ConsultingMar 2011 — Oct 2014 · 3 yrs 8 mos

Head of Enterprise Architecture, Europe

InterGlobe Technologies

Head of Enterprise Architecture for InterGlobe Technologies (IGT) in Europe. I built a 15-member Architecture & Design function from the ground up — delivering £1.5M+ in annual revenue — while architecting SITA's passenger and border management platforms and growing IGT's SITA business into a second business line. Recognised with IGT's Game Changer Award in 2014.

Annual revenue from the function I built: £1.5M+; Annual revenue from the function I built
SITA account grown into a second business line: PSS → GSL; SITA account grown into a second business line
Member Architecture & Design function: 15; Member Architecture & Design function
Governments that bought iBorders: Oman and Saudi Arabia: 2; Governments that bought iBorders: Oman and Saudi Arabia

Context

SITA, the air transport industry's technology provider, was modernising its passenger service systems and building out a government line of business around border management.

As Head of Enterprise Architecture for IGT in Europe, I led the architecture on both fronts — and turned our delivery credibility in one SITA business line into new work in another.

Role & scope

Role: Head of Enterprise Architecture, Europe
Function: Built a 15-member Architecture & Design function from the ground up, across the UK, US and India
Revenue: £1.5M+ a year from architectural strategy, solution design and enterprise technology direction
Clients: SITA (Passenger Service Systems and Government Service Line); Travelport
Account growth: Grew IGT's SITA business from passenger systems into the Government Service Line
Pre-sales: Led RFI/RFP proposals across clients, for opportunities worth $2M to $20M
Recognition: IGT Game Changer Award, 2014

Key achievements

Growing the SITA account

Challenge: IGT's work with SITA was concentrated in a single business line: passenger service systems.
Approach: Used the credibility we built delivering SITA's passenger systems to open the door to its Government Service Line — and shaped the architecture that won the work.
Outcome: IGT's SITA business grew from passenger systems into the Government Service Line — recognised with IGT's Game Changer Award in 2014.

Modernising SITA's passenger service system

Challenge: SITA's Voyager Passenger Management and Distribution platform — reservations, ticketing, inventory, check-in and departure control — needed a modern, service-oriented architecture that could scale with growing carriers.
Approach: Produced the reference architecture and functional design on Oracle SOA Suite; identified the services; designed token-based authentication and authorisation across every layer; defined the service and message versioning strategy; led performance and capacity tuning; and worked with the programme's other solution architects to keep integration seamless.

Border management with SITA iBorders

Challenge: Oman needed to modernise border security while speeding up travel for the low-risk majority of travellers.
Approach: Lead Architect for SITA iBorders in Oman — an integrated border management solution that combines risk assessment of traveller data with the tools to manage, monitor and operate border controls, focusing resources on higher-risk travellers.
Outcome: iBorders was purchased by Oman and Saudi Arabia.

An Architecture & Design function, built from the ground up

Challenge: IGT had no dedicated Architecture & Design function — it had to be built alongside live client delivery.
Approach: Built and led a 15-member function across the UK, US and India; led RFI/RFP proposals across clients for $2M–$20M opportunities; and established reusable architecture standards and delivery methods adopted across client engagements.
Outcome: £1.5M+ in annual revenue through architectural strategy, solution design and enterprise-wide technology direction.

Highlights

Built a 15-member Architecture & Design function from the ground up, delivering £1.5M+ in annual revenue.
Grew IGT's SITA business from passenger systems into SITA's Government Service Line — recognised with IGT's Game Changer Award (2014).
Lead Architect for SITA iBorders border management, purchased by Oman and Saudi Arabia; Architect for the modernisation of SITA's Voyager passenger service system on Oracle SOA Suite.
Led RFI/RFP proposals for clients including SITA and Travelport, for opportunities worth $2M to $20M.

How I led

Building an architecture business from zero

The situation: There was no dedicated Architecture & Design function — and it had to be built while I was leading live architecture for SITA.
What I did: I built and grew a 15-member function across the UK, US and India, set shared standards and delivery methods, and led RFI/RFP proposals across clients — while staying hands-on as SITA's architect.
What changed: A function delivering £1.5M+ in annual revenue, and a SITA account that grew into a second business line — recognised with IGT's Game Changer Award in 2014.

Earn the next piece of work through the current one: delivery is the best business development.
Run a team across three countries as one practice, with shared standards and methods.
Work as one architecture community with the client's own solution architects.

In their words

“Srini joined SITA as a Solution Architect and brought a solution to the acute and long standing issues.”

Senior Software Engineer, Global Relay · Worked with Srini

All testimonials →

Lessons

Credibility is the most valuable thing a consultant builds. Deliver well in one business line and the client will invite you into the next.

Technology & domain

Oracle SOA Suite
Token-based authentication & authorisation
Service & message versioning
Performance & capacity tuning
Passenger service systems (PSS)
Reservations & departure control
Border management
Traveller risk assessment

Contact

Let's talk.

I'm based in London, UK. Whether it's a leadership role, an advisory engagement or a transformation that needs shaping — my inbox is open.

srini.vankee@gmail.com