Saravanan Palanivel

Mortgage System Upgrade (MSS 5.5 to MSS 6.2) & AWS Cloud Migration
Role: Program Lead / Project Manager

Led the successful delivery of the Mortgage Servicing System (MSS) upgrade from version 5.5 to 6.2 and supported strategic AWS cloud migration initiatives as part of Nationwide Building Society's digital transformation program. Collaborated closely with business stakeholders, architects, developers, infrastructure teams, and vendors to modernize mortgage servicing platforms, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen technology foundations.

• Led assessment and planning activities, evaluating existing MSS environments, application dependencies, integration points, and upgrade readiness.
• Defined migration and upgrade strategies, including phased deployment approaches, rollback plans, and downtime minimization procedures.
• Provided technical leadership for MSS 6.2 implementation, application server upgrades, middleware integrations, and infrastructure modernization.
• Directed end-to-end project delivery using Agile methodologies, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Oversaw regression, integration, performance, and security testing activities to ensure platform stability and compliance.
• Coordinated with business owners, development teams, DBAs, infrastructure teams, and vendors to manage deliverables and timelines.
• Led AWS migration assessments, identifying application workloads suitable for re-hosting, re-platforming, and cloud adoption.
• Contributed to cloud architecture design, including networking, IAM security controls, operational monitoring, and governance frameworks.
• Drove implementation of CI/CD pipelines, automation processes, and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices to accelerate deployments.
• Managed project risks, issue resolution, stakeholder communications, governance reporting, and executive updates.
• Mentored delivery teams, facilitated knowledge transfer sessions, and ensured operational readiness during go-live and post-production support.

• Led technical guidance on application server upgrades (e.g., JBoss EAP), middleware, and integration points, enhancing system reliability.
• Migration execution: Lead engineers in re-hosting, re-platforming, or refactoring applications for AWS.
• AWS Migration: Discovery and assessment: Identify on-premises infrastructure, applications, and workloads for migration.
• Architecture design: Define cloud-native patterns, networking, IAM roles, and security controls.
• Automation and CI/CD: Implement pipelines, IaC (Infrastructure as Code), and monitoring for smooth migration.
• Risk management: Anticipate technical risks, design mitigation strategies, and ensure business continuity.
• Testing and validation: Oversee regression, performance, and security testing to ensure compliance and stability.
• Stakeholder communication: Coordinate with business owners, DBAs, and developers to align upgrade timelines and expectations.
• Defined and implemented phased upgrade strategy, including rollback plans and downtime minimisation measures, to ensure seamless transitions.
• Knowledge transfer: Mentor team members, document processes, and ensure operational readiness post-migration.
• Trained and mentored employees to maximise team performance.
• Managed and developed a team of 45 professionals, fostering collaboration and driving project success.
• Collaborated with team members to achieve target results.
• Resolved customer queries and problems using effective communication and providing step-by-step solutions.
• Managed complaints with calm, clear communication and problem-solving.
• Maintained clean, safe working environments to eliminate accident risks.
• Worked within MSS 6.2 Suite environment, including Oracle 19.3 and AWS EC2 Instance.
• Evaluate MSS 6.1 environment, dependencies, and compatibility for transition planning to 6.2.
• IBM has 10+ years of 'partnership' with Nationwide Building Society. IBM and Nationwide Building Society have partnered to drive AI adoption, IT asset management optimization, and digital transformation. The collaboration focuses on using IBM's expertise in generative AI, risk management, and IT asset management programmes to modernise Nationwide's operations, improve customer service, and reduce costs.

• Role: Senior Datastage Developer
• Environment: IBM Infosphere Datastage - ETL - For Building the transformation layer, IBM DB2 - Database for Staging and Transformation, Keysight's Egg Plant - Testing Automation tool, IBM Sterling Connect Direct - File Transfer, JIRA - Test and Defect management, GITLAB -Configuration Management and Version controlling, IBM Infosphere OPTIM - Data Archival, IBM Filenet Content Manager - Document Management.
• Led simplification program to migrate bank's mortgage business from vendor platforms to Mortgage and Savings Suite in AWS, improving operational efficiency.
• Overcome Operational Limitations, Non-resilient, Older technology stacks, Frequent outages, Reduction of Maintenance cost, Dedicated data Centres Red DCs (Leek & Tytherington) and the Green DC (Plymouth) for Mortgages and Savings applications, Dedicated vendor (CAPITA) support for Green Mortgages application (TAMAR), Resilient and Modernized System, Migration of Savings Business to Bank's existing Mainframe Systems, Mortgage Business Migration to new 'Blue' AWS Cloud.
• Participated in code reviews, upholding high standards of quality and promoting best practices among the development team.
• Managed system testing and validation procedures, ensuring enhanced reliability and performance of applications.
• Customised content management systems to meet client requirements, providing tailored solutions that improved user engagement and satisfaction.
• IBM has 10+ years of 'partnership' with The Co-Operative Bank of UK and provides logical support for Middleware (WAS & MQ), Mainframes, DB2, Oracle and Datastage.
• Collaborated with a diverse team of 25 professionals

• Led technical team of 12 professionals to deliver complex IT projects within tight deadlines.
• Managed team of 12 members, ensuring successful execution of multiple projects in a dynamic environment.
• Collaborated on various work streams, including re-platforming legacy applications, historic data retention, data migration, document reprint, and decommissioning efforts.
• ATP is a multi-year IT & Business process transformation programme to transform end to end IT and business processes from submission management through underwriting, policy servicing, billings, collections, treasury, claims, reinsurance, regulatory and financial reporting.
• IBM has 10+ years of 'partnership' with FFIC(AGCS) and supports over 90% of their IT landscape.
• Environment: Languages: Base SAS, SAS/Connect, SAS/Macros, Advanced SAS, SQL, JCL, Linux Scripting. Database: DB2. O/s: Windows, Linux, ZOS. Tools: IBM Infosphere V 11.5, ClearCase, FileZilla, AnthillPro, uDeploy, Service Now, JIRA.

• Developed RECEIVABLES TIMELINESS FACILITY (RTF) to enable FFIC to track and regulate agency billed and direct billed receivables.
• Monitored premium collection and duration held before claims disbursement to support profitability analysis for insurance company.
• Collaborated within a team of 10 to manage data-related projects.
• Environment: Languages: Base SAS, SAS/Connect, SAS/Macros, Advanced SAS, SQL, JCL, Linux Scripting. Database: DB2. O/s: Windows, Linux, ZOS. Tools: ClearCase, FileZilla, AnthillPro, uDeploy, Endevor, ESP, Syncsort.

• Led MI Application Rationalization project, migrating legacy mainframe reporting applications to Enterprise Business Intelligence (Cognos Environment).
• Developed management information system applications to streamline data access and reporting.
• Collaborated with 15 professionals to deliver project objectives and enhance team synergy.

• Acted as Solution Engineer, collaborating with a team of 10 to deliver effective solutions.
• Implemented EPAS ODS as Operational Data Store for EPAS policies, enhancing data accessibility.
• Collaborated with a team of 10 members to achieve project goals.

• Managed end-to-end lifecycle of software development projects, from concept to deployment.
• Managed application development projects from start to completion, including planning, design and development.
• Worked using Agile methodology to develop design and direction for new applications.
• Collaborated with team of 13 to 15 members to create software solutions that address user needs.
• Role: Application Developer