Class of 2023: Top 10 Breakthrough Executives of the Year in Romania

2023 was a very prolific year regarding new executive appointments. Business Review followed these closely through the dedicated Who’s News articles published regularly on our website and featured monthly as a special column in the print magazine.

We also followed closely with the accomplishments and highlights of these new executives throughout the year, so without further ado, Business Review presents the Class of 2023: a top 10 of the new executives appointed this year in Romania.

Because making an impact as a new executive requires time, for this top 10 article we only considered appointments made in H1 2023.

The list is compiled in chronological order of the appointment. The first installment of this two-part story will feature the top 5 five appointments made in Q1 2023, from January to March.

Read the second installment, featuring the appointments made in Q2 2023 (April-June).

Mateja Podgornik, the new Managing Director for Romania and Slovenia within Mondelez International since January 2023.

Mateja Podgornik’s journey within Mondelēz International spans 14 years, during which she held various significant positions, showcasing her versatility and depth of understanding within the company. Mateja is at the helm during a pivotal period, steering Mondelez towards its global vision of becoming a leader in the global snacking market through Vision 2030. Under her leadership, the company emphasizes integrating sustainability into its core business strategy alongside pillars of growth, execution, and culture. Her dedication to foreseeing trends within the local snacking market, which is evolving and diversifying, speaks volumes about her commitment to aligning the company with consumer preferences and community needs.

One of her noteworthy initiatives is the integration of sustainably grown ingredients into product recipes and packaging optimization, aligning with Mondelez’s commitment to offering the right snacks in the right way. Despite economic uncertainties, Mateja has led Mondelez Romania’s resilient operations, solidifying its market position and navigating the challenges posed by a dynamic industry landscape.

Mateja’s perspective on the food industry highlights the importance of adaptability and responsiveness to changing consumer preferences. She emphasizes the significance of Mondelēz’s core categories—chocolates and biscuits—as historically resilient and crucial even amidst economic downturns.

Her commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) priorities and sustainability reflects Mondelez Romania’s clear dedication to leading the future of snacking sustainably. The company’s annual progress reports illustrate their journey toward sourcing sustainable ingredients, reducing climate impact, improving packaging, advancing diversity and inclusion initiatives, and supporting communities, aligning with their 2025 goals.

Moreover, Mateja’s management approach emphasizes the team’s unity, driven by an inspiring vision and wellness focus, crucial for resilience and agility in a rapidly changing world. She views effective management akin to conducting an orchestra, where the collective effort creates the magic.

Looking ahead, Mateja envisions the food industry continuing trends in sustainability, plant-based alternatives, and innovative flavors in 2024. In the snacking domain, she anticipates continued growth in healthier options and diversified offerings at the intersection of chocolate and bakery categories.

Mateja also champions consumer education through Mondelez Romania’s “Snack Mindfully. Enjoy the Moment.” initiative, aimed at fostering healthy snacking habits among teenagers. This pioneering educational program emphasizes informed snack choices, balanced nutrition, and developing consistent healthy eating habits among high school students, involving thousands of participants and coordinating teachers across Romania.

Overall, Mateja Podgornik’s leadership at Mondelez Romania and Slovenia exemplifies a strategic and visionary approach, driven by a commitment to sustainability, consumer-centric strategies, and fostering a resilient, united team culture.

Evangelos Kalamakis, SOFMEDICA’s new Managing Director since February 2023.

Evangelos Kalamakis embodies a fusion of exceptional leadership and diverse expertise in finance and investment banking across Greece and Eastern Europe. Joining the Group’s flagship company dealing with life-saving innovation, he brings a wealth of knowledge accrued over 28 years, particularly in project finance, investment banking, and real estate management.

Holding degrees from the prestigious Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Kalamakis possesses a comprehensive understanding of the East European market dynamics. His extensive experience includes board positions in regulated entities, showcasing his acumen in corporate governance within the pharmaceutical landscape.

Passionate about SOFMEDICA’s mission, Kalamakis aims to amalgamate entrepreneurialism with top-tier compliance practices, fostering MedTech innovation while ensuring patient safety and swift recovery. His vision aligns with the Group’s commitment to conquering new frontiers in New Europe, offering cutting-edge solutions across critical diseases like cancer, cardiovascular, and neurological ailments.

Under his leadership, SOFMEDICA continued its expansion into Croatia, marking a significant milestone in its regional footprint. Introducing groundbreaking technology like daVinci Robotic Surgery to Croatia underscored the company’s dedication to advancing healthcare accessibility in the region. This move not only extended superior medical solutions but also aligned with Croatia’s growing healthcare infrastructure, indicative of the country’s steady GDP growth and rising healthcare expenditure.

Kalamakis envisions SOFMEDICA’s entrance into the Croatian market as an opportunity to deploy innovative medical technologies focused on oncology, heart pathologies, and brain neurology. Emphasizing the importance of upholding global healthcare compliance standards, the company remains dedicated to providing risk-free, quality healthcare solutions while nurturing the growth and expertise of local healthcare professionals through the ISLE ACADEMY.

Mircea Scaunasu, the new General Manager of Philip Morris Romania since March 2023.

Mircea Scaunasu stepped into the role of General Manager for Philip Morris Romania, marking a significant milestone as the first Romanian to lead the team. His ascent follows a successful tenure at Philip Morris International Duty Free, where he served as the Global Head of Commercial Operations, demonstrating an impressive track record in the commercial arena.

With a robust career spanning over 26 years, including 18 years within Philip Morris International, Scaunasu brings extensive expertise to his new role. His journey began in 2004 with Philip Morris Romania, where he later assumed the role of Sales Strategy Manager before transitioning to a pivotal position as Sales Director, contributing significantly to the successful launch and commercialization of IQOS in the Polish market in 2017.

Scaunasu holds a degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Ottawa, complemented by a Transition to Business Leadership degree from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland.

Inheriting the reins from Daniel Cuevas, whose leadership significantly contributed to the growth and positioning of Philip Morris Romania, Scaunasu embraces the mission of fostering a smoke-free Romania. His vision aligns with the company’s objective of replacing cigarettes with smoke-free alternatives, positioning IQOS as a successful smoke-free product in Romania.

Scaunasu’s mission emphasizes the importance of informing the 5 million adult Romanian smokers about reducing smoking-related risks while promoting a diverse portfolio of products through continuous innovation and research. He aims to drive growth and accelerate the adoption of smoke-free alternatives, championing a future where smokers transition toward healthier choices.

Philip Morris Romania, an affiliate of Philip Morris International, operates with a vision to create a smoke-free future by offering smoke-free products as a better choice than traditional cigarettes. The company’s investments in the Otopeni factory, exceeding $600 million by the end of 2023, have transformed it into a cutting-edge facility, enhancing production capabilities for heated tobacco products like IQOS.

Mircea Scaunasu’s appointment signifies a pivotal moment in the journey towards a smoke-free Romania, highlighting his commitment to innovation, informed choices, and driving a cultural shift towards healthier alternatives in the tobacco industry.

Irina Pencea, the new General Manager of eMAG Romania since March 2023.

Irina Pencea stepped into the role of General Manager at eMAG Romania, entrusted with driving the platform’s evolution into a comprehensive shopping hub that caters to the evolving needs of customers in Romania. Her appointment follows an extensive career in marketing entrepreneurship spanning 24 years, characterized by shaping successful advertising agencies and cultivating prominent brands across diverse industries.

Transitioning from her entrepreneurial endeavors, Pencea joined eMAG almost a year ago to fortify the brand’s image. Her elevation to the role of General Manager is a testament to her marketing competence and entrepreneurial acumen, recognized by Tudor Manea, Group CEO of eMAG, who highlighted her instrumental role in defining new growth models centered around evolving customer needs.

Her leadership at eMAG facilitated the launch of a transformative brand vision across Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria, encapsulated in the slogan “The search never stops,” aimed at empowering individuals and societies with tools for progress.

Under her guidance, eMAG witnessed a surge in e-commerce adoption, with customers increasingly turning to the platform for everyday essentials, contributing to a notable increase in product orders and spending across various categories. Notably, the adoption of e-commerce for daily-use products saw a remarkable uptick, reflecting evolving consumer preferences and shopping behaviors.

Pencea’s strategic initiatives have fueled customer engagement through incentives like the Superpreț label, promotional campaigns, free delivery options, and exclusive offers for Genius customers. These initiatives have not only spurred purchase frequency but have also diversified the product range, making it accessible across various budget segments.

With a finger on the pulse of shifting consumer preferences, Pencea has overseen significant growth in categories like home and garden care, personal hygiene, beauty, toys, beverages, clothing, footwear, and books. This growth signifies the alignment of eMAG’s offerings with the changing demands and preferences of online shoppers.

In her new role, Irina Pencea is poised to leverage her rich marketing expertise to drive eMAG’s trajectory as the leader of online commerce in Romania. Her focus remains on enhancing customer experience, expanding product offerings, and popularizing eMAG as the go-to shopping solution adaptable to any context, thereby reinforcing its position as a comprehensive and customer-centric online marketplace.

Helian Redai, the new CEO of Porsche Finance Group Romania since March 2023.

Helian Redai assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer at Porsche Finance Group Romania, marking a significant milestone in his 20-year journey within the organization. Redai’s tenure at the company has been characterized by pioneering initiatives in the sales and marketing domains, spearheading innovative financing and mobility solutions, including the introduction of car subscriptions.

Since his entry into Porsche Finance Group in 2003 as an Area Sales Manager, Redai’s dedication and leadership propelled him to progressively influential positions. Within four years, he ascended to the position of Head of Sales and Marketing, where he demonstrated exceptional competence until his recent appointment as Chief Sales Officer (CSO) in early 2022. His strategic vision and unwavering commitment have been pivotal in fostering the company’s adaptability to cater to the evolving needs of both individual customers and corporate entities, offering accessible and advanced mobility solutions.

Expressing gratitude for the trust vested in him by the company throughout his journey, Redai underscores the pivotal role of the dedicated team at Porsche Finance Group. He emphasizes the company’s commitment to relentless innovation, accentuated by the acceleration of the digitization process, to deliver unparalleled products and services that elevate the customer experience.

Striving to fortify Porsche Finance Group’s leadership across all sectors, the new management team, led by Redai, is steadfast in its commitment to furthering the digitalization agenda and spearheading customer-centric programs aimed at enhancing overall customer experience. Their vision encompasses continued innovation, underpinned by a relentless pursuit of excellence, to solidify Porsche Finance Group’s position as a leader in the automotive finance, insurance, and mobility solutions arena in Romania.

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