Gustavo Leal

Gerente de Sistemas de Información y Tecnología en Forza Delivery Express, liderando la estrategia tecnológica corporativa bajo los pilares de Modernización, Operación, Innovación y Datos. Mi rol está orientado a transformar la función de TI en un habilitador estratégico para el negocio, consolidando una visión corporativa que integra arquitectura empresarial, seguridad, desarrollo ágil, gestión de datos y excelencia operativa. En poco más de un mes de gestión, hemos trabajado en fortalecer y garantizar la operación, logrando hitos de estabilización en muy corto plazo, reflejados en mejoras medibles de desempeño y continuidad de servicios. Estos avances son la base para la etapa de modernización y expansión que estamos impulsando. Actualmente llevamos adelante la Hoja de Ruta 2025–2026, que contempla: Automatización de QA y adopción de CI/CD para acelerar la entrega de valor. Migración progresiva a microservicios y despliegue de observabilidad avanzada para plataformas resilientes y escalables. Construcción de un ecosistema de datos corporativo (data lake, analítica y BI) como motor de decisiones ágiles y basadas en evidencia. Adopción de entornos híbridos cloud y desarrollo de una cultura de innovación continua que prepare a la organización para sus próximos retos regionales. Trabajo junto a equipos multidisciplinarios —Arquitectura e Innovación, Desarrollo, QA, DBA, Datos, Infraestructura y Ciberseguridad—, con el propósito de consolidar una estrategia tecnológica integral, que no solo soporte la operación, sino que impulse el crecimiento, la competitividad y la transformación del negocio

As Infrastructure Regional Manager at Ingenio Magdalena, I lead the strategy, planning, and execution of technology infrastructure projects in hybrid environments (on-premise and cloud), ensuring high availability, operational efficiency, and compliance with corporate and cybersecurity standards. Key Responsibilities: End-to-end management of data centers, regional networks, and communications infrastructure. Coordination of construction and implementation projects for technological infrastructure (TELCO, CCTV, redundant power systems, fiber optics). Implementation of physical and logical security policies across regional plants and offices. Design and deployment of cloud solutions in AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) to drive modernization and scalability. Integration of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) initiatives to streamline IT and operational processes. Administration of security, backup, and disaster recovery policies (DRP) in multicloud environments. Oversight of multidisciplinary support and infrastructure engineering teams. Alignment with cybersecurity, business continuity, and sustainability standards. Key Achievements: Optimization of network and critical systems performance. Leadership in technological modernization and legacy infrastructure integration. Reduction of operational costs through scalable and resilient solutions. Implementation of hybrid architectures to ensure business continuity and operational resilience. Currently focused on leading regional technology initiatives with broader impact, aiming to drive digital transformation, operational efficiency, automation (RPA), and IT governance

Management of Multidisciplinary Teams: Lead and oversee teams in Cybersecurity, Infrastructure, Application Development, QA, Application Support, and BI, fostering collaboration and alignment with strategic objectives. Strategic IT and Security Governance: Define and manage IT administration and governance processes to drive corporate goals, integrating a strategic plan aligned with best practices (ITIL, NIST). This includes a comprehensive security strategy tailored to the company’s needs. Development and Execution of the IT Strategic Plan: Implement and monitor a technology roadmap focused on continuous improvement and the adoption of innovative solutions to enhance organizational efficiency. Oversight of IT Purchases and Budget: Manage equipment and service procurement, optimize the budget, and control internal resources through effective administrative and financial oversight. Business Communication and Support: Ensure effective communication and collaboration between the IT department and business units, providing continuity and operational support for information systems. Professional Development of Staff: Lead training programs and manage the human and infrastructure resources necessary for IT department growth.

Management of Regional Teams (Central America and the Caribbean): Lead and coordinate IT teams across the Central America and Caribbean region, ensuring alignment with corporate and regional goals. Administrative and Technical Leadership of the IT Department: Oversee all IT activities, including SAP, applications, and infrastructure, ensuring compliance with corporate objectives and alignment with company directives. Strategic Alignment with Corporate Objectives: Collaborate with managers to formalize IT implementation projects and establish objectives that support business goals. Operational and Capital IT Budgeting: Provide and manage the IT department's operational and capital investment budgets to support the company’s objectives. Resource Forecasting: Plan resource requirements, including personnel, equipment, and facilities, with associated costs to meet the department’s needs. Evaluation of Technical Innovations: Assess new technological developments in line with the organization’s strategic plans and objectives. Vendor Selection Oversight: Oversee the selection of infrastructure and application vendors to ensure quality and alignment with IT requirements. Interaction with Key Management and Internal Staff: Foster communication and collaboration with management in administration, operations, finance, general accounts, market research, and sales, as well as supervisors and administrative staff, ensuring IT services effectively support all areas. IT Project Design and Execution: Lead the design, architecture, planning, and implementation of IT projects, including infrastructure and applications, to ensure alignment with corporate and operational goals.

Establishment of Corporate Standards: Implement corporate standards in infrastructure and technology practices to ensure quality, efficiency, and compliance. Infrastructure Design and Management: Lead projects in networks, telecommunications, server administration, databases, storage (SAN), ERP, and IT security, ensuring alignment with organizational goals. Regional Infrastructure Supervision: Manage the Infrastructure team to maintain the availability and performance of network and technology services across the region. Planning and Monitoring: Organize activities to ensure the availability, security, and reliability of IT services, maximizing their impact on strategic objectives. Service Optimization and Structured Growth: Propose improvements and develop projects to optimize existing services and support the organization's growth. Evaluation and Proposal of Solutions: Analyze and present technological solutions aligned with operational needs and goals. Implementation of Service Monitoring: Develop monitoring systems to ensure continuity and optimal performance of IT services. Administration of Contingency Plans: Execute contingency plans to mitigate infrastructure failures, meeting defined availability levels. Compliance with Usage Policies: Establish and enforce usage policies for IT infrastructure, promoting best practices.

Design and Implementation of Infrastructure Projects: Plan and execute technology infrastructure projects in key areas such as networks and telecommunications, data processing, server administration, databases, storage (SAN), SAP BASIS, and IT security. Ensure that the technological infrastructure adequately supports business operations. Supervision and Continuous Improvement of Regional Infrastructure: Oversee and continuously enhance regional infrastructure, maintaining high standards of availability and performance across offices and branches. Evaluation and Proposal of Technological Solutions: Analyze and present technology solutions to management, detailing required activities, resources, and timelines for implementation. Implementation of Monitoring Systems: Develop monitoring systems to ensure the continuity and optimal performance of IT services, in alignment with required service levels. SLA and Availability Management: Manage service level agreements (SLA), ensuring compliance with the established availability levels for all technological infrastructure. Contingency Planning Management: Design and implement contingency plans to mitigate potential infrastructure failures, ensuring operational continuity in case of incidents. Implementation of ITIL V3: Lead the ITIL V3 implementation project, promoting best practices in IT service management. Enforcement of Infrastructure Usage Policies: Establish and oversee adherence to technology infrastructure usage policies, promoting best practices in security and efficiency.

Implementation of Regional IT Projects in Guatemala: Responsible for executing regional technology projects in Guatemala, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives. Ensuring IT Service Levels: Oversee and maintain IT service levels within the company, ensuring compliance. Incorporation of Business Requirements: Integrate new business requirements into the regional IT portfolio to address the organization’s emerging needs. Coordination and Implementation of New Local Applications: Coordinate and manage the implementation of software applications tailored to local needs. Support and Implementation of Regional Projects in Central America: Responsible for supporting and implementing IT projects across the Central America region in line with regional guidelines. ERP (SAP) Support for Administrative, Logistics, and Sales Areas: Provide support and ensure the proper functioning of the corporate ERP (SAP) for the administration, logistics, and sales departments.