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.
