Shona Lahiri

Execution-focused technology executive with 15+ years of progressive leadership across Fortune 500 multinational organizations, with a proven track record of delivering reliable, cost-effective IT operations across complex multi-site environments. Experienced reporting to and partnering with CFOs to align technology investment with business performance — managing to uptime, resolution time, total cost of ownership, and operational efficiency metrics. Deep expertise in enterprise platform management, cybersecurity, service delivery, M&A integration, and vendor management.

Skilled at establishing centralized IT standards while preserving local responsiveness — keeping distributed teams productive and systems running. A hands-on operator who builds scalable IT organizations, drives measurable cost reduction, and delivers technology as a dependable business service.

Senior Director | IT Strategy (VP-Equivalent Scope) at Johnson Controls (2024-01 – Present)

Provide executive oversight of $250M+ enterprise IT portfolio spanning 130-150 concurrent projects across multi-site North American and global operations, with accountability for platform governance, cloud architecture standards (AWS, Azure), SLA/SLO frameworks, observability (Datadog, Grafana), and continuous improvement across all managed systems. Govern multi-year technology roadmap aligned to business strategy across cloud infrastructure, ERP, automation, AI/ML, and operational platforms.

Deployed

Plantier to standardize procurement and finance data across operating units, enabling consistent reporting and cost governance. Partnered with CFO and finance leadership to deliver technology as a reliable business service — managing to availability, resolution time, and cost-to-serve metrics. Manage up to seven direct reports and 55-60 full-time employees and contractors throughout North America, LATAM, APAC, and EMEA.

Lead cross-functional steering committees and governance forums with C-Suite stakeholders, aligning cross-functional transformation initiatives with corporate goals.

• Spearheaded introduction of new three-phased rollout strategy for global ERP implementation; decreased post-go-live labor needs by 60%+, achieving zero escalations with significant reductions in manufacturing downtime.
• Enlisted by senior leadership to manage additional executive duties for multiple departments as a trusted leader able to effectively translate CIO directives to business unit and IT heads as well as 3rd party implementation consultants.
• Orchestrated and participated in 10+ monthly operations reviews, program / project meetings, and town hall events, met with C-Suite executives and PMOs to drive greater efficiencies, boosting bottom-line profitability exponentially.
• Successfully established new KPIs and reporting models, tracking prioritization frameworks and metrics related to resource capacity planning and rapid issue resolution to boost organizational efficiency while reducing expenses.
• Identified opportunities for staff professional development, fostering continuous improvements in overall performance; assessed team strengths, promoting from within whenever possible, optimizing productivity while decreasing churn.
• Built portfolio governance structures (intake, prioritization, risk controls) that map directly to Responsible AI & LEAN lifecycle governance, including model oversight, risk evaluation, and compliance alignment.
• Established KPI and reporting models for prioritization, resource capacity, and issue resolution—frameworks now extendable to AI & LEAN adoption metrics, model performance KPIs, and ROI measurement.
• Deployed AI and workflow automation to consolidate sales data from multiple systems, eliminating manual reporting overhead and driving a targeted increase in productive selling time from 11 to 25 hours annually in Year 1 — directly accelerating revenue capacity.
• Translated business directives into product‑aligned roadmaps, a foundation for AI product lifecycle management and continuous improvement.
• Strengthened enterprise server security by deploying Qualys for continuous vulnerability scanning and monitoring, combined with Guardicore and CrowdStrike agents across all servers — significantly reducing cyber risk exposure and establishing a proactive defense posture across the infrastructure estate.
• Led cross‑functional forums with business, IT, PMO, and risk stakeholders—mirroring the influence‑based leadership model required for enterprise portfolios.
• Introduced structured measurement practices that can be applied to AI value realization, including cost‑benefit analysis and impact tracking

Director | Enterprise Transformation and M&A at Johnson Controls (2021-01 – 2024-01)

Managed a $120M budget, directing complex ERP transformations (SAP / Oracle) involving post-merger consolidations related to finance, supply chain, and operations. Assessed potential acquisition targets, conducting comprehensive IT due diligence to evaluate infrastructure, systems, and applications. Identified potential risks, opportunities, and synergies, establishing repeatable playbooks for M&A integrations.

Partnered closely with executive leaders to define value realization frameworks and transformation KPIs. Oversaw strategic vendor relationships and led technology platform evaluations to support integration objectives and ensure long-term scalability.

• Collaborated with CFO of M&A team, determining IT costs related to potential mergers and divestitures; delegated tasks discreetly to various directors and managers to ensure compliance with non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).
• Communicated with IT teams, business leaders, and functional resources to ensure alignment throughout M&A process, conferring with stakeholders to provide integration status and rectify mission-critical escalations.
• Created high-level succession planning strategies, building out learning and development (L&D) plan along with employee recognition program to enhance team engagement and maximize employee retention.
• Directed transformation application portfolio governance, addressing risk management while ensuring continual compliance with delivery standards across the enterprise; accelerated synergy realization with minimal disruption.
• Directly owned audit remediation and compliance obligations for the Americas region, partnering with security and risk functions to track findings, drive closure, and maintain platform governance through observability and monitoring tooling; built scalable IT support structure across distributed locations, balancing centralized standards with local responsiveness to keep operations running smoothly; recognized for program outcomes and offered opportunity to lead global organization in the UK prior to rejoining Johnson Controls.

Director | Regional IT Leader, Americas (Regional CIO Equivalent) at Reckitt (formerly Reckitt Benckiser) (2020-01 – 2021-12)

Served as the senior technology executive for the Americas region across multiple sites and operating locations — functioning as Regional CIO for this $10B British multinational. Held full accountability for regional IT strategy, infrastructure, platform governance, cybersecurity, end-user services, and technology investment across the Americas. Translated global IT strategy into regional execution while adapting centralized standards to meet local business needs.

Built and led the regional IT organization, overseeing all vendor relationships, service delivery, compliance obligations, and transformation programs. British multinational manufacturer of health, hygiene, and home products. Delivered strategic roadmap for multi-year transformation to modernize and scale organization leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), Cloud technology (AWS, Azure), and automation solutions.

Established project management office, creating standardized transition and delivery methodologies to support outsourcing, offshoring, and operational handoffs across the global organization.

• Owned regional IT budget and vendor portfolio, establishing performance metrics and accountability frameworks across all technology services; developed and implemented project delivery governance that was recognized and adopted across the entire $10B global organization.
• Drove regional technology investment strategy and cloud cost governance across multiple locations, partnering directly with Americas business leader