Renowned journalists, editors, and leading Croatian economists comprised the distinguished jury tasked with evaluating the key individuals and milestones that defined 2024. In the Businessperson of the Year category, Gordan Kolak, our CEO, achieved a historic double victory, earning unanimous support from both the jury and readers. This marks his fifth consecutive nomination for the award. The announcement of Kolak’s recognition sparked enthusiastic applause from his fellow nominees, who gathered on November 15 at the Emerald Ballroom of the Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb to celebrate this achievement. 

Among the contenders for the Economic Event of the Year was a debut of our battery-powered train at this year’s InnoTrans trade fair in Berlin.

„This isn’t a personal victory - it's a testament to teamwork,” Kolak said upon receiving the award. “It represents the dedication of a team that has been growing and evolving for generations. Real success is a journey - it takes time, careful planning, and steady progress to create something that excels on the global stage“, Kolak stated, adding that he was genuinely taken aback to receive the Businessperson of the Year award from the jury as well. 

Gordan Kolak brings extensive expertise in business, financial, and organizational restructuring of complex systems. His exceptional management and consulting skills span ICT solutions, strategic planning, implementation, oversight, and corporate governance, making him a leader in driving transformational success. Kolak has also developed deep expertise in national and homeland security, gained through advanced education at renowned civil and military institutions in the United States and Europe. Since taking the helm of KONČAR in early 2020, Kolak has steered the company to sustained growth. In the first nine months of 2024, KONČAR Group achieved a net profit of EUR 116.6 million, representing a 141.4% year-on-year increase. Revenue from product and service sales grew by EUR 133.5 million, totalling EUR 734.6 million, with 73% of revenue coming from exports. The European Union market remains the strongest performer, achieving a year-on-year revenue increase of 35.3% to EUR 398.2 million.

KONČAR’s achievements are underscored by a remarkable order intake of EUR 1.28 billion, with close to EUR 1 billion attributed to export markets, further cementing its international presence. The Group’s backlog reached an all-time high of EUR 1.96 billion as of September, ensuring financial stability for the years ahead. Additionally, contracts for 2025 and beyond are already valued at EUR 1.52 billion, highlighting strong future prospects.

Alongside these milestones, KONČAR’s stock price soared past EUR 400 per share, elevating the company’s market capitalization to EUR 1 billion and showcasing strong investor confidence in its growing influence across European and global markets.