Leadership
stewarding your business like their own.
Our global leadership team brings decades of experience, industry insight, and a commitment to delivering exceptional outsourcing solutions for our clients.
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Experience. Innovation. Leadership.
Guiding the next era of intelligent enterprise
With more than four decades of experience, CGS Nexus has been at the forefront of integrating technology, people, and processes to drive enterprise transformation—long before “digital transformation” became a buzzword. Each member of our leadership team is a recognized thought leader in customer experience and technology, entrusted by global enterprises to manage and optimize their most vital business processes. Today, we continue to lead with innovation, shaping the future of business through the power of AI.
Phil Friedman
Executive ChairmanCGS Group
BIO
Phil Friedman founded Computer Generated Solutions, Inc. (GGS) and led the company as President & CEO for more than four decades. In those years, the IT solutions firm diversified and grew into an enterprise that employed more than 8,000 people and served customers in 48 countries.
Phil now serves as the Executive Chairman of CGS Global Technology Services, going to market as CGS Nexus. He is also the Executive Chairman of independent CGS companies—CGS Immersive and BlueCherry by CGS—operating in enterprise learning and fashion supply chain technology, respectively.
Born in the former Soviet Union, Phil Friedman immigrated to New York after 12 years in the electronics industry. With degrees in Engineering, Economics, and Finance, and further U.S. studies in Information Systems, he launched CGS in 1984. Under his leadership, CGS earned accolades from Inc. Magazine, Deloitte, Crain’s, and Ernst & Young who named him Entrepreneur of the Year. Phil was also awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and an honorary doctorate from Yeshiva University.
Vladimir Sterescu
Global PresidentCGS Nexus
BIO
As Global President of CGS Nexus, Vlad leads a diverse team of business process outsourcing (BPO) specialists across multiple regions, driving innovative solutions for clients in the call center solutions and customer experience space.
Since joining CGS more than 20 years ago, Vlad has held key leadership roles, including Country Manager for CGS Romania and Senior Vice President of Call Center Solutions for the EMEA region, where he’s led teams of over 2,500 professionals dedicated to providing innovative solutions and top-tier customer experiences across Europe. Under his leadership, CGS Romania became a hub for delivering exceptional BPO services to clients across a range of industries, from telecommunications and technology to finance and retail.
Prior to joining CGS, Vlad founded and led EasyCall, a contact center company that was acquired by CGS in 2006. Vlad graduated from the Academy of Economic Sciences with a degree in Economics, specializing in banking and the stock exchange.
Michael Mills
SVPGlobal Solutions and Customer Success
BIO
Mike leads the development and execution of sales strategies, cultivates strategic client relationships, and oversees the implementation of global contact center solutions.
Since joining CGS in 2015, Mike has empowered global clients to transform their businesses with people solutions, technology enablement tools and best practices that have optimized outcomes while streamlining costs and enhancing efficiencies. He has deep experience helping clients expand into new markets by equipping partners with localized sales materials and campaigns.
Before joining CGS, Mike held executive roles at IBM Corporation and Northrop Grumman, where he led sales management, technical solution design, and project/transition management delivery. Mike is a graduate of the University of South Florida, and he received his MS degree in Technical Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He is also a proud U.S. Airforce veteran.
Pablo Rossel Estay
SVPLATAM
BIO
As Senior Vice President for LATAM, Pablo leads CGS Nexus’ contact center operations across the region, driving business growth and expanding the company’s footprint in Latin America. He oversees sales strategy, client engagement, and the delivery of innovative BPO solutions that enhance customer experience and operational efficiency.
Since joining CGS in 2015, Pablo has played a key role in building and scaling CGS Nexus’ LATAM business, leveraging more than a decade of experience in the contact center industry. He and his team have been at the forefront of the deployment of AI innovation in the BPO space, building innovative solutions for call deflection, agent assist, and performance-enhancing data and analytics.
Before joining CGS, Pablo served as General Manager of Mas Cerca Contact Center, where he established the company as one of the leading BPO organizations in South America prior to its acquisition by CGS. Earlier, Pablo held management roles at LAN Airlines Cargo, where he contributed to operations and service delivery across the LATAM and Chile Pacific markets. Pablo holds an MBA from Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez and earned his undergraduate degree from Universidad Mayor.
Cristian Berdilă
VP of OperationsRomania Country Manager
BIO
Cristi spearheads operations for CGS Nexus Romania. He is responsible for maintaining the company’s position as a trusted outsourcing partner to Fortune 500 clients across IT, telecom, banking, retail and other sectors. He leads an organization of more than 4,200 CGS agents, at six centers in Romania, inspiring them with CGS Nexus’ mission to drive total experience excellence on behalf of the company’s blue-chip clients.
Cristi joined CGS in 2005 as an agent doing collections for U.S. clients. His ascent within the ranks exemplifies the growth opportunities possible for CGS agents. Cristian has been instrumental in optimizing operational processes, managing complex client projects, and motivating high-performing teams. His efforts have enabled CGS Nexus to serve numerous Forbes Top 500 companies with a focus on customer service, technical support, client relations, and telemarketing.
With Cristi’s help, CGS Nexus has earned many industry accolades, including the Special Prize of the Jury at the Romanian Outsourcing Awards for Excellence, recognizing the company's significant growth and innovative initiatives in the Romanian outsourcing market. With a steadfast commitment to performance, efficiency, and client satisfaction, Cristi continues to drive CGS Nexus’ success in the uber-competitive global outsourcing industry.
Sam Netzer
Country ManagerIsrael
BIO
As Country Manager for Israel, Sam leads CGS Nexus’ business operations and BPO delivery in the region. He is responsible for driving business growth, managing client relationships, recruiting and developing top talent, and ensuring operational excellence across all service lines.
With more than three decades of experience in the communications and telecommunications sector, Sam is recognized as one of the industry’s pioneers in Israel. He has held senior leadership roles at several major telecom companies, including serving as a founder of 012 Golden Lines and as Director of International Services for Partner Communications (formerly Orange Israel). His diverse experience also includes executive positions overseeing operations both in Israel and abroad, as well as consulting for leading organizations such as Mobileye, Telit, Golan Telecom, XFONE, and various technology startups.
Sam holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and brings a deep understanding of technology, innovation, and customer engagement to his role at CGS Nexus.
Mani Shyam Sundar M
Senior Vice President & Country LeaderBIO
Mani is a seasoned leader with more than 22 years of domestic enterprise sales experience and 19 years of international sales and customer support leadership across the IT, telecom, and technology sectors. At CGS Nexus, he leads the India business, leveraging deep expertise in managing large-scale operations, driving business transitions and growth, leading change, and orchestrating complex partner ecosystems.
Mani has extensive experience running multi-branch and remote operations, managing direct and indirect channel teams, and leading both outside and inside sales organizations serving government and enterprise customers in IT hardware and solutions, as well as telecom and technology products and services.
Before joining CGS Nexus, Mani held senior leadership roles at Dell International Services, Omeganet India, Reliance Communications, and Xerox, where he led high-performing sales, operations, and customer support organizations across India and international markets. He holds a B.Com. in Cost and Management Accounting from the University of Madras and an MBA in Marketing and Finance from PSG College of Technology.
Andrés Cepeda Andrade
Vice PresidentColombia
BIO
Andrés is a business executive with deep experience in BPO, process transformation, and digital solutions. As Vice President, Colombia, he leads CGS Nexus’ operations and growth strategy in the Colombian market, overseeing service delivery, client relationships, and the expansion of next-generation customer experience and outsourcing services.
Andrés’ background spans BPO operations, digital content, RPA, and IoT-enabled solutions, giving him a strong foundation in both operational excellence and technology-driven transformation. He has a proven track record of helping organizations modernize processes, improve customer engagement, and unlock new efficiencies through innovation and data-driven management.
Prior to his current role, Andrés held leadership positions across the contact center and outsourcing industry, building high-performing teams and managing strategic programs for clients in Colombia and the wider region. He studied at the University of Phoenix, complementing his practical experience with international business and management education.
Jay Barbier
Senior DirectorOperations
BIO
Based in Tampa, Jay Barbier joined CGS Nexus in May 2025 and oversees business across the North America operations center. With over 20 years of experience leading high-performing teams, Jay brings a proven record of driving continuous and sustainable improvement across operational functions.
Throughout his career, Jay has held leadership roles spanning legal management, B2B and consultative sales, operations, and retention management. Known for a strong commitment to performance excellence, Jay consistently exceeds key performance goals through strategic analysis, root-cause identification, and solution-driven problem solving.
A skilled communicator and collaborative partner, Jay works closely with clients, managers, and employees to strengthen relationships and deliver measurable business results. Jay is also passionate about developing and retaining talent through culture-building, coaching, and leadership initiatives that empower teams to exceed client expectations effectively and efficiently.
Tom Walsh
DirectorNorth American Operations
BIO
Tom Walsh serves as Director of North American Operations at CGS Nexus, where he oversees multiple client support functions and drives service excellence across the enterprise.
Tom joined CGS in 2004 to lead operations for a newly acquired client, FUJIFILM North America. In his early role, he managed the Fuji Help Desk organization supporting major retail photo lab operations for Walmart, Sam’s Club, Walgreens, and Costco. Over time, he expanded his oversight to include Consumer Information Services, Camera Parts and Repair, Field Dispatch Support, Fuji Customer Care, and Pro Camera Support.
In addition to his long-standing partnership with FUJIFILM, Tom assumed responsibility in early 2023 for managing day-to-day Help Desk performance for Toshiba North America. Under his leadership, the Toshiba portfolio grew to include new service lines such as the Walmart CMOS and Walmart COSTL installation programs.
Celebrating two decades with CGS in 2024, Tom continues to exemplify operational leadership, client partnership, and a commitment to quality. His dedication to excellence in customer service and support was recognized with a Stevie Award in 2014.