As in every year so far, at this 14th Lider conference ‘Women in Business’, which will be held on December 5 at the Mozaik Event Center in Zagreb, the names of the ten most powerful women in Croatian business for 2024 will be announced. The deserved recognition will be awarded to women selected by the editorial team of the business weekly Lider based on the criteria of managerial power, i.e., the total revenues of the companies they lead, as well as some ‘softer’ principles such as their influence, not only in the companies they head but also on the overall economy and society.
This ceremonial award, which will be followed by a conversation with the ten most powerful, will be the finale of the conference where over 500 participants will listen to inspiring one-on-one conversations, panels with prominent experts from the world of business, science, and public life, exchange knowledge, experiences, and use the time for the always necessary female networking. Additionally, the conference will present Lider’s special edition, which will, besides current topics from the world of women’s business, publish the traditional ranking list of the 300 most powerful businesswomen in the domestic market. As we count down the days to the new international meeting with leading experts, managers, entrepreneurs, and leaders, where you can secure your place by registering via the link (the number of places is limited, so hurry!), let us recall who made it to the top ten most powerful women in Croatian business last year.
1. Zsuzsanna Ortutay, INA Group
Having taken on the role of CEO of INA Group in June 2023, Zsuzsanna Ortutay made her debut on Lider’s list of the 10 most powerful women in business, immediately claiming the top spot, with managerial power amounting to 4.67 billion euros. Since she was on the Supervisory Board of INA two and a half years before her appointment as CEO, she is well acquainted with the company’s operations. At INA, she will continue to implement projects such as the modernization of the Rijeka Oil Refinery and will work on solutions in the field of renewable energy sources.
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2. Simona Kostrevc, Petrol
Due to her transition to the position of CEO of Petrol in December 2022 (a few weeks after the release of Lider’s list of the 10 most powerful women), Simona Kostrevc debuted last year in second place. Including the revenues of Crodux Derivati Dva, which became part of Petrol in November 2022, her managerial power amounted to just over two billion euros. In Croatia, Petrol faced rising prices of oil derivatives and energy in 2022, and Kostrevc’s response to these challenges included cost-saving measures, supply chain optimization, and portfolio diversification.
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3. Lada Tedeschi Fiorio, Atlantic Grupa
After being at the top of the list of the ten most powerful women for four consecutive years, Lada Tedeschi Fiorio, a member of the Management Board and co-owner of Atlantic Group, was ranked third last year, managing with 858.31 million euros. As Vice President for Corporate Strategy and Growth, Tedeschi Fiorio manages strategies, merger and acquisition activities, and the development of new products.
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4. Martina Dalić, Podravka
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, and now CEO of Podravka, Martina Dalić has been on the list of the ten most powerful women in Croatian business for three years. From the second place she held in 2022 and 2021, Dalić ranked fourth on Lider’s list last year, with managerial power that grew from 621 million euros to the current 684.29 million euros.
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5. Antonija Glavaš, PPD
Last year, Antonija Glavaš, a member of the Management Board of Prvo plinarsko društvo owned by Energija Naturalis, also made the list for the first time, with the group achieving a growth of 63 percent in 2022, amounting to over three billion euros. At PPD, Glavaš is responsible for gas sales and coordination of international teams, and her managerial power last year amounted to a total of 4.88 billion euros.
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6. Anita Letica, Philip Morris Zagreb
For nine consecutive years, since becoming CEO of Philip Morris Zagreb, Anita Letica has been on the list of the ten most powerful, and after fifth place in 2022, she ranked sixth last year. At Philip Morris, she is responsible for the Croatian and Slovenian markets and managed with 549.32 million euros last year. As consumer and employee needs and desires change, Letica says she will continue the transformation, not only of the company but of the entire tobacco industry.
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7. Iva Pripuz Špekuljuk, C.I.O.S. Grupa
The year before last, Iva Pripuz Špekuljuk, CEO of C.I.O.S. Group, joined the list of the most powerful women for the first time in fifth place. Last year, she ranked seventh with managerial power of 394.93 million euros, thanks to the global increase in demand for secondary raw materials, which continued in 2022 after 2021. Pripuz Špekuljuk is the heir of the family group, where she has worked since she was twenty-four, and in most of the Group’s members, she has been either a board member or on their supervisory boards.
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8. Irena Langer-Breznik, M SAN Grupa
Having taken the position of CEO of M SAN Group, a domestic IT group and regional distributor of IT equipment and devices, Irena Langer-Breznik earned her debut on Lider’s list of the ten most powerful women in Croatian business last year. She has been with M SAN since 2007, coming to the head of the group from the position of a board member of the largest online retailer in Croatia, eKupi, a company within the M SAN Group. Her managerial power amounted to 435.47 million euros, and last year, as she stated, new business opportunities opened up in the area of green transition, and they continued to invest in the brands VIVAX, MS LUX, and MS Energy.
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9. Jasenka Joukhadar, Medical Intertrade
For the third consecutive year, Jasenka Joukhadar, CEO and owner of one of the largest wholesale pharmacies in Croatia, Medical Intertrade, the Joukhadar pharmacy chain, and the manufacturing company Yasenka, was on the list of the most powerful. Since taking over the leadership of the group they built together for thirty years after the death of her husband Mohamed Radwan Joukhadar, Joukhadar has continuously increased her managerial power, which last year amounted to 337.44 million euros. Medical Intertrade is also the largest company owned by a woman in Croatia.
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10. Nataša Rapaić, Hrvatski Telekom
After eighth place in 2021 and 2022, Nataša Rapaić, a member of the Management Board and Chief Operating Officer for private customers at Hrvatski Telekom, ranked tenth in 2023, primarily because her managerial power decreased from over a billion to 892.24 million euros. She has been with HT for 20 years, and although business was challenging this year and the macroeconomic and business environment was demanding, Rapaić stated that they achieved good results. With further investments in the network, they aim to exceed what is demanded and expected and show what is possible.
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Follow the details from the conference on our portal, and secure your place at the conference in time by registering in advance here.
