Digital session: Fair Competition Alliance

He joined the Atlantic Group in 2012, and as the Director of Central Finance he is in charge of accounting, treasury and controlling function of the Atlantic Group members in Serbia and North Macedonia. He also directly manages the finance of Atlantic Štark, operating within the Atlantic Group system, and during 2015 he also amanged the integration of Foodland into the Group. He took part in the introduction of SAP system in companies in Serbia. He cooperates and coordinates with all other central fucntions in Serbia. Since June 2020 he took over the management of the Atlantic Group Representative Office in Serbia, working on the promotion of Atlantic Group and its members in Serbia, primarily in relations with state institutions, NGOs, international organizations and other institutions and professional organizations, as well as the investor community, in cooperation with other business and support functions. He joined the Atlantic Group from the position of Finance Director in Marbo – Pepsico Western Balkans, where he worked from 2008 to 2011, establishing the controlling and planning fucntion and conducting integration of Marbo finances into the Pepsico system, following acquisition. During 2009/10 he also took part in the preparations and introduction of SAP as cut over manager.  He previously worked in Allied Domecq, one of the largest global producers and distributors of alcoholic beverages and wines, first as a Finance Director since 1997, and as Director since 2002 - a position he kept after the company was acquired by Pernod Ricard. In this period he managed the Alcoholic Beverage and Wine Importers Group within the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, and he was also a member of working group for drafting the Law on Rakija and Other Alcoholic Beverages. He graduated from the Faculty of Economy in Belgrade in 1984 and gained additional professional education in the field of finance and management. He actively participates in the work of NALED and AmCham, as the Chair of Digital Economy Comittee. He is a member of Association of Controllers, Association of Finance Directors, East-West Bridge and PMI. He speaks English and Slovenian.

Nina Elezović is Public Affairs and Communication Manager in Coca-Cola HBC being in charge of the relations with interested stakehodlers, communication and sustainable business for Serbia and Montenegro. She has been a Coca-Cola team member for 6 years, previously working as Communication Manager to the CEO of Coca-Cola HBC Group. She gained her rich experience in the private (Represent Communications) and public sector (Ministry of Telecommunications and Transport, „Post of Serbia“). Nina completed Executive MBA at Sheffield University, UK, upon graduating from the Faculty of Philology in Belgrade, Department for English Language and Literature. 

Jovan is Corporate Affairs Manager in Japan Tobacco International, a company he joined in 2018. He is in charge of cooperation with the Government and businesses on joint initiatives focused on improving the business environment. Before joining JTI, Jovan worked at the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Army as navy officer. He performed various managing and administrative duties, from warship commander, through Military Academy PR, to defense system spokesman (2012-2018). During his career he has developed professional relations with nearly all sectors of state administration.He graduated from the Military Academy in Belgrade and gained additional education in PR, Culture and Media within specialized and master studies at the Faculty of Media and Culture and Faculty of Organizational Sciences in Belgrade.Representing one of the founding companies of the Fair Competition Alliance, he is truly committed to the efforts for countering shadow economy and improving the business environment in Serbia.

Graduated from the Faculty of Economy in Belgrade in 2002, and later completed master studies in International Tax Law at the Institute for Austrian and International Tax Law within the Wirtschafts University in Vienna. He has worked in KPMG in Serbia for 16 years, going through numerous positions from an intern to a partner. He currently manages a team of more than 80 employees in the Tax and Legal department and Accounting Services department in Belgrade and Podgorica. During his work in KPMG Igor has gained experience in company office in London, working on tax proejcts regarding mergers in the finance sector. He also worked on international assigments in Germany and Russia. His primary task is the establishing and maintaining of contacts with the clients and responsibility for the quality of provided services. For the past 12 years he has also been engaged as a lecturer within the KPMG Business School in Central and East Europe in the field of internationl taxation. Igor is a founding member of the Serbian Fiscal Association (Serbian branch of International Fiscal Association). He also an active member of AmCham, where he served two terms as the secretary-treasurer. He actively participates in the dialogue on tax issues with the business community, Tax Administration and the Government representatives. He is fluent in English and Russian. 

Jelena is responsible for the development and execution of local strategies in these critical markets and maintaining strong partnerships with key customers and public sectors. She has been with Mastercard since 2009, during which time she has been expanding Mastercard business with non-traditional customers, gained new and exclusive customers and managed to grow the share in these three markets. Jelena has extensive experience in the banking sector in Serbia, having worked in Card departments of two major banks- Banca Intesa and Vojvodjanska bank. Jelena holds a Bachelor degree in banking, financing and insurance from the Faculty of Economy, University of Belgrade.

Violeta Kovačević is the General Manager of Mercator-S, which involves the retail chains IDEA, Roda, Mercator and Velpro centers. By its revenues, Mercator-S is among the largest companies in Serbia, with more than 8,000 employees. She started her career in this company 15 years ago, as the CFO of IDEA. She has immense experience in the field of corporate management, acquisition, brand strategy and development. During the integration of IDEA and Mercator-S she was the head of PMO team, running the integration process which was one of the largest integrations in the region, and afterwards she took the role of Executive Director of Finance, IT and Legal. She also took part in other important projects significant for the company, such as the introduction of SuperCard, currently the largest loyalty program in the country. Along with the formal duties as General Manager of Mercator-S and a member of Supervisory Board of Kikindski mlin and SuperCard, Violeta is acitvely involved in several NGOs, such as uzela the Association of Finance Directors of Serbia, NALED and Finance Professional Hub, where she mentors future finance professionals. She completed master studies at the Faculty of Economy in Novi Sad.

Ivan is currently serving as Director External Affairs South East Europe and International Affairs Eastern Europe Region at Philip Morris International. His responsibilities include government affairs, regulatory affairs, external and internal communications as well as managing a team of External Affairs professionals in six markets of the South East Europe cluster. Since joining PMI in 2009, Ivan held different roles including Director Government Affairs Eastern Europe Region based in the Lausanne, Switzerland Operations Center (2018-2019); Director Corporate Affairs (2013-2018) and Corporate Counsel (2009-2013) based in Belgrade, Serbia. Prior to joining PMI, Ivan worked as an attorney at law in private practice in several regional law firms in New York and New Jersey where he practiced in the areas of commercial litigation and arbitration, advising various clients in the private sector. He is still a member of the New York bar. Prior to joining the bar he was a judicial law clerk in the Superior Court of New Jersey in the chambers of the Honorable Thomas C. Brown, J.S.C. during the 2000 – 2001 judicial term. This year marks his 20th year of professional experience both in the legal sector and the public affairs arena. Ivan holds a Juris Doctorate from the Seton Hall University School of Law in Newark, New Jersey which he received in 2000. He completed his undergraduate studies in 1997 at the Pfeiffer University in North Carolina with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Literature.