Ward Steensels

Background

About Ward Steensels

Passionate about leveraging technology to improve patient lives! Ward Steensels has 16+ years experience in leadership, holding a certificate of Harvard and is running the IT operations (incl 4 datacenters, applications, cyber‑security, support teams, AI, GxP validation, CSV, audits, vendor management, global strategy and budget) of ClinChoice in EMEA, a leading full-service global CRO that accelerates drug and device approvals to market to contribute to a safer and better world. Ward started his IT-career in the Pharma Industry, acquiring valuable know-how and expertise in compliance, FDA regulations on validated systems and more general GxP industry standards. The first phase of his career was focussed on System Administration and datacenter architecture. Expanding over the years to more management, increasing resilience, focussing on forming international teams, processes, project management and people management. In the second phase of his career, he’s been an important part in a large number of acquisitions and mergers, covering key-roles in IT, bookkeeping and GxP integrations and more in project management. This provided him with valuable expertise and know-how leading to his decision in 2009 to leave Pharma and work directly for the IT-group of TÜV SÜD (Germany), focussing on day2day management of the +- 700 vServers combined with system and company integrations while building up expertise in project management and certifications in Microsoft and VMware. Since 2011, Ward has chosen for a smaller scale but wider scope as a leader in an international context but also to be more involved in company management and it's strategy as Unit Head of Network and Support (2018) and working closely together with Silvio Severini. To support his responsibilities and to keep learning, in 2022 Ward has proudly reached a Harvard Business School specialization in Leadership and Management as the next important milestone in developing his leadership, management, strategy, resilience and negotiation skills. Since Jan. 2024, Ward is part of the ClinChoice global IT Infrastructure leadership team of 3#, serving around FTE, 7 datacenters using both AWS/Azure, a high-performing and global IT team covering each region in the world, standarised the global ITSM and continues to build, lead and grow high performing, multi-national but loyal teams of experts in their area on which he is very proud! His own teams are concentrated in Germany, Italy and Armenia.