After the JGL Board of Directors extended the term of office of the Chief Executive Officer Mislav Vučić for the next five years, JGL management team was joined by four experienced experts – Anton Barbir as Chief Financial Officer, Darko Pejnović, set to take on the role of Director of Croatia and SEE markets, Zdravka Knežević, PhD, as Scientific Operations Director, and Marijo Volarević, Director of Digital Excellence.
"JGL is entering a new business phase. For the last three years, we have been engaged in financial restructuring and securing our strong market position. During that time, we reduced indebtedness to below 2.0x EBITDA, withstood the impact of the coronavirus pandemic without liquidity problems, refinanced bonds at an interest rate of 1.75 per cent, invested in employees and technology, and increased revenues by HRK 200 million, despite the falling value of the rouble by as much as 30 per cent. We can therefore say that we have successfully completed this phase and that we are entering a new business phase stronger than ever”, pointed out Mislav Vučić, Chief Executive Officer of JGL. He adds that the strengthening of intellectual capital comes at a time when the company is entering a new investment cycle Integra 2020, which will enable the company to take advantage of new business and financial opportunities, increase productivity, and compete even more successfully with the best pharmaceutical companies in the world.
In JGL’s dynamic team, Anton Barbir will become Chief Financial Officer. He brings over 20 years of international experience, mostly in manufacturing companies, including the pharmaceutical industry, as well as in auditing. Barbir takes on the new role at JGL as the current director of central finance for Croatia at Atlantic Grupa, where he has covered all legal entities in Croatia.
Darko Pejnović is the new Director for Croatia and SEE markets at JGL. His previous position was director of OTC at Pliva, and he is also the president of the Croatian Association of the Self-Medication Industry (CASI).
Zdravka Knežević, PhD is set to take on the role of scientific operations director with 25 years of experience in research and development and registration. Prior to joining JGL, Knežević was the Research and Development Director of Abdi Ibrahim in Turkey, the Director of Research and Development of Generics and OTC Products at Pliva/Teva and a member of the Management Board of Pliva.
With more than 20 years of international experience, Marijo Volarević held responsible positions related to advanced IT systems, business digitalisation, quality, and supply chain at Pliva, HT and Croatia Osiguranje. Volarević is JGL’s new Director of Digital Excellence.