Friday, 10th October 2025

Franjo Bobinac’s Legacy of Innovation and Resilience at Gorenje

Bobinac transformed Gorenje from a fading brand into a global powerhouse, securing its future and ensuring it thrived in the face of adversity

Franjo Bobinac, the former CEO of Slovenian appliance and consumer electronics giant Gorenje, has been awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024 by the Menadžerska Asocijacija. At 66, Bobinac’s career has become synonymous with resilience and ingenuity.

Starting at Gorenje just after university, he steered the company through turbulent economic times, particularly during the collapse of the Yugoslav market. Under his leadership, Gorenje not only survived but thrived, doubling its sales between 1998 and 2003, attracting top designers such as Swarovski and Karim Rashid.

When it became clear Gorenje could no longer compete on its own, Bobinac secured a strategic partnership with Chinese multinational Hisense, becoming the first non-Chinese vice president of the company. This move propelled revenues from €900 million in 2019 to €2.5 billion by 2024, significantly increasing profitability and employment.

A respected figure in both business and sport, Bobinac now serves as President of the Slovenian Olympic Committee and a member of the IOC’s Marketing Commission.

Have a news tip or story to share? Email us at info@connectingregion.com

Zuckerberg Predicts Mobile Phones Will Disappear by 2030

TThis is inevitable as new technologies like augmented reality (AR) glasses and virtual reality (VR) devices reshape how people...

ProCredit Launches ProConnect Platform

The platform is the first of its kind in the region, offering firms the ability to present their products...

Switzerland Tops Global Innovation Ranking, China Enters Top 10

China has entered the top 10 for the first time, taking the 10th spot and replacing Germany, which fell...

Meta, Google, Microsoft Pay Top AI Experts Up to $300K

Meta, Google, and Microsoft offer top researchers up to $300,000 annually—and up to $1.5M over four years. Meta recently...

World First: Albania Elevates AI to Ministerial Rank

In a world first, Albania has appointed an artificial intelligence system to ministerial rank. Prime Minister Edi Rama announced...
spot_img

Connecting the Adria Region Decision Makers

The Region is more than a publication - it's where the region's elite converge for insights and opportunities