Darren Cohen

Chief Technology Officer at VAT IT

Darren Cohen has a diverse work experience that spans several companies and roles. Darren is currently the Head of Technology at VAT IT, a position they have held since August 2021. Prior to this role, they were a Technical Product Owner at VAT IT from May 2020 to August 2021.

Before joining VAT IT, Darren worked at Business Science Corporation (BSC) for nearly a decade. Darren started as a Junior Business Analyst in January 2011 and was later promoted to Intermediate Business Analyst. In this role, they developed object-oriented techno-economic models and optimized metal forecasting tools for mining and processing operations. Darren also integrated models with company databases to extract relevant data automatically.

In 2014, Darren became a Senior Consultant at BSC, where they provided advanced analytics and management consulting services to clients in various industries, including mining, retail, and telecommunications. Darren built techno-economic models and scenario planning solutions to identify opportunities for operational improvement, cost reduction, and portfolio optimization.

In late 2016, Darren established the Reality Science practice area at BSC and served as the Portfolio Lead. Darren led a team of developers, managed overall project execution and product development, and played a key role in meeting sales and profitability targets. Darren also oversaw the full business development cycle, including key account management. Additionally, they developed and deployed strategic plans and mentored junior staff.

From 2018 to 2020, Darren was promoted to the role of Associate Partner at BSC. In this position, they managed the expanding Reality Science practice area globally. Darren led the strategic development of a virtual reality safety training platform to drive revenue growth and was also responsible for establishing the group's strategic marketing function.

Darren's earliest work experience was as a Student Engineer at Process Analytical Systems in 2008, where they gained valuable skills and experience in engineering.

Overall, Darren Cohen has demonstrated strong leadership, strategic thinking, and technical expertise throughout their career in technology, analytics, and management consulting.

Darren Cohen's education history is as follows:

Darren obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with Distinction from Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, from 2016 to 2019. The field of study for this degree is not specified.

From 2009 to 2010, Darren attended the University of the Witwatersrand, where they earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSc Eng Electrical) with Cum Laude distinction.

Prior to that, from 2006 to 2008, Darren studied at the University of the Witwatersrand and earned a Bachelor of Engineering Science (BEngSc) in Biomedical Engineering (BME).

Darren's secondary education took place at King David Victory Park High School from 2001 to 2005, where they completed the IEB Matric program.

Additionally, Darren has obtained several certifications. These include being a Security Specialist from Trailhead, a Salesforce Certified Administrator (SCA) from Salesforce, a Lightning Experience Reports & Dashboards Specialist from Trailhead, and receiving training in Advancing Negotiation Skills from Scotwork. In 2016, they completed the DDI Targeted Selection Interview Training from DDI | Development Dimensions International. The obtained years and months for these certifications vary.

Links

Timeline

  • V

    Chief Technology Officer

    September 1, 2023 - present

  • Head Of Technology

    August, 2021

  • Technical Product Owner

    May, 2020