Winner - Financial Leaders' Hall of Fame 2011

Organized in partnership with Stulz-Planaqua, Jacobi & Partner, Corporate Baskets, Avis, World Class, Corcova Roy & Damboviceanu, and Crowne Plaza, the event celebrated the achievements, innovation and excellence at the end of an economically challenging year. While Europe is still struggling to find a way out of the Eurozone crisis, Romania’s banking and financial sector is bracing for a bumpy ride in the year ahead. Analysts expect Romania’s economy to grow around two per cent next year, but bankers and financial sector professionals have no illusions about the challenges that lie ahead. However, the gala was dominated by a confident mood, the participants banking on professionalism, creativity and flexibility to help them discover the new opportunities created by the economic and financial turbulence.
Invited to give the opening speech for the night’s festivities, Her Royal Highness Princess Lia of Romania cited studies showing that healthcare, religion, fast food business and the entertainment industry are the four sectors that usually thrive in a difficult economic backdrop. Emphasizing the tremendous opportunities offered by a brand such as Ana Aslan for the development of medical tourism in Romania, Princess Lia is confident that the crisis can also offer prospects for further growth. “Clearly, the fittest don’t just survive, but they thrive, as many of you are proving.” Princess Lia ended her speech by congratulating all those present for their successes in 2011: “Congratulations to all of you for harnessing the potential and looking the financial crisis right in the eye and not blinking.”
The first award of the night went to Garanti Bank for their multi-branded credit card “Bonus Card”, acknowledging the best innovative banking product. Invited on stage to receive the award, Erol Inaltekin, Garanti Bank’s Marketing Manager, was pleased to see that bank’s efforts dedicated to innovation had been recognized. “For many years, we have maintained that innovation is part of our corporate culture. Since we arrived here in Romania, we have tried to focus on innovation as our main tool,” said Inaltekin. Referring to the “Bonus Card”, he said: “We started the card business in Romania from scratch in the retail segment in 2007. But in four years we have reached and exceeded 200,000 clients in that segment. We will continue to invest in Romania, we trust Romania and we will try to grow in the following years,” he added.
Mihai Popa, Club Manager at World Class Marriott, came on stage to present the next award, the “Best Banking Strategy”. On the occasion, he told the participants that World Class continued to invest in spite of the difficult economic conditions. “We have invested a lot in upgrading our services, launching the new concepts and extending our clubs,” said Popa.