Podravka - Company With A Heart!

Darko Marinac

Darko Marinac

President of the Supervisory Board

Darko Marinac was born in Zagreb in 1950. In 1973, he graduated from the Faculty of Engineering, University of Zagreb. He completed managerial studies at the Croatian Chamber of Commerce and a course for foreign trade at the Faculty of Economics in Zagreb. In 1987, he completed a business school in the "CDG" school of Cologne. He attended a number of seminars in the areas of management, marketing, sales, research and development and finance.

In 1975, he started working in Pliva. In 1980 he was appointed General Manager of the Penicillin Factory. In 1984 he became Director of Animal Health and Agrochemicals Division. From 1990 to 1992 he was head of R&D in Company. He established and managed Pliva's companies in Ukraine, Czech Republic and Slovakia. From 1996 to 1999 he was Vice-President of the Pliva Management Board. In 1999 and 2000 he was involved in M&A activities in company, being Integration Director for Polfa Krakow and Lachema Brno.

From April 2000 till July 2008 he was President and CEO of Podravka.

He uses, actively or passively, seven languages.

He has been a member of numerous councils, associations and boards, including several supervisory boards of Croatian and foreign companies. He was President and founder of the Croatian Business Council for Sustainable Development and Executive Vice-President of EGA (the European Generic Medicine Association) located in Brussels. From 2001 he is member of the Board of National Competitiveness Council of Croatia and from 2005 he is President of the Board of National Competitiveness Council of Croatia. From 2004 until 2005 he was President of the Board of CEA (Croatian Employers' Association) and from 2005 he is member of the Board of CEA. In 2006 he was named again as President of the Croatian Business Council for Sustainable Development.

He received several awards for his achievements in management and entrepreneurship, and was decorated by the President of the Republic of Croatia for his contribution to the development of the Croatian economy. In 2001 he received special award as the "International Businessman of the year" from IMDA (International Management and Development Association). In 2002 was named "Manager of the year" in Croatia. In June 2004 he becomes a member of European Round Table (ERT of industrialist) in Brussels.