In Sarajevo on Thursday July 7th the International Independent Agency together with the European Association of Managers and Euromanager magazine organized the 24th Award Ceremony for the Best Manager of the Year and the Best Company of the Year in the South Eastern and Central Europe.

The award the Best Manager of the Year has become highly appreciated and internationally recognized by the regional business community. Members of the jury were prominent businessmen, scientists and public officials from the region. Up to date a number of eminent businessmen from the region have won the award.

This year out of 2,000 managers from 40 countries the title of the Best Manager of the Year in the South Eastern and Central Europe went to MSc. Gordana Kovačević, President of Ericsson Nikola Tesla for her outstanding performance, innovative leadership and original approach to qualitative and efficient improvement of local and global organization and excellent business results. In front of more than 400 guests, distinguished members of political and social life and business community from the entire region, the award was presented by Bakir Izetbegović, the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

After receiving the award MSc. Gordana Kovačević in an inspired thank-you speech emphasized how proud and grateful she was for winning this recognition and especially how happy she was for feeling all this positive energy in the company of successful entrepreneurs, who even in the time of economic crisis were achieving good results. She said that the award belonged to all employees of Ericsson Nikola Tesla, who were committed to reach the company targets and contribute to operations development, to our customers and partners in all markets, because all of them were the part of this success story. Moved by warm welcome and loud applause she ended by saying: "Dear friends, these are the times for visionary leaders who have knowledge, courage, motivation and inspiration to use and direct innovative potential and comparative advantages of countries in the region and contribute to economic recovery and further development as prerequisite for better living of all people and migration to the networked society”.

The awards were given in business and public sphere categories. Among those who won the award was Dr. Ivo Josipović, President of the Republic of Croatia for his proactive initiatives to bring together countries in the region, Bosse Hedberg, Ambassador the Kingdom of Sweden in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Nedžad Rašidbegović, General Director of BH Telecom et al.

In the morning at the traditional international business conference dedicated to the Regional Economic Development and Cooperation, managers of successful companies from the region based on their own experience spoke about their achievements, prospects and potential and their vision of business and economic development in the region. Speech of MSc. Gordana Kovačević, President of Ericsson Nikola Tesla caught great attention of the audience. She spoke about ICT as the driver of social development and economic recovery. Presenting the vision of future development of the society, MSc. Gordana Kovačević said that in global development process of the networked society, in which according to forecasts there will be 50 billion networked devices by 2020, ICT has a major role as a driving force and initiator. “ICT sector has a direct impact on overall growth of national economy, increase of competitiveness of other sectors, new working places and sustainable social development. Ericsson Nikola Tesla as a member of the global Ericsson family is ready to play a prominent and active role in contemporary social and economic movements, thus creating new opportunities for people, businesses and society at large.“

While staying in Sarajevo MSc. Gordana Kovačević used the occasion to sign the contract with BH Telecom, our log-standing partner and the leading network operator in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is yet another acknowledgement of good reputation Ericsson Nikola Tesla is enjoying in the region and partner relationships it is building in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A large number of our partners attended the award presentation ceremony and made this distinguished recognition even bigger.

Company Communications, Ericsson Nikola Tesla