IT Delivery Director & Business Partner

MIHAI
COSTEA

Empowering Teams, Driving Growth, Delivering Impact

People-first Delivery Leader with 15+ years of experience across sales, IT project management, and global delivery leadership. Building empowered teams and driving meaningful, long-term business growth.

View Experience Mentoring
Mihai Costea
15+
Years Experience
200+
Team Members Led
€14M
Budget Managed
About Me

WHO I AM

I started my career in sales and account management, developing strong commercial instincts and a deep understanding of client needs before moving into IT project and delivery leadership.

Now serving as Business Partner within Cegeka's Global Delivery Center, I lead growth initiatives in Greece and support multiple international business lines across Europe.

I'm appreciated for a hands-on, collaborative leadership style — a trusted partner, mentor, and sounding board for both clients and teams. I believe great delivery starts with great relationships.

Passionate about continuous learning, I'm actively involved in pro bono coaching initiatives that support the next generation of leaders — helping middle managers, first-time managers, and senior SMEs navigate leadership transitions.

My background spans Romania, Greece, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, and Germany — giving me a truly international perspective on delivery and business growth.

Expertise

KEY SKILLS

🚀
Project & Program Leadership
Extensive experience managing large-scale IT projects across Agile and Waterfall environments, with full risk, issue, and dependency management.
👥
People Leadership & Continuous Improvement
Dedicated to team leadership, coaching, and mentorship, fostering engagement, change management, and a culture of operational excellence.
📈
Business Unit Management & Strategic Growth
Hands-on leadership of business units, driving strategic planning, execution, and collaboration with Sales and Pre-Sales for revenue growth.
🌍
Global Delivery & Service Management
Expert in global delivery governance, applying ITIL frameworks, and overseeing SLA and KPI compliance across multiple regions.
🤝
Stakeholder, Vendor & Client Relationships
Strong focus on building strategic relationships with clients, vendors, and internal stakeholders, acting as a trusted partner aligned with business objectives.
💼
Financial & Operational Governance
Proven success in budgeting, cost optimization, and resource allocation, with full P&L accountability and Cost Center / Profit Center ownership.
Career

EXPERIENCE

April 2025 — Present
Business Partner / Delivery Director
Cegeka · Global IT Company
  • Strategic Business Partner for Romania, Greece, and Republic of Moldova, integrating new business units into the Global Delivery Center.
  • End-to-end delivery accountability, serving as senior point of contact for clients, ensuring SLA compliance and strong customer satisfaction.
  • Improved efficiency by 10% YoY and reduced escalations by 60% through executive-level reporting and proactive risk management.
  • Partnered with Sales and Pre-Sales to secure +€2M new business annually, strengthening strategic partnerships.
  • Championed innovation and continuous improvement, shortening delivery cycles and optimizing cost efficiency.
December 2019 — April 2025
Business Unit Manager
Cegeka
  • Grew the delivery center from 73 to 200+ professionals across Bucharest, Iași, Chișinău, and Athens.
  • Executed the Nearshore Strategy with the Group Nearshore Director, driving 20–25% annual growth.
  • Managed project pipeline and forecasts across BE, NL, SE, IT, and DE business lines, achieving NPS of 9.
  • Oversaw operational performance with budgets up to €14M, risk, and quality metrics.
  • Implemented retention strategies that achieved 96% Engagement score and reduced attrition from 41% to 12%.
September 2016 — December 2019
Delivery Director
Levi9
  • Contributed to +30 FTE YoY, reduced overhead by 10%, and achieved targeted EBIT across the European delivery center.
  • End-to-end delivery accountability for internal and external clients, achieving 9+ customer satisfaction score.
  • Built high-performing teams of 17 managers and 200+ team members across multiple geographies.
  • Actively contributed to pre-sales activities supporting acquisition of new clients and long-term business growth.
September 2015 — September 2016
Delivery Manager
Levi9
  • Delivered diverse IT projects (T&M, fixed-price, team-as-a-service) in Agile environments, achieving +30% margin.
  • Managed daily IT operations, risks, budgets up to $10.5M, quality and scope.
  • Led cross-functional teams of 100+ members across Romania, ensuring high-quality outcomes.
2013 — June 2015
Project Manager
Mobile Touch
  • Directed project delivery, ensuring all deliverables were produced on time and within scope.
  • Managed resource allocation, risks, contingencies, and cross-team dependencies.
  • Established effective communication frameworks with all stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
2005 — 2013
Early Career — Sales & Account Management
Advertising · BPO · Retail · Cloud Solutions · Distribution
  • Progressive roles in sales, account management, and team leadership across multiple industries.
  • Built strong foundations in business development, client relationship management, and team leadership.
  • This commercial background shaped a business-focused mindset that continues to inform my technology leadership today.
Credentials

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

2025 · Expires 2030
Advanced AI Prompt Engineer Certification for Directors of IT
CompleteAiTraining.com
2025 · Expires 2027
Generative AI Fundamentals — Academy Accreditation
Databricks
2019
Professional Scrum Master
Scrum.org
Giving Back

MENTORING

I believe that leadership is a skill that must be nurtured — and I'm passionate about helping the next generation of leaders find their footing.

Since April 2025, I contribute as a mentor at Bridging Gaps, a non-profit organization supporting middle managers, first-time managers, and senior SMEs navigating leadership transitions.

Through 1:1 sessions, I share professional experience, personal insights, and practical advice — helping others grow, unlock their potential, and build confidence in their leadership journey.

My approach is rooted in empathy, honesty, and practical wisdom. I don't offer templates — I offer real conversations that help you think more clearly and act more decisively.

🎯
First-Time Managers
Navigating the leap from individual contributor to people leader — building authority, trust, and team dynamics.
🧭
Middle Management Transitions
Managing complexity, upward expectations, and team performance while maintaining your own clarity and direction.
💡
Senior SME Leadership
Leveraging deep expertise to influence, lead without authority, and transition into broader strategic roles.
🌱
Pro Bono & Non-Profit
All mentoring is offered completely free of charge through Bridging Gaps. Growth should be accessible to everyone.
Get In Touch

LET'S CONNECT

Whether you're looking to collaborate, explore mentoring, or just have a conversation — I'm always open to meaningful connections.

mihaimircea.costea@gmail.com LinkedIn +40 742 225 474