COTRUGLI Days 2023 Kicked Off in Zagreb
On January 31, COTRUGLI Business School launched its traditional COTRUGLI Days event with a conference titled “Creating Value in a World of Increased Complexity”, held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Zagreb. The event gathered students, alumni, partners, and friends, marking the official start of three new MBA generations: Executive MBA 17 Zagreb, Executive MBA 12 Belgrade, and International MBA 11. Over 150 managers joined the COTRUGLI community, which now includes more than 2,200 business professionals across Southeast Europe.
Simplifying Complexity: Yves Morieux’s Keynote
The first part of the event featured Yves Morieux, PhD, Director at the Boston Consulting Group Institute of Organization. He addressed the productivity crisis driven by organizational complexity. According to Morieux, business processes have become so complicated that they undermine the potential of technological innovations.
To counter this, he recommended strategies for simplifying work structures through new leadership models, deeper collaboration, and greater employee engagement.
Leadership Insights from Industry Experts
Following the keynote, the event hosted a roundtable discussion on “Leadership in the Age of Complexity.” Executives from top regional companies shared their insights and real-world experiences of leading through transformation. Panelists included:
- Adrian Ježina, CEO, Telemach Slovenija
- Mario Žižek, CEO, Addiko Bank
- Mihael Furjan, GM, Pliva
- Neven Vranković, VP, Atlantic Group
- Ruža Tomić Fontana, GM, Coca-Cola HBC Adria
- Stjepan Nikolić, Director of Refining & Marketing, INA Group
Each speaker discussed how they adapt their strategies to thrive in increasingly complex markets.
A New Chapter for MBA Students
The second part of the day brought together the three new student generations, giving them a chance to connect with each other and meet some of their future faculty. Lecturers introduced at the event included:
- Anthony J. Evans, PhD
- Ivica Vrančić
- Krešimir Delač, PhD
- Michael Hathorn, PhD
- Teeroven Soobaroyen, PhD
- Terence Tse, PhD
Students also met the COTRUGLI team and received a glimpse into their upcoming MBA journey. Over the next two years, they’ll engage in intensive learning, collaborative projects, and personal development—preparing them to become responsible leaders who will shape the future of business and society.





Source: Lider media