Sujitkumar Shirkar

VP- Information Technology / Infrastructure Director/

Director-IT / Head of Technology / Director Strategy & Governance

 

PROFILE

 

Entrepreneurial-spirited technologist, collaborate closely with multiple locations, functions and stakeholders  within the global organization to build and maintain a scalable, reliable IT infrastructure and manage IT operations. 20+ years of experience as a Technology Leader with extensive Infrastructure and Engineering experience having worked in IT, VFX, Animation, 3D, Film & Video Post-Production Studios in Media & Entertainment Industry. 

 

A research-oriented technology professional with MBA in Information Technology and International Business. Positive, friendly, helpful attitude, enjoy working with people and a Strategic & Solution-focused Technologist.

 

SPECIALITIES

 

·       Strategic and Business Planning with C-Level and Global Executive Management.

·       Complete Infrastructure Project Management, starting from designing, constructions, space and power planning, datacenter design and execution.

·       IT and Systems Infrastructure management and capacity planning.

·       Planning, Designing, Implementing and maintaining dependable and secure infrastructure.

·       Designing, Implementing and Managing cost effective global IT infrastructure and operations.

·       Managing multiple projects, develop/manage budgets and oversee the purchasing of infrastructure technology

·       Information Technology and Security Strategy & road map.

·       Implementing IT Governance and Policies.

·       Budget Management (Capex/Opex), planning, execution and documentation .

·       Strategic Direction to cross functions teams and Leadership support.

·       Built two Tier-3 Datacenter with design, build and Management.

·       Resources, Capacity and Capability Planning and Management.

·       Cost reduction with Workflow Optimization by introducing new technologies.

·       Building, Leading and Managing Global Service Support Team.

·       Leading Information Security (IS), Compliance Assessments, Audits and System Security Planning as per MPAA, ISO27001 standard and Auditing Vendors as a Senior IT Auditor.

·       Cross Platform Integrations with hands on experience with System Architecture, VMware, Linux, OSX, SGI, OneFS, EMC, Isilon, Splunk, Signiant, AR, VR, Stereo, Symantec, Commvault, Autodesk and SAN & NAS Storage technologies.

·       Licensing and Compliance management.

·       Physical security systems Access, CCTV, VESDA, PAC, Fire suppression systems oversight.

·       Disaster Recovery, Business Continuity and Risk Management.

·       Well-versed with SEZ, STPI Technology Park Rules, Regulations and outsource business challenges.

 

ACHIEVEMENTS

 

·       CIO 1000 APAC Award 2021 and 1st winner of CIO-News “TECH NERDS”.

·       Leading COVID-19 Pandemic Task force team to drive significant cost savings on Infrastructure operational cost and ensuring zero-day downtime for mission critical global support teams.

·       Ssuccessfully established global support for Data IO, Render and L2/L3 IT support.

·       Strategically redesigned and deployed network connectivity strategy for Deluxe India Operations to gain cost and bandwidth advantage.

·       Successfully passed Security Audits from Disney (Tier0+Tier1), CDSA, Paramount, Fox, Marvel, GRC.

·       Experience of 15+ Client Studio Audits as senior Auditor for Deluxe Entertainment Studios.

·       Led complete Infrastructure buildout at EyeQube Studios and Deluxe Entertainment.

·       Implemented Linux based Computer Grid Cluster Render Farm at EyeQube Studios.

·       Implemented hybrid storage solution for EFX and Pixion’s DI setup.

       

TRAININGS/COURSE/EVENTS

 

2021: MBA in Information Technology and International Business with A+ Grade.

2017: ITIL Foundation V3 Certification.

2015: Siggraph 2015 Conference – LA (US), CIO Summit 2015 -Sri Lanka, GTC-2013 San Jose.

2011: Stereo 3D film production workshop by Sony India.

2008: ISILON cluster storage management training and attended IBC2008 Broadcast Conf. at Amsterdam.

2007: Application support training from DaVinci on Resolve and Revival and BrightSAN administration training.

EXPERIENCE

 

1st Oct 2012 to till Date (9+ Years): VP - Information Technology at Company3 Method India Pvt ltd (Formerly known as Deluxe Entertainment Services India Pvt. Ltd.) www.company3.com

            Company3 Method India is the biggest Stereo Conversion, VFX and Animation facility of Company3 with growing team of 1500+ employees. The infrastructure is virtualized with VMware and equipped with 1000+ HP/Dell Workstations, 2PB+ of Isilon Clustered Storage, Render Farm, FortiGate, Arista and Cisco switching with Nexus 9K, Quantel Pablo etc. Production pipeline is 100% digitized and is running on Foundry Nuke and Silhouette with our own state of art pipeline management system.

 

·     An integrated and strategically focused to provide support for executive decision making.

·     Planned, Designed, Implemented and maintaining IT infrastructure for VFX, Animation, Conversion BUs.

·     Infrastructure space, capacity planning, designing, implementing and execution. 

·     Lead the strategic direction of the company to ensure its development, sustainability and growth.

·     Handled multiple company locations, mergers, de-merger and IT consolidations

·     Led COVID-19 Taskforce and WFH initiatives.

·     Manage infrastructure team, focusing on uptime, scalability and security.

·     Provide subject matter expertise and high level leadership support for the senior department heads.

·     Handled SDWAN Deployment and compliance with IRINN.

·     Handled large scale technology rollout while extending operations in new facility.

·     Capex and Opex budgeting, planning and executions.

·     Completed designing and setting up IT Infrastructure expansion projects at Company3.

·     Started with 8 members IT team in 2012 and over the 9 years successfully established centralized global support for Data Transmission, Render Support and L2/L3 IT Support for all StereoD and Company3 operations across globe, currently managing 100 Tech members in the Team.

·     Managing Global connectivity over ILL and IPsec VPN Tunnels and SD WAN.

·     Realized Vision of agile VDI infrastructure using Vmware, HP Thin Client, with 300+ users.

·     Auditing Third Party Vendor for Deluxe Group of Companies with Deluxe Security Team.

·     Led Site Security Group and Technology Audit. Passed Audits with zero remediation in last 9 years.

·     Vendor Management, Resource and capacity planning.

·     Executed IT Strategy to build and manage Two Tier-3 Datacenters, 100% Virtualize Servers Infrastructure, Network Design and 2PB Data management.

·     Signiant based automated data transmission system integrated with proprietary asset management.

 

2nd Jan 2008 to 30th Aug 2012 – (4Years, 8 Months): - IT Manager - EyeQube Studios Pvt Ltd (A division of Eros International) (www.eyeqube.com  / www.erosintl.com )

            EyeQube is known for high end VFX work and had a team of 180+ artists. EyeQube is equipped with 200+ Workstations, ISILON NAS Clustered Storage, Dell Near Line Storage, FCPs, Assimilator Scratch System, 640 CPU render farm, Tape library etc.

 

·     Completely built EyeQube studios Infrastructure, starting from construction, fit out, power, space, cooling, Datacenter, IT Infrastructure, Network operation, Access, CCTV etc.

·     Designed and Implemented 300 CPU Supercomputing Grid Cluster for render farm. Key advantages are two times fast render, parallel rendering, resource sharing and programmable render submission.

·     Responsible for designing, implementing, running and securing IT, Data, Surveillance System and power infrastructure of EyeQube Studios.

·     Worked for parent company Eros Multimedia for evaluating, planning and budgeting Media Asset Management system for their Digital deliveries.

·     Vendor management and negotiation and maintaining servers and resources uptime.

·     Managing Support team and ensuring SLA’s are mate.

 

1st May 2005 to 30th Dec 2007 – (2 Years, 8 Months): IT & DATA Manager, Century Communication Ltd (Pixion). Mumbai (www.pixion.tv )

            Pixion is a post-production studio equipped with DaVinci 2K Plus, Resolve, Revival, Autodesk Smoke, Flame, Backdraft, Lustre, Quantel IQ, eQ and editbox, Sprit 4k Telecine, Northlight scanner, Arrilaser,  FCP, Avid, and 150 Seats VFX workstation

 

·     Responsible for designing, implementing and running IT infrastructure of all Century Communication Ltd (CCL) expansions in Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai, which includes their VFX, Commercials, Online/Offline, Theatrical, Business/Brand promotions team, DI.

·     Establishing DI workflow and DATA workflow for DI division

·     Responsible for providing support for Online, Offline, Film Scanner, DI Systems, Film Recorder, Render farm and CG/VFX System running on Mac and windows.

·     Maintaining 36TB BrightSAN, Discreet Stone shared SAN (20TB) with CXFS and centralize NAS (4TB) for CG Station and 80TB of fully self-designed near line storage.

20th March 2003 to 24th April 2005 – (2Years, 2Month): Systems Administrator, Prasad Corporation Pvt Ltd. (EFX). (www.efxmagic.com / http://www.prasadcorp.com)

            EFX (A division of Prasad Corporation) is post production studio known for DI and commercials. EFX is equipped with Autodesk Smoke, Flame, Sprit 4K, Cintel Telecine with DaVinci 2K, Arrilaser, Oxberry scanner.

 

·     Responsible for the Installation, Administration, Backup and Security of all the system running with Microsoft Windows, SGI’s IRIX and Linux Operating Systems

·     Designed hybrid storage solution, which is mix of SAN, NAS and DAS storage

·     Maintaining SGI systems (O2, Octane, Octen-2 & Tezro)

·     Maintaining DI & Online Systems Nucoda, Luster, Arrilaser and VFX Systems.

·     IT Servers, email and backup management

 

Jan 2000 to Oct 2002: As a System Engineer with Siddhi Computers and Anjneya Computers.

·     Attending & Managing Service Calls and designing IT solutions for client in salse and service industry.

 

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

 

2021 : Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Information Technology and International Business, from       Bharat Vidyapeeth with A+ Grade

2017 : ITIL-Foundation V3 Certification.

2017 : Bachelor of Computer Science Information Technology (BSc-IT) from Sikkim Manipal University.

2004 : RedHat Linux Administration course from LanSmart Institute, Mumbai

2003 : Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE).     

2000 : Advanced Diploma in Computer Hardware and Networking Form Jetking Pune with Honor Grade.

1999 : H.S.C. Science from Kolhapur Board Maharashtra – India

1997 : 1st in 10th Board Exam in Technical Subject, March - 1997  

 

Other

·       Computer Basics form Acharya Computer Services Mumbai

·       Passed Intermediate and elementary examinations in Painting and Hindi language with Honor

 

Painting:   Various District and State level certificates in Painting

 

PERSONAL SUMMARY

 

·       Full Name         : Sujitkumar Ganpat Shirkar

·       Date of Birth    : 16th September 1981

·       Nationality       : Indian

·       Language       : English, Hindi and Marathi

·       VISA                 : US - B1/B2 till 2030

 

CONTACT DETAILS

 

Residential Address :-  

D-2103, Panchshil Towers.

Near EON IT Park Phase II, Kharadi, Pune - 411014 Maharashtra- India

 

Mobile                         : +91 9820857508        

Email                           : sujitkumar_shirkar@hotmail.com & sujit@shirkar.com

LinkedIn Profile            : https://www.linkedin.com/in/sujitkumarshirkar/ 

Skype                           : Sujitkumar.Shirkar

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

 

Juergen Kantenwein Head of Technical Marketing @ Codex, (Ref. LinkedIn Profile)

 

“I got to know Sujit at Pixion Mumbai- Film and Video Postproduction House where I was asked to do technical Design and Implementation.

Sujit joined the company and shortly after he took over full responsibility as IT Manager. His fast and clear orientation on the job, the prompt utilization of his skills got the whole organization smoothly into the next level of IT structure and Workflow orientated Data handling.

His interpersonal skills are on a very high level. The communication and teamwork with Sujit was -especially for me as an International Consultant - highly motivating. Sujit is a straight, solution orientated IT Professional with high motivation for his Team´s efforts.

I wish him all the best for his future!

Juergen Kantenwein”