As the IBM Account Executive to the First Rand Group during the period 2008-2016, I had the privilege of engaging the Mainframe Support Team at First National Bank led by Jay Prag.
Being a customer of IBM since the 1980’s, Jay had always pushed the boundaries of what the art of the possible could be. There were many First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) soluyions in collaboration with international IBM experts, for example a Mainframe Crypto solution that did not exist at the time or running Linux and a Mainframe.
Jay also participated in knowledge sharing, and even contributed to an IBM RED BOOK – these are publications that provide trusted product positioning, expert guidance, and installation and implementayion experiences. Training and education of graduates in the Mainframe discipline became a cornerstone of his tenure at FNB.
IBM were are also honoured to have Jay as a speaker to a worldwide audience on the occasion of the 50 year anniversary of the Mainframe in New York, in addiyion to the many other events locally and abroad. IBM experts sought out his opinion and were always available to engage him as Jay travelled through IBM Laboratories, Research Centres and Customer engagement facilities around the world.
I am honoured to have been a part of his journey at FNB, and in the collaborative manner that made the relationship based on a true partnership between IBM and the FirstRand Group.