delivery practices across Agile, Waterfall and hybrid environments to improve execution consistency
• Led recruitment, onboarding and development of Project Managers, strengthening delivery capabilities within the organization

PMO Excellence Manager at Ericsson (2016-01 – 2016-12)

Supported large-scale transformation and integration of IT & Network Managed Services delivery organization

• Supported large-scale transformation and integration of IT & Network Managed Services delivery organization
• Stabilized delivery operations by strengthening governance, standards and execution frameworks
• Improved onboarding, capacity planning and delivery readiness across global PM teams
• Ensured alignment between delivery practices, organizational objectives and transformation goals

Project Portfolio Manager (Middle East) at Ericsson (2015-04 – 2016-12)

Managed a regional portfolio of customer and transformation initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic and operational objectives

• Managed a regional portfolio of customer and transformation initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic and operational objectives
• Provided executive-level visibility, prioritization and escalation management across the portfolio
• Led cross-functional coordination across delivery, pre-sales and transformation programs
• Acted as a trusted advisor to regional stakeholders on delivery planning, risk management and execution strategy

ICT Project Manager at Ericsson (2015-01 – 2016-12)

Delivered end-to-end customer implementation projects and managed multinational IT and network infrastructure initiatives

• Delivered end-to-end customer implementation projects
• Managed multinational IT and network infrastructure initiatives
• Led medium-size, medium-risk global projects (200+ PM hours)
• Coordinated international teams of ~20 professionals

IT Project Manager at Avon (2013-01 – 2014-12)

Led delivery of IT initiatives within EMEA Supply Chain and finance-related domains, supporting ERP systems and financial processes

• Led delivery of IT initiatives within EMEA Supply Chain and finance-related domains, supporting ERP systems and financial processes
• Worked closely with finance and business stakeholders to align system capabilities with financial reporting, planning and operational needs
• Supported implementation and optimization of ERP and financial reporting solutions, improving data quality and process efficiency
• Managed planning, budget control, risk management and vendor coordination across multiple projects
• Coordinated cross-functional teams including finance, business, and technology stakeholders
• Ensured alignment between IT delivery and business process optimization objectives

IT Project Leader at Avon (2012-01 – 2012-12)

Led internal IT initiatives including planning, budgeting and risk management

• Led internal IT initiatives including planning, budgeting and risk management
• Coordinated cross-functional and international delivery teams

Oracle Programmer at Avon (2008-05 – 2011-12)

Developed enterprise data warehouse and ERP solutions (JD Edwards), supporting financial and operational reporting

• Developed enterprise data warehouse and ERP solutions (JD Edwards), supporting financial and operational reporting
• Built data structures and reporting capabilities enabling finance and business analysis
• Supported integration of financial data across enterprise systems

ERP System Developer at BORG Automotive A/S (2007-01 – 2008-04)

Developed ERP and Oracle-based solutions supporting business operations

• Developed ERP and Oracle-based solutions supporting business operations
• Delivered system integration and business analysis support

MSc Eng in Computer Science – Technical University of Lodz

Postgraduate Studies in Project Management – SGH Warsaw School of Economics