Allen Fazio
Mission Viejo,CA
Summary
Senior Business and Technology Executive with extensive experience in financial management and technology transformation. Proven ability to drive results in complex, multi-brand environments as part of senior leadership teams. Recognized for developing consumer-facing solutions that enhance competitive positioning. Expertise in data analytics and security, with a commitment to leading high-performing IT teams and staying current with emerging technologies.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Global CIO of Houlihan Lokey
Houlihan Lokey
01.2014 - Current
- Hired by firm leadership to transform the digital footprint of the firm to provide an Eco System that allows the best bankers on the planet to drive more value for their clients and increased fees for the firm.
- Transformed legacy systems to support dramatic growth of the company. Revenue tripled in a 5 Year Period with over a dozen additional offices opened around the globe. Completed 8 M&A integrations in last 5 years. 3 Planned for this year.
- Implemented entire data architecture allowing the power of the firm’s data to enhance client interactions and help win mandates.
- A leading global investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructuring, valuation, and strategic consulting.
Vice President of Global Technology Strategy
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
01.2010 - Current
- Selected to lead a global team responsible for global technology demand and strategic planning under a single governance model. Governed $1.1B in CAPEX technology projects from concept to inclusion in the 5 Year plan mapped to business strategies.
- Provided long term vision and strategy for consumerization of technology and program development that leveraged the size and scale of the global organization; drove efficiency in technology utilization, a more homogeneous technology footprint, and lower cost of delivery by establishing long term relationships based on long term frameworks. Evaluated emerging technologies that would have a material impact on both the Guest experience and the technology operating budget.
- Spearheaded Cloud software development efforts with focus on Platform and Software as Service solutions.
- Leader of 40M cost reduction effort focused on improved leverage of existing assets and contracts, lower cost support models (Offshore / Nearshore), and a more homogeneous technology footprint.
- $13B segment of The Walt Disney Company. One of 5 major business segments encompassing 5 world-class vacation destinations with 11 theme parks and 43 resorts in North America, Europe, and Asia; the Disney Cruise Line with 4 ships; Disney Vacation Club with 12 properties; and Adventures by Disney providing guided family vacation experiences worldwide. Business attracts 43M visitors/year and has 125,000 employees worldwide. Technology organization of 1200 internal and 1,300 external resources. Directly led teams from 35 – 350 depending on role and objectives.
CIO of The Word & Brown Companies
The Word & Brown Companies
01.2014 - 01.2017
- Challenged by Ownership to increase the overall liquidation value of the company by bringing innovative solutions to market and increasing market share while leveraging legacy technology stack.
- Increase sale multiplier from 10X to 18X in under three years. Divested 4 of 8 divisions with a 5th under consideration. Grew core business by 100% in under 2 years with life’s insured growing from 200,000 to over 400,000. Led divestiture of Conexis, Quotit, Health Compare, and the Word and Brown Medicare Brokerage from a technology perspective. Stabilized IT Team reducing turnover from 24% to 5%, increased project success rate from 60% to over 85%.
- Since 1985, Word and Brown and its sister companies have been recognized leaders in the health insurance and employee benefits industry establishing the largest multi-carrier, small group private exchange and continue to bring innovative technology and solutions to broker community.
CIO of the Disneyland Resort & Walt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
01.2005 - 01.2010
- Promoted to dual leadership role for two separate large-scale organizations reporting to the Presidents of each organization. Turned around a $2.5B business with 20,000 employees that experienced 5 straight years of declining operating income and margin. Member of executive team tasked with reversing negative business indicators.
- Balanced outsourcing of End User Computing Services and Data Center functions while inspiring internal team to deliver creative guest facing solutions that transformed the consumer experience. Implemented analytical capabilities to improve the overall effectiveness of the Marketing division and increased revenue per guest.
- Role expanded to include segment Sales & Marketing systems in 2009. Delivered several new capabilities related to Web, Mobile, Social Media, CRM and Call Center capabilities. Implemented the company’s first social listening command center and 'PIN'ed' individualized marketing solution.
- Transformed consumer experience through several industry firsts, including Web Based Print-At-Home ticketing and real-time conversion of ticket media – expanded into the first mobile ticketing application.
- Expanded the Annual Pass Program by implementing monthly payment capabilities (60% Growth).
- Reduced year over year OPEX by 20% through outsourcing and vendor management solutions.
- Developed industries most advanced multi-platform (Web, Mobile, Call Center) dining reservation system resulting in an increase in revenue of 15% ($150M).
- Implemented property-wide cellular solution to improve both guest and cast communications. Implemented Sprint iDen Radio network and replaced with AT&T in 2013.
- $13B segment of The Walt Disney Company. One of 5 major business segments encompassing 5 world-class vacation destinations with 11 theme parks and 43 resorts in North America, Europe, and Asia; the Disney Cruise Line with 4 ships; Disney Vacation Club with 12 properties; and Adventures by Disney providing guided family vacation experiences worldwide. Business attracts 43M visitors/year and has 125,000 employees worldwide. Technology organization of 1200 internal and 1,300 external resources. Directly led teams from 35 – 350 depending on role and objectives.
Director of Technology, Disney Cruise Line
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
01.1999 - 01.2005
- Promoted to lead technology team at $1.5B new business start-up with rapid growth expectations. Replaced launch team with go forward leadership team and repaired negative relationship between the business and technology teams by building trust. Improved stability and performance of major systems allowing team focus on industry first capabilities that contributed to being ranked as the top Cruise/Family Cruise Line 2 years after initial launch.
- Launched industries first web-based advanced reservation capability allowing guests to reserve dining, shore excursions, spa visits, and children programming experiences. Improved all consumer metrics including 'mean time to Pina Colada' and raised consumer satisfaction with the on-boarding experience by 34%. Platform allowed business to maintain a competitive advantage over other Cruise Lines for over 6 years.
- Piloted enhanced consumer engagement experience leveraging the WiFi wristbands used in the children’s program area to bring additional magic to the Character Meet and Greets held nightly in the ship’s atrium. Pilot is being expanded as part of 2014 launch of My Magic Plus at Walt Disney World.
- $13B segment of The Walt Disney Company. One of 5 major business segments encompassing 5 world-class vacation destinations with 11 theme parks and 43 resorts in North America, Europe, and Asia; the Disney Cruise Line with 4 ships; Disney Vacation Club with 12 properties; and Adventures by Disney providing guided family vacation experiences worldwide. Business attracts 43M visitors/year and has 125,000 employees worldwide. Technology organization of 1200 internal and 1,300 external resources. Directly led teams from 35 – 350 depending on role and objectives.
Disney World Computer Audit and IT Management
01.1993 - 01.1999
Coopers and Lybrand
01.1989 - 01.1993
- CPA & SR. EDP AUDITOR
Education
MBA - Business Administration
Webster University
Orlando, FL01.1996
BBA - Accounting Information Systems
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI01.1988
Skills
- Business transformation and organizational development
- New product development and revenue generation
- Cost optimization strategies
- Strategic technology planning
- Innovation for profitability
- Business and IT alignment
Certification
- CPA, Certified Public Accountant, Michigan, 1991
- CISA, Certified Information Security Auditor, 1993
Phone Numbers
949.770.2323, 714.322.9742
Community Service
- Children’s Hospital of Orange County Foundation Board (CHOC), 01/01/05, 01/01/14, Completed $500M capital campaign in 2013 for hospital expansion. Appointed to the Hospital’s Audit Committee in 2008. Chairman of Corporate Giving Committee. 2013 Board Member of the year.
- Orange County CIO Board – University of California, Irvine / UC Irvine School of Technology, 01/01/05, Present, Founded organization that leverages solutions across the top CIO’s in Orange County. Center for Digital Transformation – University of California Irvine.
- Orange County Boy Scouts, 2017, Recognized as an Orange County Man of Character.
Additional Information - Board Of Directors
Tierpoint – a US leader in datacenters and technology location services.
Professional Highlights
- Over $2B in increased company earnings while in executive technology positions.
- IT Transformation expert, taking underperforming IT organizations and creating dramatic increases in output and value.
- Transformed consumer experience through Annual Pass Monthly Payment program resulting in a 41% increase in sales and $1.2B in incremental revenue during first 5 years of the program.
- Implemented Business Liaison concept to improve linkage with Strategic Business Objectives, overall portfolio return on investment, and quality of business requirements resulting in a 12% increase in ROI of technology initiatives.
- Designed and deployed low cost mobile technology solution that permanently eliminated $9M of ticket fraud.
- Moved from project centric focus to Strategic Program based focus resulting in innovative solutions being adopted across the company in a dynamic fashion. Business solutions moved from location focused to global. Over a five year period, drove the number of common systems from 11 to 65 and eliminated $45M of redundant technology investment in the five year plan.
- Improved overall team performance by focusing on a common goal, celebrating successes and creating an environment where individuals were excited about their contributions. Resulted in lowest turnover of top performers in the division for over eight years.
Timeline
Global CIO of Houlihan Lokey
Houlihan Lokey
01.2014 - Current
CIO of The Word & Brown Companies
The Word & Brown Companies
01.2014 - 01.2017
Vice President of Global Technology Strategy
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
01.2010 - Current
CIO of the Disneyland Resort & Walt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
01.2005 - 01.2010
Director of Technology, Disney Cruise Line
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
01.1999 - 01.2005
Disney World Computer Audit and IT Management
01.1993 - 01.1999
Coopers and Lybrand
01.1989 - 01.1993
MBA - Business Administration
Webster University
BBA - Accounting Information Systems
Eastern Michigan University