Irena Novinec
Vice President
Orbico group, Slovenia
My career path and destiny is to be a leader. I started my career in Litostroj, manufacturer of water turbines and hydro energy equipment, where I was promoted in a short time to Purchasing manager. After getting experiences in purchasing I wanted to learn also about the sales. I continued career in the Company Orbico Slovenia as a director of the company, which was at that time a small distribution company. In the short time we have become much bigger, mainly due to the acquisition of distribution of Procter&Gamble products.
Cooperation with one of the largest multinational companies in the world, enabled me that I learned from the best, from the sales to the HR processes. Orbico has become one of the best distribution companies in the world, what allowed us that we expanded beyond the borders of Slovenia. I took part in setting up distribution business in Orbico Croatia and Orbico Bosnia and Herzegovina. New challenges led me later in the Mercator, at that time the largest retail chain in the former Yugoslavia. Here I spent 9 years, almost half the time as a Non-food Director and the other half as a Director of the textile shops and perfumeries, where I was directly responsible for all retail outlets and processes.
A particular challenge was to lead more than 800 mostly female employees. I wanted to get experiences also outside the scope of FMCG, so I joined the company Medicopharmacia, member of the Group Orbico, where we dealt with the marketing of medicinal products. Orbico group, where I am today employed as Vice President and responsible for the strategic HR processes, has increased significantly in the last 25 years since we operates in 18 countries, what brings me also new, international challenges.
My motto through all my career always remained the same: Think big since everything is possible.