Vážení členovia Britskej obchodnej komory v SR.
Rok ubehol ako voda a dozrel čas na ďalšie Riadne valné zhromaždenie Britskej obchodnej komory v Slovenskej republike. Valné zhromaždenie sa uskutoční za prítomnosti J.E. Nigela Bakera, britského veľvyslanca na Slovensku a čestného prezidenta našej komory.
Ako už isto viete, valné zhromaždenie sa uskutoční dňa 24. jún 2024, 15.30 – 17.30 hodine v hoteli TATRA, na Námestí 1. mája 5, v Bratislave.
Vzhľadom na skutočnosť, že ostatné voľby Predstavenstva sa uskutočnili v roku 2022, súčasťou zhromaždenia bude aj voľba Predstavenstva na ďalšie 2-ročné funkčné obdobie. Preto by sme Vám radi touto cestou predstavili kandidátov:
Dear members of the British Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia.
A year gone like a wind and the time is ripe for the next Annual General Meeting of the British Chamber of Commerce in the Slovak Republic. The Meeting will take place in the presence of H.E. Nigel Baker, British Ambassador to Slovakia and Honorary President of our Chamber.
As you are surely informed, the General Meeting will take place on June 24, 2024, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. at the TATRA Hotel, Námestie 1. mája 5, in Bratislava.
Due to the fact that the last elections of the Board of Directors took place in 2022, the election of the Board of Directors for another 2-year term will also be part of the assembly. Therefore, we would like to introduce you to the candidates in this way:
List of Candidates for the
Elections to the Board of
Directors of the
British Chamber of Commerce
in the Slovak Republic
Elections 2024
.
1. Biznár Richard, Group CFO, KOSIT, a.s.
2. Bright Richard, Senior Plant Quality Manager, Jaguar Land Rover Slovakia s.r.o
member of the Board of Directors BCC SR
3. Eastwood Karen, Principal, British International School Bratislava
member of the Board of Directors BCC SR
4. Hargašová Tatiana, Director, KPMG BUSINESS INSTITUTE, KPMG Slovensko s.r.o.
vice-chairwoman of the Board of Directors BCC SR
5. Heretik Vačoková Ivana, General Manager, Talent Solutions, s.r.o.
6. Pšenáková Katarína, Head of Communication, TESCO STORES SR, a.s.
member of the Board of Directors BCC SR
7. Remenárová Miroslava, President,Business & Professional Women NGO
chairwoman of the Board of Directors BCC SR
8. Szattler Eduard, Partner, Vojčík & Partners, s.r.o
member of the Board of Directors BCC SR
.
Richard Biznár
GROUP CFO
Kosit, a.s.
Why am I running for the office of a member of the Board of Directors?
Dear members of British Chamber of Commerce,
Through BritCham platform, I want to act in the field of topics such as the environment, financial management of companies and management effectiveness, ESG area, IT solutions for companies and topics related to AI, RPA and security, social responsibility in the field of waste management, as I consider this platform very viable with a large overlap across segments in industry as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations with great potential for cooperation not only with the British Council and companies from various areas from Great Britain, but also from other countries, especially the EU. I do not consider the members themselves and our internal cooperation directed not only to the mutual exchange of information and help in business, but also to external entities and help in the field of public life to be important.
Short BIO
Highly accomplished, multi-segment and results-driven management professional with over 20 years corporate finance & accounting, controlling, IT and administration experience, leveraging extensive operational and strategic knowledge gained in world-class business environments. Consistent & reliable performer with strong end-to-end finance insight, who supervised and implemented ERP & Reporting SW projects and hedging tools, developed internal models (Access Database and Closing Semi-Auto Tools).
A problem solver bringing tangible cost savings with broad management skills encompassing participation on a corporate strategy definition and global supply chain finance performance improvements. I accomplished company turnaround & joint venture, due diligence, performed continuous system enhancements. Fluent in Slovak, Czech and English.
.
Richard Bright
SENIOR PLANT QUALITY MANAGER
Jaguar Land Rover Slovakia, s.r.o.
Why am I running for the office of a member of the Board of Directors?
Dear members of British Chamber of Commerce,
I have been an active board member for the British Chamber of Commerce for the last 2 years where I represented JLR’s partnership with the chamber. As part of the executive board, I have supported and experienced many great events. Together with HM Ambassador and the City and Region heads we supported the Nitra volunteering centre and community. We hosted in cooperation with the chamber the Safety conference. We proudly showcased the state-of-the-art JLR facility in Nitra to students within the British Day. I have been promoting and protecting the good name of the chamber, sharing ideas and networking activities and many more.
During my time on the board, I was nothing but proud of the work that brought enriched this business community together and I know we have many opportunities for collaboration in the future.
Continuation of my board membership is my personal commitment to support future strategic direction and governance of our esteemed organisation. I believe as a British citizen, living in Slovakia for 6 years and representing a great British company such as JLR, I have much to offer the BritCham in Slovakia.
Short BIO
Richard, as Plant Quality Senior Manager and member of the Plant Leadership committee for Jaguar Land Rover Nitra, has been with JLR since 2013, in both the UK and Slovakia. He was part of the team that launched the plant in Nitra as well as the Discovery and Defender models. With over 25 years of experience in automotive manufacturing, he has carried out several different roles. In his current role as the Senior Plant Quality Manager, he leads a team that is responsible for the internal and external quality performance of JLR vehicles. He has been living in Bratislava since 2018 with his partner and 3 children. He enjoys travelling across Slovakia, and cook-outs in Kamzík. He also enjoys cycling, walking and playing football.
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Karen Eastwood
PRINCIPAL
British International School Bratislava
Why am I running for the office of a member of the Board of Directors?
Dear members of British Chamber of Commerce,
It is my pleasure and privilege to be part of the British Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia. I look forward to working with the chamber team and the board in leading the chamber into the next decade, I am sure it will be a wonderful experience.
I am now in my 10th year of leading The British International School here in Slovakia and having purchased a home here cannot see anywhere else in the world I would want to live! I have lived overseas for most of my adult life in the USA, China, Vietnam, Berlin and Milan working in British International schools. Slovakia is an amazing place to live and I delight in being able to experience the 4 seasons in a country that is so green and unpolluted.
Short BIO
Karen is the Principal of The British International School Bratislava, which she joined in January 2014. The school, which was established in 1997, is part of the Nord Anglia Education Group (NAE), which has 88 schools worldwide. Karen has had an international educational career working in HCMC Vietnam, Shanghai China, Berlin Germany and of course, the UK, from which she originates. She manages a school of over 830 students from more than 40 nationalities. She is an experienced IBDP and IGCSE Biology teacher and even though she manages the school, she still enjoys being in the classroom teaching.
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Tatiana Hargašová
DIRECTOR, KPMG BUSINESS INSTITUTE
KPMG Slovensko spol. s r.o.
Why am I running for the office of a member of the Board of Directors?
Dear members of British Chamber of Commerce,
I am honoured to be a candidate for a board member on behalf of KPMG. As a current Vice-Chairwoman, I would like to continue the work we started on awareness of new legislation related to sustainability reporting and ESG in general. Important topic to address for me is also skills for the future and how introduction of AI and automation will affect the labour market. I would also like to focus on enhancing cooperation between member companies.
Short BIO
Tatiana is the Head of KPMG Business Institute which provides technical, personal development and innovative training courses for companies. She has extensive experience identifying client needs in terms of upskilling their employees and writing and delivering bespoke courses. Tatiana used to manage the Slovak branch of a UK based professional education company and worked as an auditor at KPMG.
Tatiana has been a volunteer lecturer in the Train the Trainer programme for secondary school and university teachers for over 8 years.
.
Ivana Heretik Vačoková
GENERAL MANAGER
Talent Solutions, s.r.o.
Why am I running for the office of a member of the Board of Directors?
Dear members of British Chamber of Commerce,
I am writing to express my interest in joining the Board of Directors of British Chamber of Commerce. With a strong background as a General Manager at Talent Solutions s.r.o, and my previous international experience I have gained extensive expertise in local and international market knowledge, which I believe would be highly beneficial to your organisation.
Throughout my career, I have successfully navigated various international markets, gaining insights into diverse business practices and strategies. My role has involved not only managing operations but also fostering relationships with global and local partners, understanding different regulatory environments, and leading cross-cultural teams. These experiences have equipped me with a unique perspective on market dynamics and strategic growth.
I am interested in the opportunity to contribute to the British Chamber of Commerce, because of your commitment to fostering business growth and development within our community. I am willing to offer my skills in market knowledge, strategic planning, and business acumen to support the chamber’s initiatives and drive positive outcomes for our members.
Short BIO
As the General Manager at Talent Solutions, I oversee the operations, strategy, and growth of one of the leading recruitment agencies in Slovakia, with a full P&L and budgeting responsibility for all business lines. With 18 years of experience in the recruitment industry, I have a proven track record of delivering results, developing talent, and driving innovation.
I am passionate about creating value for our clients, candidates, and employees, by providing high-quality, customised, and efficient recruitment solutions. I have successfully led and managed multiple projects, tenders, and FDI consultancy across Europe, working with strategic international clients and partners. I have also implemented global policies and processes, improved performance management, and facilitated internal training and development. I am fluent in English and German, and have a strong knowledge of the local and regional markets. My goal is to continue to grow Talent Solutions and position it as a trusted and preferred partner in the recruitment sector.
.
Katarína Pšenáková
HEAD OF COMMUNICATION AND CAMPAIGNS
TESCO STORES SR, a.s.
Why am I running for the office of a member of the Board of Directors?
Dear members of British Chamber of Commerce,
allow me to run for re-election to the Board of Directors of the British Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia. During the past two years, together we were able to intensify our activities and achieve significant achievements that strengthened our community and supported its growth.
I am convinced that my enthusiasm, innovations and support will contribute to the further development and success of the British Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia. I believe that together we can continue to build a strong and prosperous business environment.
I would like to continue this momentum, support the Chamber’s amazing team and focus on three key areas that affect me personally as well as Tesco: women’s empowerment, sustainability and volunteering.
Supporting women: Women are the pillars of modern business. I want to support programs and workshops that will support the position of women in the business environment, enable them to acquire the necessary skills and strengthen their career growth. I believe that as a chamber we can give space to successful women to continue to progress.
Sustainability: Sustainability is key to the future of business. I plan to continue our efforts to promote environmentally responsible practices among our members, such as the ESG awards the chamber plans to launch. I will be happy if we manage to organise even more events together and bring the latest trends and innovations in the field of sustainability.
Volunteering: Volunteering is at the heart of CSR activities at Tesco and I’m glad it’s important to Britcham members too. I want us to continue to encourage the active involvement of our members in volunteer activities that will have a positive impact on local communities. I will create a platform for sharing initiatives and experiences with volunteering, thereby inspiring others to similar activities and strengthening our social responsibility.
Short BIO
Katarína, as the Head of Communication at Tesco Slovakia, is responsible for overseeing communication and corporate affairs at Tesco, as well as being in charge of the Tesco Foundation in Slovakia. Previously, she was managing Tesco´s health programme in Central Europe and worked as CSR and Government Affairs Manager. Katarina is an experienced project, sustainability and communication manager with years of experience in the business and non-profit sectors.
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Miroslava Remenárová
PRESIDENT
Business & Professional Women NGO
Why am I running for the office of a member of the Board of Directors?
Dear members of the British Chamber of Commerce in the Slovak Republic,
I would like to apply for candidacy for the BritCham Board – the reason is the interest in continuing to develop a favourable business environment through the engagement of companies in dialogue with stakeholders and communities and business support.
Previously as a member of different industry organisations and since 2019 as a chairwoman of the Board of the British Chamber of Commerce in the Slovak Republic I was participating in creating favourable business conditions and supporting the positive reputation of the country in the development of business cooperation with the United Kingdom.
Currently, I am employed in Swiss Re, as Strategy delivery Lead. Besides it and providing consultancy services in COMMUNITY company focused on public affairs and communication. In 2016, I have initiated to establish Business & Professional Women NGO and I act as its statutory representative and President.
Short BIO
For more than 20 years, Miroslava has been part of leadership teams in multinational companies operating in automotive, FMCG/Retail/e-commerce and Telco, where she specialises in public affairs, marketing, communication and selected ESG areas. Inspired by Brett Minchington´s approach towards Employer Brand, she has become expert on how to make employer brand attractive. Miroslava successfully used her knowledge in the recruitment campaigns prepared and deployed during her employment in Jaguar Land Rover, Amazon or CRH and in designing corporate employee engagement programs. Her engagement in public affairs has positively influenced business environment in Slovakia and hand in hand with CSR programmes which she initiated, made a positive impact on communities.
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Eduard Szattler
PARTNER
Vojčík & Partners, s.r.o.
Why am I running for the office of a member of the Board of Directors?
Dear members of the British Chamber of Commerce in the Slovak Republic,
I have been a Board Member of the BritCham for the last two election terms.
During those years we have achieved securing a registered office for the Chamber in Bratislava and providing it with representative premises in Košice, at the headquarters of Vojčík & Partners, where I have been working for more than 15 years.
I would like to continue as a member of the Board to ensure the activities of the Chamber, especially in the east of Slovakia, where we have managed organising several exclusive events and attracting several new members. I have also provided legal support for the Board, when necessary. I believe in the growth of the Chamber and continuation of its successful story in creating new opportunities and bringing businesses together.
I will be grateful for your votes, and I am looking forward to possibly representing the Chamber in the future.
Short BIO
My name is Eduard Szattler and I am a partner in the law firm Vojčík & Partners. I have been practising law for more than 20 years. My specialisation in legal expertise is mostly in the area of intellectual property and other fields of law, including negotiations and representation at courts. I have been teaching and giving lectures on various legal topics and have experience in teaching law as an assistant lecturer at the Faculty of Law in Košice and Trnava. I am also a member of Kiwanis Club Košice which focuses mostly on projects helping children.
