This year, the Council of the Economic Forum awarded the title of Man of the Year to Daniel Obajtek in circumstances that are worth recalling because of numerous precedents.
First, circumstances. The Economic Forum is the most important economic and social project in the 3rd Republic of Poland, and its achievements are an unquestionable contribution to the history of our free, independent and sovereign Homeland. Therefore, the distinctions awarded at the Forum are of special importance.
Second, precedents. This year's verdict of the Chapter is unique and important not only from the perspective of today, but also of the future, because for the first time in 2019 the Man of the Year Award was granted not to a politician, but to a manager, Daniel Obajtek, who heads one of the largest companies operating in Central Europe, namely PKN Orlen. The Council of over 40 members, very politically pluralistic, made the decision by a large majority of votes - and this was another precedent, because so far for 20 years the competition among the submitted candidates was equal.
This decision points the way in thinking about the challenges ahead that we can meet only with state aid creating economic processes, defending social order and axiological order.
Among the many featuresI will cite four that best characterize Chairman Obajtek: courage, creativity, commitment and success.
1. courage. Mr. Daniel Obajtek is a business-oriented man. Since 6 February 2018, he has been the President of the Management Board and CEO of PKN ORLEN. But at the same time he is a manager who stands up for values i traditions, which we identify as polishness.
W In a time dominated by globalism, competition and integration you have to be brave, to not only preach such views, but to make them the basis for the operation of a large company. It takes courage, Poland has been forced to take part in continental and even global competition for resources necessary for the development of an independent state. Without them, Poland would be condemned to an unequal status in the international environment, leading to clientelism and subordination to the stronger and more powerful.
PKN Orlen has been well inscribed in the foreign policy of the Republic of Poland, becoming its unique instrument. Today, interests in the international environment are pursued not only through classical diplomacy, but also through parliamentary and economic diplomacy. In the latter field, President Obajtek has made PKN Orlen ambassador for Polish affairs.
2 Creativity. Thanks to President Obajtek's creativity, which translates into an effective corporate development strategy, PKN Orlen is recognized not only in Poland, but also throughout the region. It also supports Polish sportsmen, food and catering industries.
In President Obajtek should be seen author of the great expansion program and importance of investments not only for the dynamic development of the company, but also for the entire Polish economy. In mid-2018, PKN ORLEN launched the largest petrochemical investments in the company's history, which will enable better integration with the refining segment and greater diversification of revenues.
What we are dealing with here is PKN Orlen's development program aimed at creating a multi-utility company, definitely exceeding the limits of operating only on the fuel market. The process is divided into individual stages. The first stage already completed was the acquisition of Energa GroupThe second, implemented for 2 years, is the acquisition of capital Lotos Group. At Orlen, President Obajtek's predecessors had been planning such a merger for over 20 years, but only he succeeded - a precedent. The third stage, recently announced, is the integration with the concern Orlen - PGNiG. These are decisions of exceptional strategic importance.
President Daniel Obajtek has repeatedly stressed the importance of investment for the entire Polish economy. A new activity of PKN Orlen emerged from this conviction. This concerns the petrochemical sector, and it was done on a Central European scale - in Lithuania and the Czech Republic. It is also worth mentioning the construction of the Research and Development Center in Płock, which is an example of cooperation between science and business, the expansion of the Anwil fertilizer production plant, the propylene glycol production plant in Jedlicze and the hydrogen purification plant in Trzebinia. Orlen is also planning to build offshore wind farms and produce electricity in photovoltaic installations.
3. the third characteristic is commitment. President Obajtek, guided by the social solidarity characteristic of modern conservatism and drawing on his own local government experience, brought social responsibility to the business. From PKN Orlen - the most important state concern - he turned it into an entity carrying the duty of care for social life, and first of all for the groups requiring help and support such as: elderly people, people with disabilities, children, families with many children or environments threatened by pandemics. Such an attitude characterizes philanthropists.
We saw his empathy and social sensitivity when, by immediately producing and distributing the necessary disinfectants, Orlen joined the fight against the pandemic.
4 And finally: success. It can be said that every companyin which Daniel Obajtek appeared was doomed to success. This is demonstrated by the achievements of the entities he has led: Energa Group, Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture, and now PKN Orlen.
Why is this happening? Daniel Obajtek is a successful man. And this is the kind of people the Republic of Poland needs - people who refer to the great tradition of scientific and industrial achievements of the interwar years, when the economy, developed systematically, despite numerous hardships, strengthened the state.
Let the titles and awards bestowed upon Mr. President be a testament to that:
- Star of the Year 2020" title from the readers of Gazeta Giełdy i Inwestorów "Parkiet";
- "Most Credible CEO" statuette;
- 2018 President of the Year title;
- Lech Kaczyński Promethean Award;
- Vector 2019 award, presented by the Chapter of Employers of Poland;
- "Man of Freedom 2018" laurel, awarded by the weekly magazine "Sieci".
This collection of Daniel Obajtek's achievements fully justifies the decision to grant him the title of the "Man of the Year" of the Economic Forum - a title that is extremely important in many circles, especially among business people who seriously think about the state and the economy serving the society.
Marek Kuchciński
Member of the Council of the Economic Forum
