Firras Sabbah - Partner | Transformation Expert

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Experience

Jul 2021 - Present

4 years 1 month

Leading a large-scale digital transformation project for one of Saudi Arabia's largest shipping companies.- Executing various large-scale digital transformation projects across industries including financial services and logistics.- Implementing digital marketing strategies, including channel mix and an online-to-offline approach alongside customer experience strategies.- Driving organizational transformation focused on agile delivery culture and tribe-based product teams.- Enhancing online distribution channels, addressing work streams such as customer experience, pricing, underwriting, and issuing.- Supporting requests for project proposals regarding tech stack replacement and migration strategies.- Designing IT target architecture in alignment with the organization's digital strategy and distribution plans.- Providing in-depth project management for comprehensive digital transformation projects.

May 2019 - Jul 2021

2 years 3 months

Founded Go! Insurance, aimed to become Thailand and South-East Asia's first fully digital health insurer.- Established a startup focused on simplifying insurance distribution and product offerings.- Planned and executed actions across various business pillars, including tech development, legal, business development, and HR.- Secured $500k in pre-seed investments from institutional and private investors across Europe and Asia.- Participated in the Insurtech Hub Accelerator Munich (May to July 2019), forming several business partnerships in Thailand.- Presented products in events such as Digital Insurance Agenda Munich (November 2019), Insurtech Insights Hongkong (November 2019), and Digital Insurance Agenda Hongkong (December 2019).

Jan 2016 - Apr 2019

2 years 4 months

Established a digital ecosystem offering services and products across sales and service channels.- Supported the business in developing new collaborative methods with partners.- Initiated and led the development of a motor direct platform fully dedicated to online business generation (go-live in Q2/2019). - Oversaw Allianz Thailand's IT target architecture and delivery based on ACS, APAC’s core insurance system.- Managed €5 million yearly financial budgets for all digital initiatives aiming to improve lead generation, productivity, and cost reduction.- Maintained business-as-usual operations while optimizing customer and third-party platforms.- Supervised and managed 35 full-time employees, including architects, team leads, developers, and business analysts.- Ensured IT target architecture alignment with Allianz Group’s IT strategy, meeting current and future market demands.- Engaged with startups and digital companies to explore innovative ideas and expand online business opportunities.- Advocated agile and experimental approaches to gain early organizational insights.

Jul 2016 - Dec 2016

6 months

Analyzed and gathered requirements from life insurance agents at Allianz Ayudhya to develop the mobile sales application Allianz Discover (launched in December 2017).- Incorporated industry trends into functionalities, including campaigns, lead management, and social event modules for the application.- Collaborated with a regional team to identify and integrate best practices into a blueprint for the application.- Provided business and customer context to delivery teams for optimizing lead management and follow-up coordination.- Continuously optimized products through regular customer and user experience testing.- Monitored progress through key performance indicators and escalated when required to ensure timeline adherence.

Sep 2014 - Feb 2016

1 year 6 months

Conceptualized the startup offering a mobile platform for homemade food.- Oversaw sourcing and staffing of developers, business analysts, designers, and support professionals.- Secured private investor interests to fund the development phase.- Successfully applied for national and European funding programs, securing funding of €10,000.- Coordinated market release planning, joint sprint reviews, and Foodlr mobile application go-live.

Feb 2014 - Jun 2016

2 years 5 months

Analyzed technical, financial, and operational environments of APAC Allianz entities.- Forecasted expenses related to AIT and proposed solutions to lower costs, including in-country/off-shore service splits.- Conducted cross-country analyses to identify optimization potentials for APAC, including regulatory workarounds and alternate pricing setups.- Developed a project delivery plan, regularly tracked milestones, and communicated progress and risks to C-level stakeholders.- Created an onboarding blueprint based on best practices and lessons from other regions.

Feb 2010 - Aug 2010

7 months

Melbourne, Australia

Majored in International Business, Online Marketing, and Strategic Human Resource Management.

Oct 2007 - Aug 2013

5 years 11 months

Majored in International Management, Innovation, Corporate Governance, and Organization.- Conducted a thesis analyzing "Board heterogeneity and top management characteristics influencing market reactions in cross-border acquisitions."