Baltic Investors
Forum 2021: Winners

10 June 2021 / www.balticinvestorsforum.lt

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2021 BIF

Winners – their experience is what we will review at the Baltic Investors Forum 2021. Who are they? Businesses that passed the test of the pandemic, strengthened their positions, and discovered new opportunities. The public sector, with an unconventional approach to governance and efficiency. World leaders, laying the foundations for new strategic directions of development.

At this year’s Forum, we will analyse what helped companies, organisations and individuals become winners? What solutions helped companies overcome the threat of unprecedented levels and achieve the best results? What innovations helped conquer new markets and gain consumer recognition? How did the changed attitude toward sustainability and the environment lead to pioneering in innovative business? What new working methods allowed us to be quicker and more flexible? What kind of tomorrow are scientific genius creating?

Watch the online conference: www.balticinvestorsforum.lt

Why should you participate in the BIF?

  • You will be part of the community of business leaders and decision makers;
  • You will have a great opportunity to share your success story and good practice;
  • You will form opinions on business-relevant topics;
  • You will network in a business-based communication space.

about us

The Baltic Investors Forum is one of the most important international platforms in the Baltic region for discussing economic and geopolitical issues and planning future business strategies.

Over the past decade, the most prominent scientists, renowned political and economic experts, government and business leaders and public figures have met here.

The Baltic Investors Forum (BIF) has hosted Nobel Prize winner Robert J. Shiller; author of the best-sellers The Next 100 Years and The Next Decade, geopolitics expert Dr George Friedman; Emmy award-winning creator, one of the producers of the TV show The Simpsons, Joel Cohen; economist at the Nomura Research Institute, Richard C. Koo; and many others.

The BIF is the main event of the association Investors’ Forum, which discusses long-term global strategies and topics relevant to business.

Speakers

JACEK OLCZAK

CEO at Philip Morris International

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CÉLINE GAUER

European Commission, Director General of RECOVER

CHRISTOFFER MALMER

SEB group, Head of SEBx

Branka Rajicic (2)

BRANKA RAJICIC

People and Talent Leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers CEE

JOHANNES HAUSHOFER

Economist

INGRIDA OLENDRAITĖ

Virologist - Researcher at the University of Cambridge

JAAK MIKKEL

General Manager Poland and Baltics, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company

DEXTER FLETCHER

Film Director, Actor

TOMAS BALČĖTIS

Assistant GM in Denver Nuggets (NBA)

GITANAS NAUSĖDA

President of the Republic of Lithuania

INGRIDA ŠIMONYTĖ

Lithuanian Prime Minister

ROLANDAS VALIŪNAS

Chairman of the Conference, Chairman of the Board of Investors' Forum

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LINAS DIČPETRIS

CESA Government and Public Sector Leader, BAL Consulting Leader, EY

JEKATERINA GOVINA

Executive Director of Financial Sector Supervision Service, Bank of Lithuania

Hearing of Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, Commissioner-designate, Environment and Oceans - Opening speech

VIRGINIJUS SINKEVIČIUS

European Commissioner

FREDRIK NILZÉN

Head of Sustainability, Swedbank Group

VILIUS LUKAUSKAS

Danske Bank Lithuania, Chief of Staff

IEVA DOSINAITĖ

Partner at Ellex

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ANDRIUS BIČEIKA

Deputy CEO and member of the management board, Revolut Bank

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JON LIDEFELT

Head of Baltic Banking, Swedbank

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SIGITAS ŽVIRBLIS

CEO, Intersurgical

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TOBIAS BIELENSTEIN

Refillable Working Group Germany, Public Affairs, Sustainability & Communications director

RENATO LA FIANZA

CEO and Chairman of the Management Board, PayRay Bank

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VALDONĖ DAUGĖLAITĖ-ŠUŠKEVIČĖ

Founder and CEO, CupCup

BENJAMIN E. JONES

TerraCycle, Loop

HENRIETTE SCHNEIDER

Circular economy and environmental policy expert, Environment Action Germany

CHRISTOF TROWITZ

Business Development Manager, RePack

MINDAUGAS RUPŠYS

Corporate Affairs Manager Factory Sites, Mars Lietuva

MONIKA NAVICKIENĖ

Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania, Minister

JUSTINAS KIRBUTAS

Neptunas Plant Manager, Coca-Cola HBC Lithuania

GEMMA AIOLFI

Head of Compliance, Corporate Governance and Collective Action, Basel Institute on Governance,

OLGA SAVRAN

Manager of Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, OECD

WILLEM PUNT

Anti-bribary and Corruption Leader, Group Compliance and Operational Risk, AZN bank

CECILIA EKHOLM

Ambassador for Sustainable Business, Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Programme
www.balticinvestorsforum.lt

  • 9:00 - 9.30

    OPENING OF THE EVENT

    Rolandas Valiūnas, Investors’ Forum, Chairman of the Board
    Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania
    Ingrida Šimonytė, Lithuanian Prime Minister
    Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries

  • 9:30 - 10:00

    CEO TALKS

    We Dare to Disrupt Our Business: a Road to the Smoke-Free Future
    Jacek Olczak, CEO at Philip Morris International

  • 10:00 - 10:20

    LEADERSHIP AND MONEY - AGAINST THE VIRUS

    How will we Rebuild Post-covid Europe
    Céline Gauer, Director General of the Recovery and Resilience Task Force, EC

  • 10:20 - 10:40

    COFFEE BREAK

  • 10:40 - 12:00

    WINNERS - WHAT UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITIES DID WE DISCOVER DURING THE PANDEMIC?

    Adapting to Win in COVID-19 Times
    Jaak Mikkel    , General Manager Poland and Baltics, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company
    Christoffer Malmer, Head of SEBx, SEB Group
    The return of optimism
    Branka Rajicic, CEE People & Talent Leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers
    New reality: automation and grow of investments
    Sigitas Žvirblis, CEO, Intersurgical

  • 12:00 - 13:00

    12:00 - 12:20
    LUNCH BREAK WITH EY: KEY DIFFERENTIATORS FOR PULLING INVESTMENTS TO THE BALTICS

    Linas Dičpetris, EY, CESA Government and Public Sector Leader, BAL Consulting Leader

  • 13:00 - 13:30

    What comes next: the post-pandemic consumer
    Jon Lidefelt, Head of Baltic Banking, Swedbank

  • 13:30 - 14:00

    Three things that will not be the same
    Vilius Lukauskas, Chief of Staff, Danske Bank Lietuva

  • 14:00 - 14:30

    What drives the change in fintech sector?

    Andrius Bičeika, deputy CEO and member of the management board, Revolut Bank
    Renato La Fianza, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board, PayRay Bank
    Ieva Dosinaitė, Partner at Ellex

    Discussion moderated by Jekaterina Govina, Executive Director of Financial Sector Supervision Service, Bank of Lithuania

  • 14:30 - 15:00

    COFFEE BREAK

  • 15:00 - 15:40

    SCIENCE - IS HUMANITY CAPABLE OF FIGHTING VIRUSES?

    Do Lockdowns Hurt or Help Mental Health'?
    Johannes Haushofer, Economist, Stockholm University
    Are viruses “black swan” events?
    Ingrida Olendraitė, Virologist and a research assistant at the University of Cambridge

  • 15:40 - 16.30

    AGAINST THE VIRUS - CREATIVITY AND SPORTS VIRUS

    Building a Winning Team with Data
    Tomas Balčėtis, Assistant GM in Denver Nuggets (NBA)
    Who the F*** is Dexter Fletcher?
    Dexter Fletcher, Film Director, Actor

  • 16:30 - 17:00

    INVESTORS' FORUM AWARDS

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Call for businesses

We invite our company’s employees to participate in this conference of business professionals, to gain professional experience and expand their horizons. Participation in the BIF is the best thanks, appreciation and encouragement for improvement that you can give us. Take advantage of this opportunity already this year!

For special ticket prices for businesses, please contact Monika Banevičiūtė by email: monika@investorsforum.lt

In 2021, the BIF will take place both live and online. By choosing standard live participation tickets, you will also receive an invitation to participate in the Investors’ Forum awards ceremony.

Online ticket

€ 79
  • Participation in the conference ONLINE;
  • Recordings available for one week after the conference.
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Programme
"Towards Sustainability"

www.balticinvestorsforum.lt

“Towards Sustainability” is a free of charge international conference on key CSR topics. The conference will feature presentations and discussions with representatives of the OECD, the European Commission, international experts, and the global business community will share best practices and knowledge. It is a platform that will provide an opportunity to look at CSR from different angles – through the perspective of the business community, experts, politicians and the public.

“Towards Sustainability” is part of the project “Promoting Corporate Social Responsibility” and is funded by the European Union Structural Funds.

If you have purchased a ticket to the Baltic Investors ’Forum, you do not need to register.

  • 9:00 - 9.30

    OPENING OF THE EVENT


    Aidas Puklevičius, Conference moderator

    Rolandas Valiūnas, Investors’ Forum, Chairman of the Board
    Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania
    Ingrida Šimonytė, Lithuanian Prime Minister
    Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries

  • 9:30 - 10.15

    EUROPE TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY

    Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries
    Monika Navickienė, Minister of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania

  • 10:15 - 11:30

    SUSTAINABILITY ROADMAP: BEST BUSINESS PRACTISES

    Živilė Valeišienė, Western Union
    Mindaugas Rupšys, Mars Lietuva, Corporate Affairs Manager
    Factory Sites
    Justinas Kirbutas, Neptūnas
    Discussion moderated by Aidas Puklevičius

  • 11:30 - 12:00

    LUNCH BREAK

  • 12:00 - 13:15

    PROMOTING BUSINESS INTEGRITY

    Olga Savran, Manager of Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, OECD
    Gemma Aiolfi, Head of Compliance, Corporate Governance and Collective Action, Basel Institute on Governance
    Willem Punt, Anti-bribary and Corruption Leader, Group Compliance and Operational Risk at AZN bank
    Discussion moderated by Aidas Puklevičius

  • 13:15 - 14:45

    SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING TODAY

    Tobias Bielenstein, Refillable Working Group Germany
    Valdonė Daugėlaitė Šuškevičė, CupCup
    Christof Trowitz, Repack
    Benjamin E. Jones, TerraCycle, Loop
    Henriette Schneider, Environment Action Germany
    Moderator Domantas Tracevičius

  • 14:45 - 15:00

    COFFEE BREAK

  • 15:00 - 15:20

    DO LOCKDOWNS HURT OR HELP MENTAL HEALTH?

    Johannes Haushofer, Stockholm University

  • 15:20 - 16:15

    SHARING SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES FROM SWEDEN

    Team Sweden for sustainability: how the Swedish government and business community work together for sustainable practices in doing business internationally
    Cecilia Ekholm Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador for Sustainable Business

    Fredrik Nilzén, Swedbank Group, Head of Sustainability

  • 16:15 - 16:30

    CLOSING REMARKS

  • 16:30 - 17:00

    INVESTORS' FORUM AWARDS

REGISTER

Contacts

INVESTORS’ FORUM
Totorių g. 5-21, LT-01121 Vilnius, Lithuania
Phone.: +370 5 275 52 58
Email: info@investorsforum.lt

MONIKA BANEVIČIŪTĖ
+370 638 36 226
monika@investorsforum.lt

© 2021 UAB Asociacija „Investors' Forum". All rights reserved.

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Jacek Olczak

We Dare to Disrupt Our Business: a Road to the Smoke-Free Future

Phillip Morris International is committed to creating a smoke-free future, thus, accelerating a massive momentum in the change of industry, the company itself and opportunities of public health. Having a brave goal to stop selling cigarettes, the company is not afraid to disrupt its own business and the entire tobacco industry.

Mr. Olczak is CEO at Philip Morris International.  Mr. Olczak joined Philip Morris Polska in 1993 as Manager, Finance and Administration. After serving as Manager, Internal Controls in 1995 in Lausanne, Switzerland, Mr. Olczak returned to Poland in 1996 where he held various positions in finance, sales, and operations. Between 2002 and 2006, Mr. Olczak worked extensively across Central Europe and the Baltic States, and in 2004 was appointed Managing Director, Poland & Baltic States. In 2006, he became Managing Director, Germany & Austria, and from 2009 until 2012, he served as President of PMI’s European Union Region, responsible for managing our operations. From 2012 until his current appointment, Mr. Olczak held the role of Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining PMI, Mr. Olczak worked for BDO Binder Sp. z o.o. in London and Warsaw. Mr. Olczak holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of Lodz, Poland. Philip Morris International is the first major international investor in the restored independent Republic of Lithuania and has been operating in the country since 1993. In 1997 PMI implemented the first Greenfield project in Lithuania and built a new factory in Klaipeda.

CÉLINE GAUER

Director General of the Recovery and Resilience Task Force, EC.

The Recover and Resilience Task Force is in charge of coordinating and implementing the Recovery and Resilience Facility to help the European Union emerge from the coronavirus crisis and to make the economies of the Member States more resilient. This instrument will be the largest stimulus package ever financed through the EU budget. A total of €1.8 trillion will help rebuild a post-COVID-19 Europe. It will be a greener, more digital and more resilient Europe.

Gauer was Deputy Secretary-General in charge of Smart Regulation, Work Programme and Policy Coordination in the Secretariat General of the European Commission from 2018 until 2020.

Before that she was Deputy Director General for Food Safety in the European Commission’s General Directorate for Health and Food Safety until 2018.

Prior to that date she was a member of the Directorate General for Competition where she occupied various positions from 1995 until 2018, lately as Director for Energy and Environment.

She studied Law and Economics in France (Sorbonne and Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris).

CHRISTOFFER MALMER

Mr. Malmer joined SEB in 2011 as Head of Financial Institutions Coverage, before becoming a member of the Group Executive Committee as Head of the Wealth Management division in 2015. In 2016, he became Co-Head of the Corporate & Private Customers division within SEB. In April 2018 Mr. Malmer was appointed Head of the SEBx-project, a strategic initiative to explore new technologies and new customer offerings. Prior to joining SEB, Mr. Malmer spent nine years at Goldman Sachs in London where he in 2007 was made Managing Director and head of the European Equity Research Team, covering Financial Institutions. In 2009, he moved back to Sweden and spent two years advising Arrowgrass Capital Partners on investments in Financial Institutions. Christoffer Malmer earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Business Administration at the University of Lund in 2000.

BRANKA RAJICIC

The return of optimism

Out of the depths of last year’s global health and economic crisis, the confidence of CEOs worldwide has returned to record levels, according to this year’s PwC CEO Survey. Yet, business executives in CEE remain more cautious about the growth perspectives of their companies than their peers worldwide. 

What gives CEE CEOs extra cause for concern, why is the risk awareness in our region higher than elsewhere and where are the business executives in CEE looking for growth? Find out from Branka Rajicic.

Branka has a dual role in PwC. She is both the Leader of the PwC Tax practice in Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as the PwC CEE People and Talent Leader and member of the Executive board of PwC CEE.

She is a tax consultant by background, with over 20 years of professional experience working with various clients  – from prominent large multinationals to thriving private businesses, and from venture capital funds to the public sector. She helped them structure their investments and business activities in an optimal way, acquire local businesses, and navigate complexities of local laws and regulations. She has also contributed to the reform of the Serbian Tax Administration and improvement of the local tax regulations and practice through professional organisations and direct work with the authorities. 

She took over the role of PwC Central and Eastern Europe’s People and Talent Leader just a few short months before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her priorities in this role were two-fold: driving the PwC CEE People Transformation agenda and improving the wellbeing of professionals across the firm, with both of these topics becoming crucial following the pandemic and the prolonged period of remote work.

JOHANNES HAUSHOFER

Do Lockdowns Hurt or Help Mental Health?

Governments have reacted to the COVID-19 pandemic with a variety of interventions, such as lockdowns, school closures, and travel bans. What is the effect of these drastic measures on individuals’ mental health? Economist Johannes Haushofer will explore how these interventions influenced perception and mental health, and how governments and businesses could assess the impact of such interventions; e.g., to understand how work-from-home affects productivity. 

 Johannes Haushofer is Assistant Professor of Economics at Stockholm University. He is also a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research, and Founder and Scientific Director of the Busara Center for Behavioral Economics, a research non-profit in Nairobi, Kenya. Johannes’s research interests lie at the intersection of development and behavioral economics. He holds a BA in Psychology, Physiology and Philosophy from Oxford, a PhD in Neurobiology from Harvard, and a PhD in Economics from the University of Zurich.

INGRIDA OLENDRAITĖ

Are viruses “black swan” events?

Can science and medicine prevent the spread of viruses? What have we learned from Covid-19? What to expect in the future – what unknowns are hidden in the current and future viruses? 

A postdoctoral researcher in viral molecular biology and bioinformatics at the Cambridge University, Ingrida Olendraitė, is studying the pandemic influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses. “The most recent research shows that it all depends on the person. It is interesting and useful to analyse the virus, but the most important part is to analyse human biology, immunity, and how the immunity systems and responses of different age groups or people with different illnesses differ”, says the researcher. 

During the doctoral studies. Ingrida Olendraitė searched for new viruses, using more sensitive methods. Ingrida’s goal is to delve into the mutation of the pandemic influenza, learning of what determines already dangerous flu viruses becoming pandemic. 

JAAK MIKKEL

“Adapting to Win in COVID-19 Times”

General Manager Poland and Baltics, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the biggest global challenges to individuals, societies and governments around the world, which has changed our lifestyles in recent decade. As is usually the nature of any crisis for businesses it has been the time to revisit the way they have operated so far and a chance to revisit their business model, reshape it and adapt to continue winning in the future. Take an exceptional opportunity to learn newest insights of global beverage industry leaders on how to leverage a global crisis to accelerate business change towards a more agile model.

Jaak Mikkel, CEO of Coca-Cola Hellenic Poland and the Baltic States is an experienced manager who has held many positions in various management areas, sectors, and countries during his career. Associated with Coca-Cola HBC since 2008, initially as Sales Director in the Baltic States, then as CEO of Pivara Skopje, managing a joint venture with Heineken. In 2014, Jaak Mikkel was appointed CEO in Romania, where under his leadership the company achieved the highest market share in the carbonated drinks category in a decade. Since 2018, he has been the General Director in Poland and as of May 2019 he has been leading an integrated Business Unit of Poland and Baltics delivering best-ever results in years 2019 and 2020.

Prior to joining Coca-Cola HBC, Jaak Mikkel spent 10 years at Shell, where he started as Retail Sales Manager in Estonia and then moved to different CEE and Nordic roles. He is a graduate of international business at the Concordia International University in Estonia. 

DEXTER FLETCHER

Who the F*** is Dexter  Fletcher?

BAFTA-nominee Dexter Fletcher is a British actor turned director from London. He began his career at the age of 6 and at the age of 9 stared as Baby Face in Alan Parker’s BUGSY MALONE.  Fletcher continued to work in the industry on screen for the next four decades, appearing on-screen alongside acting greats Al Pacino, Anthony Hopkins, Robert de Niro, Alan Rickman, Helen Mirren and Liam Neeson to name but a few. Fletcher has worked with such distinguished visual directors as Derek Jarman, David Lynch, Ken Russell, Mike Leigh and Guy Ritchie, all who helped him hone his own craft as a director.

In 2011 Fletcher made his directorial debut with WILD BILL, which he co-wrote. The film earned him a BAFTA nomination for Outstanding Debut and was a critical success; it currently holds a 100% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Next, Fletcher directed the film adaptation of the Scottish stage musical SUNSHINE ON LEITH, based on the music of the Proclaimers. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was extremely well received by critics and audiences alike.

In 2016 Fletcher directed EDDIE THE EAGLE, based on the real life story of Olympic ski jumper Eddie Edwards. The film, which had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, starred Hugh Jackman and Taron Egerton. Later that year Fletcher was asked to take over directing duties on the Queen biopic BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY. While uncredited, Fletcher took over the final weeks of production and post production for the Oscar nominated film which became a massive success, grossing over $900 million. The film earned five Academy Award nominations and was awarded four Oscars including Best Actor for Rami Malek’s portrayal of Freddie Mercury.

Dexter Fletcher’s latest film ROCKETMAN, a rock musical based on the life and career of Elton John, reunited him with star Taron Egerton as John. The film had its world premiere at Cannes Film  Festival, received numerous nominations, amongst them BAFTA nomination for Outstanding British Film as well as won Academy Award for Best Achievement in Music for Elton John and two Golden Globes for Taron Egerton and for Best Original song.

TOMAS BALČĖTIS

Tommy Balcetis is an assistant GM in Denver Nuggets. He has been with the team since 2013 when he joined as a VP for strategy and analytics. Before that Tommy worked for the NBA in London, Fidelity Business Consulting in Boston and is a graduate from Harvard university. He has invaluable experience and insight in using data analytics in basketball and has contributed greatly to the roster of Denver Nuggets – a team that reached conference finals in the NBA playoffs last year and is becoming a serious problem for the opponents in the league. 

GITANAS NAUSĖDA

President of the Republic of Lithuania since 2019. Experienced economist, Doctor of Social Sciences. In 1994-2000, worked at the Bank of Lithuania (Member of the Board, 1998-2000). In 2000-2008, Adviser to the Chairman of the Board of Vilniaus Bankas. In 2008-2018, Adviser to the President of SEB Bank and Chief Economist.

INGRIDA ŠIMONYTĖ

Ingrida Šimonytė is a Lithuanian politician and economist. Before becoming the current Prime Minister of Lithuania, Mrs Šimonytė was elected twice as a member of the Seimas for the Antakalnis constituency. 2009 – 2012 Mrs Šimonytė held a post as a Minister of Finance, later appointed as the deputy chairperson of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania and the chairperson of Vilnius University Council.

ROLANDAS VALIŪNAS

Chairman of the Conference, Chairman of the Board of Investors’ Forum

Rolandas Valiūnas is a managing partner with experience in advising foreign investors and Lithuanian market leaders on a wide range of complex corporate governance and M&A issues. He actively participates in the activities of many business associations operating in Lithuania and is a member of various working groups formed by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. Rolandas is highly commended for his significant contribution to attracting foreign investment and improving the legal framework and business environment in Lithuania. He has a long-standing partnership with the Lithuanian economic investor business association Investors’ Forum as chairman of the board — a significant part of his public activity. Since 2020, Rolandas has been elected as the vice-president of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (Lietuvos pramonininkų konfederacija).

LINAS DIČPETRIS

Lunch break with EY: Key differentiators for pulling investments to the Baltics

To remain attractive in this reframed business environment, we must think creatively, act decisively, and put cohesion and collaboration at the heart of everything we do.

One of the key drivers of growth is a country or region’s ability to attract investment. For 20 years EY attractiveness surveys are widely recognized as a key source of insight into foreign direct investment. Our reports are designed to provide companies and governments with reliable insight to shape economically sound strategy and policy decisions to drive growth and investment.

Our last European attractiveness study conducted in October 2020 showed the first signs of moderate optimism since spring 2020. Investors’ views looked more positively than during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic though the global economy continued to face challenges and uncertainties. EY report noted that the first shock was over – the international business were adapting to the circumstances and actively looking for ways to increase its competitive advantage. At the same time, national business support plans were no longer as important among large investors. We continued to observe more and more examples of business transformation restructuring, with some sector leaders taking on challenges as an opportunity to improve their operations and implement new solutions, test new business models and strengthen their position in the European market.

Now we will present to you the results of 2021 annual European attractiveness study and the first Baltic attractiveness study and share investors’ priorities and insights about digital, sustainability, national business support plans, skills and other differentiating factors when determining which countries to invest in across Europe. Let’s together discuss how and what we in the Baltics can do more to remain attractive and ensure sustainable growth. Linas Dičpetris – EY CESA Government and Public Sector Leader and EY BAL Consulting Leader. He works with clients in various industries on their strategic and digital transformation agendas with focus on the government and public services sectors. Passionate about fitness and aviation.

JEKATERINA GOVINA

Executive Director of Financial Sector Supervision Service, Bank of Lithuania

For 4 years Jekaterina took part in developing policies for the fintech industry in Lithuania. Before appointment as an Executive Director of Supervision Service, she was coordinator of Bank of Lithuania Fintech strategy and Head of Innovation Committee.

She has been working as a lawyer in various divisions of the Bank of Lithuania, with the areas of responsibility that included insurance, payments, lending, peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding regulations. She has been awarded as a Public Sector Lawyer of the Year for developing the concept of crowdfunding regulation in Lithuania and was acknowledged by Lattice80 as one of the Top 100 Women in Fintech: http://www.lattice80.com/top-100-women-in-fintech/. 

VIRGINIJUS SINKEVIČIUS

Virginijus Sinkevičius has been the European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries since 2019. He was formerly the Minister of Economy of Lithuania (2017-2019). Before becoming the Minister of Economy, Sinkevičius led the Economic Committee of the Parliament of Lithuania. Sinkevičius was elected to Parliament in October 2016. Before that, he was a Team Lead for Regulatory Affairs at Invest Lithuania. Prior to joining Invest Lithuania, Sinkevičius was Managing Editor at the US Office of The Lithuanian Tribune in Washington D.C. Sinkevičius holds a BA in International Relations and Affairs from Aberystwyth University and a Master’s degree in European International Affairs from Maastricht University.

FREDRIK NILZÉN

Paradigm shift in the global banking industry

Mr. Nilzén has fifteen years of experience in sustainable business. He is currently Head of Group Sustainability at Swedbank with the responsibility to support, govern and manage sustainability considerations across the banking business in four home markets. Before joining Swedbank, Fredrik had the role of Corporate Citizenship Lead for Accenture Nordics as well as consultant in the field of Sustainability, Digitalization, Partnership Strategy, Information Management and Marketing Operations across Telecommunications, Utilities, INGOs and Financial Services. He has been Global Key Account for an INGO between 2008–2017 and has experience from working in Pakistan with mobile telecommunication development. Fredrik holds a degree within Industrial Engineering & Technology from Linköpings Tekniska Högskola in Sweden and at ENSGI in Grenoble.

VILIUS LUKAUSKAS

Three things that will not be the same

Will we never see a bunch of our colleagues in the office again, and have online meetings changed business trips forever? How will we look after our employees in the future?

Vilius Lukauskas will share his insights and practical knowledge of working in Danske Bank. Vilius has been working in the global business services sector for a decade, and for the last two years, he has held the post of Chief of Staff of the largest global business service centre in Lithuania, with more than 4000 employees. Vilius’s current role is very diverse, dynamic, requiring listening and working closely with colleagues from Human Resources, Communications, Administration, Security, Risk Assessment, Finance, Real Estate and other departments. One of Vilius’s responsibilities involves bringing together professionals from different fields to plan business continuity and implement a response to a wide range of organizational risks and crises. Vilius Lukauskas will share his insights about various principles of work organization at the time of the COVID-19, what affects the pandemic has on organizations’ action, as well as what long-term changes it will bring by providing more flexibility to employees.

IEVA DOSINAITĖ

Ieva Dosinaitė is a partner who during her professional career has represented and advised on complex financial transactions and regulatory and capital markets related issues for the following: banking and financial institutions, insurance companies, trading companies, inter alia EBRD, EIB, Lietuvos Energija (incl. green bonds issue), Maxima Grupė (incl. first bond issue), Vilniaus prekyba, Lithuanian Airports, Lithuanian post as well as international Visa, PayRay, Sollo and others. She has significant experience in managing pan-Baltic legal projects and is noted for solving legal issues with international institutions.

In 2019, Ieva was highly recognized in the International Bar Association (IBA), where she was appointed to an officer of the Banking Law Committee and the Vice-Chair of IBA Structured Finance Subcommittee.

ANDRIUS BIČEIKA

Deputy CEO and member of the management board, Revolut Bank

Andrius is a seasoned FinTech expert and enthusiast. He joined Revolut almost from the very beginning and jumped through multiple positions in the company, from business development, managing the Baltic region and then globally to the Global Head of People. Andrius recently joined the management of Revolut Bank and is now responsible for banking operations and expansion in Europe.

JON LIDEFELT

What comes next: the post-pandemic consumer

In March 2020 economies of countries around the globe slowed down and societies switched from real to digital world. Were customers ready for this drastic overnight change? How did the Covid19 pandemics change e. channel and e. commerce usage, financing and investment habits? Are the new trends here to stay or will people go back to their usual ways of living? Although old saying states that old habits die hard, Swedbank data shows that some trends are here to stay.

 

Jon Lidefelt was appointed as Head of Swedbank Baltic Banking in 2019. He joined Swedbank in 2001 and held various positions in Swedbank’s Risk Organisation up until 2006. Then he stepped away from organization and was a co-founder and partner at LWC AB/Aperio Financial Consulting until 2013 when he came back to Swedbank. In 2014 Mr. Lidefelt became Head of Group Risk Analysis and Modelling and in 2017 CFO of Baltic Banking – he worked in this position until becoming Head of Baltic Banking. Jon Lidefelt earned Master’s in Science in Engineering Physics at Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. Prior to that he studied Economics and Finance in Universities of Stockholm and Lund.

SIGITAS ŽVIRBLIS

How did robotisation and automation help Intersurgical become winners during the pandemic? What strategies did the company apply and what solutions made them winners?

Sigitas Žvirblis, CEO of Intersurgical, will talk about this and more at the Baltic Investors Forum conference.

The COVID-19 pandemic was a major challenge for the company Intersurgical. During the first weeks of quarantine, this company that manufactures medical devices related to respiratory support rushed to refocus their efforts on the production of products most needed to fight COVID-19. Office workers voluntarily joined the production, and some people worked overtime. Last spring, every month, over 15 thousand pallets of manufactured products were moved from the company’s warehouses to all the continents of the world. The entire supply chain to Lithuanian hospitals worked without interruption.

The CEO of Intersurgical says that even during the pandemic, the number of employees increased by almost 200 people, which increased the growth of production and exports.

 During the pandemic, Intersurgical developed investment projects in Lithuania. The production capacity in Pabradė factory was expanded by more than 9,000 m², a more than 16,000 m² factory in Visaginas and raw material warehouses in Pabradė were built, construction of an automatic distribution centre warehouse in Pabradė was completed. This warehouse allowed the company to optimise its stockholding resources. Thanks to automation, all processes became much faster and more accurate.

TOBIAS BIELENSTEIN

Tobias Bielenstein is director Public Affairs, Sustainability & Communications of the Cooperative of the German Mineral Water Companies (GDB), which runs Europe’s biggest refillable bottles system with more than one billion bottles and more than 100 million crates. Tobias is also COO of the Working Group Refillables (Arbeitskreis Mehrweg), an organization managing the Refillable Logo and serving as a think tank & information point about refillables for companies, start-ups, authorities and scientists.

RENATO LA FIANZA

Renato moved to Lithuania specifically to establish a Bank and followed the project from the first instant. Before moving to Lithuania Renato worked in City of London and acquired significantly relevant experiences in numerous fields of finance including advisory, principle investment, financing, credit, derivatives, complex structures, from origination to execution.

VALDONĖ DAUGĖLAITĖ - ŠUŠKEVIČĖ

Researcher, Kaunas University of Technology doctoral student analysing packaging systems on various levels and CupCup initiative founder as well as CEO. This social-environmental start up provides coffee chains, festivals, events and various locations with reusable coffee cups. Main CupCup goal is to reduce single use packaging use and associated negative impact on the environment. This is being done through a closed loop business model – reusable cup with deposit fee and return system.

BENJAMIN E. JONES

Loop is a global platform for reuse that aims to tackle the issue of single-use packaging waste by bringing back and modernizing the ‘milkman model’ of packaging. Over the past several years, Loop has partnered with the world’s largest consumer goods companies such as P&G, Nestle, and Coca-Cola to develop a variety of products from shampoo to cereal in reusable packaging. Loop also works with leading retailers such as Tesco, Carrefour, and Kroger to distribute these products to everyday consumers and to offer collection points for consumers to return their packaging so it can be cleaned and refilled professionally. Loop’s vision is to create an ecosystem for reuse where consumers can buy anywhere and return anywhere, thus mimicking the ease and convenience that consumers are used to today with single-use products.

HENRIETTE SCHNEIDER

Henriette is an expert on circular economy and environmental policy in Environmental Action Germany (DUH), one of the biggest environmental and consumer protection NGOS in Germany. She does project and political work in the fields of deposit systems and reusable packaging as well as German and EU waste legislation. Environmental Action Germany was actively involved in the introduction of the DRS for single-use beverage packaging in Germany in 2003 and the inclusion of a refillables target in the German Packaging Law.

CHRISTOF TROWITZ

Christof Trowitz is RePack business development manager. Repack is a reusable and returnable packaging system for B2C online retailers. The packages, so called RePacks, can be folded to letter size and returned for reuse – simply by dropping them into any post box. Worldwide and free of charge. With 350 000 shipments so far, proof of concept has well been shown, now RePack is ready to scale.

MINDAUGAS RUPŠYS

Why is community support important in creating a better world for pets?

 

Mindaugas Rupšys has been working for one of the world’s largest family-owned corporations, Mars, for the past 8 years. In his current position as Corporate Affairs Manager Factory Sites, Mindaugas works with Mars pet food factories in Spain, Hungary and Lithuania. For the second century in a row, the multinational corporation has made sustainable development a priority in order to be successful in the future. At the conference, Mindaugas will discuss Mars’ sustainability and social responsibility goals and commitments, how all this is reflected in Mars Lithuania’s activities and what is the role of the local community in this context.

MONIKA NAVICKIENĖ

Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania, Minister

JUSTINAS KIRBUTAS

Justinas Kirbutas is Coca-Cola HBC Lithuania natural mineral water Neptunas Plant Manager, Lithuanian natural mineral water association Board Member. He has 12 years of experience in supply chain: logistics, retail, and production areas. Before joining Neptunas team for the past 3 years Justinas held Chief Operations Officer (COO) position in one of the biggest retail chains in the Baltics.

Water is crucial to our business: we need it for our beverages, our production and processes. Thus, in natural mineral water plant Neptunas we engage our stakeholders through sustainability initiatives and focus on protecting water sources and responsible use of water.

GEMMA AIOLFI

Ms. Gemma Aiolfi is Head of Compliance, Corporate Governance and Collective Action at the Basel Institute on Governance, which she helped to establish alongside Prof Mark Pieth, former Chair of the OECD Working Group on Bribery. Along with her team of compliance and Collective Action specialists, Gemma leads the Basel Institute’s extensive private sector work and outreach. This includes providing tailored guidance and training on anti-corruption compliance, corporate governance and crisis management to organisations of all sizes and sectors, and driving the use of Collective Action approaches to tackle corruption, raise standards of business integrity and level the playing field between competitors. Among other roles, Gemma has worked as Global Head of Anti-Corruption at Swiss bank UBS, and as Legal Counsel to the Integrity Department and internal Office of Special Investigations at ABB. Gemma has served on the OECD’s Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions and as an advisor to the UN Independent Inquiry Commission on the Iraq Oil-for-Food Programme. She is a Member of the Board of Ethics and Compliance Switzerland and of the OECD’s Trust in Business Initiative, a member of the Steering Committee of the Alliance for Integrity and a former External Council Adviser to the Board of Graña y Montero, Peru. Her 2020 book, Anti-Corruption Compliance: A Guide for Small and Mid-Sized Organizations published by Edward Elgar, offers step-by-step guidance to companies and non-profit organizations in managing their corruption risks. 

Gemma will disclose the role of Collective action initiatives in solving complex issues such as strengthening ethical business practice. She will share the trends and several best practices from other countries that our region could learn from. 

OLGA SAVRAN

Mrs Olga Savran is the Manager of the Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ACN) based at the Anti-Corruption Division of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In this capacity, she leads the programme of peer review known as Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan, programme of thematic studies on prevention of corruption in public administration and in the private sector, as well as the network of law-enforcement officials and studies on criminalisation of corruption. She also contributes to other global relations programmes of the OECD Working Group on Bribery, with the focus on regional programmes and global level activities on business integrity. Mrs Savran started her career with the OECD in 1996, and over the past years was involved in public governance reforms in the OECD member states as well as in the transition economies.

Olga will discuss the best OECD practices, recommendations and present the newest programs to strengthen business integrity in the region. 

WILLEM PUNT

Willem Punt is an experienced ethics and compliance professional. He brings 19 years of experience designing, advising and implementing business integrity and anti-corruption programmes for institutions operating in both developed and developing world environments. His work experience spans sub-Saharan Africa, the United Kingdom, India, Australia, south east Asia and the Pacific. He is keenly interested in solutions to improve customer outcomes, often the vulnerable ones, through faster and more efficient remediation, and innovative conduct and compliance programs. He resides in Australia where he leads the global anti-bribery and corruption risk for an Australian tier 1 bank. He is a member of the Steering Committee of the Bribery Prevention Network – an online information hub which supports Australian businesses, particularly SMEs, to manage bribery and corruption risks in domestic and international markets.

Willem will elaborate on how to create an effective ethical business culture, share the tips and tricks and importance finding the right balance between organizational culture and procedures.

CECILIA EKHOLM

Cecilia Ekholm is Ambassador for Sustainable Business at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs since the beginning of  2021. Her areas of responsibilities include promoting the Swedish Government’s Sustainable Business agenda in collaboration with relevant actors, as well as representing Sweden in international organisations such as the UN and OECD. She is chairperson of the Swedish National Contact Point and representative in the GRI Government Advisory Board. Her previous post was Swedish Ambassador to Peru. Cecilia Ekholm has a MSc in European Politics and Policy from the London School of Economics as well as a degree in Political Science from Lund University.