The Diplomat-Bucharest celebrated excellence at the 2022 Awards Gala – 18th Anniversary

What a special evening we had at the 2022 Awards Gala organized by The Diplomat and now in its 18th edition! As every year, the event celebrated excellence in the business community and the impressive achievements of the winners at the JW Marriott Hotel in Bucharest.

These things would not have been possible without the support of our great partners, to whom we would like to say a big thank you: Gold Partners Societe Generale Global Solution Centre, Schneider Electric, Electrica Furnizare, Engie Romania, Alexandrion Group, Hidroelectrica, Arval BNP Paribas, Romgaz, Tenaris Silcotub, Nuclearelectrica, Transelectrica, Partners Tinmar Energy, Inform, Banca Romaneasca, Adrem, Do Security, Arctic, Borsec, Delgaz Grid, Green Point, Alukönigstahl, Supporting Partners BRCC British Romanian Chamber of Commerce, AHK Romania, Belgian Romanian Chamber of Commerce, Netherlands Romanian Chamber of Commerce, ACUE, ANIS, ADAA, Lovering & Partners Business Performance Consultants, HIM Public Affairs, SCS, Wave, Media Partners  Sustainability Today, Automotive Today, Outsourcing Today, Financial Intelligence, Economistul, Romania Durabila, Club Economic, Invest Energy, Ziarul BURSA.

And now it’s time to reveal the list of winners at the 2022 Awards Gala – 18^th Anniversary by The Diplomat-Bucharest:

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AWARD – ROMGAZ

The STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT award is given tonight to a company that has successfully completed an important investment objective; a project included in the development strategy until 2030. The project required an investment of 31 million lei for the commissioning of the Coșereni natural gas drying station, with three new wells. The Snagov project consists in the development of an infrastructure that contains technological installations for 11 wells, 4 groups of wells, collecting pipes, a drying station and a gas measuring panel.

The STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT WARD goes to S.N.G.N. ROMGAZ S.A.

GREEN ENERGY EXCELLENCE AWARD – DELGAZ GRID

The GREEN ENERGY EXCELLENCE award goes to a company that recently started a pilot project, a premiere for Romania, to test the use of hydrogen mixed with natural gas. The project will run from November 2022 to October 2024 and aims to analyze and demonstrate that it is technically possible and safe to add 20% hydrogen by volume to distribution networks and utility facilities of existing natural gas in Romania. The results of the project will serve as a model of good practice for future projects and for the use of hydrogen in different areas (including for heating, domestic hot water preparation and food).

The GREEN ENERGY EXCELLENCE award is offered to DELGAZ GRID.

CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT PERFORMANCE AWARD – SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC

CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT PERFORMANCE AWARD is offered to a company and a solution with a direct impact on people’s safety in an environment where these aspects are essential: the medical one. The solution awarded this evening and which has been updated over the last 6 years to the current version monitors electrical defects and environmental parameters inside the electrical panel by alarming in case of temperature and air quality parameter exceedances (Air Quality Index) . The major benefit of this solution lies, additionally, in reducing the risk of fire.

The CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT PERFORMANCE award is given to the SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC company for the New Advanced Smart Prisma Med, the current solution implemented in operating rooms and intensive care rooms in hospitals in Romania.

BEST FINANCIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM PARTNERSHIP AWARD – ASF & ISF

The FINANCIAL EDUCATION SUPPORTERS award goes to two entities that in 2022 accelerated financial education efforts addressed to broad categories of the target audience. Also in 2022, the Financial Education Forum was organized for the first time under the high patronage of the President of Romania.

The FINANCIAL EDUCATION SUPPORTERS award goes to the FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY AND THE INSTITUTE OF FINANCIAL STUDIES.

BUSINESS ACCELERATOR AWARD – ARVAL ROMANIA

The BUSINESS ACCELERATOR AWARD goes to a company in the field of operational leasing and that recently completed a complex process of taking over the car fleet managed by the fleet management division of BCR. The takeover process was performed in record time – from the transaction to the integration of customers and the immediate availability of services, especially in the area of mobility and energy transition. Also, thanks to this transaction, the company’s position as a leader in the full-service operational leasing segment has been restored.

The BUSINESS ACCELERATOR AWARD goes to ARVAL ROMANIA

COMMUNITY IMPACT EXCELLENCE AWARD – TENARIS SILCOTUB

The award for COMMUNITY IMPACT EXCELLENCE goes to a company for which education is the 1st priority in their social development initiatives. One of its most recent projects in this area were to mark in 2022 the consolidation of their efforts to redesign the educational outlook in Zalau and brought STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)  methodology in the spot light. By addressing both the needs of the pupils and the teachers they have create a sustainable education environment, where change is generated at the core of the national educational system. Among others, they built an unique STEM laboratory at a local Kindergarten, the first STEM laboratory in the county designed for preschool education and it was inaugurated at the beginning of this October.

The COMMUNITY IMPACT EXCELLENCE award goes to TENARIS SILCOTUB

GREEN OFFICE PROJECT AWARD – GENESIS PROPERTY

The GREEN OFFICE PROJECT award goes to a developer who invested one million euros in the installation of a photovoltaic panel system for a project in the north of Bucharest. The project consisted in the installation of more than 1,000 photovoltaic panels on an area of more than 4,000 square meters, on the roofs of the office buildings within YUNITY Park.

The GREEN OFFICE PROJECT award goes to GENESIS PROPERTY.

SUSTAINABILITY COMITTMENT AWARD – TENARIS SILCOTUB

The SUSTAINABILITY COMITTMENT AWARD is offered to a project and a company that aim and contribute to the creation of recycling and environmentally friendly behavior from an early age. The awarded project is an important component of the partnership developed by the company and “Mircea Voda” School in Calarasi. This initiative started from their belief that the community only can be at the core at a common thriving. Their shared goal is to change the mindset of the students regarding the impact each of us has on the environment. Two recycling machines, RoboPet and RoboDoz, have been set up in the school and over 68,000 PETs and over 45,000 cans have been collected in the first 3 months of their installation. 

The SUSTAINABILITY COMITTMENT AWARD goes to TENARIS SILCOTUB and their project “Prietenii mediului”

SMART CAR ACCESS AWARD – NXP SEMICONDUCTORS ROMANIA

The SMART CAR ACCESS award goes to a company that has developed a digital solution through which customers can use their smartphone to enter their car. The ultra-wideband technology allows the door to be unlocked without the driver having to take the mobile phone out of his pocket.

The SMART CAR ACCESS award goes to NXP SEMICONDUCTORS ROMANIA

COMMITMENT TO PERFORMANCE AWARD – TRANSELECTRICA

This award is offered for the largest financing from European funds accessed by a company in the energy field over time – over 420 million euros for the development of the national energy infrastructure from the Modernization Fund. The major benefits of making these investments will materialize relevant indicators such as: increasing the transmission capacity of RET by approximately 1700 MW, building approximately 480 kilometers of new overhead power lines, expanding 5 electrical stations with a voltage level of 400 kV, upgrading digital concept – a first for Romania – of the Alba Iulia Station, the increase of the interconnection capacity by 600 MW (cumulative on the borders with Serbia and Hungary), the implementation of power quality monitoring systems in 15 stations, as well as the optimization and monitoring of overhead power lines through digital systems.

We offer this award to THE NATIONAL POWER GRID COMPANY TRANSELECTRICA SA

OUTSTANDING ENERGY LEADER AWARD – COSMIN GHITA

The OUTSTANDING ENERGY LEADER award goes to the manager who runs the only nuclear energy producer in Romania. This company is committed to implementing the first small modular reactor project in Europe, together with the Unit 1 refurbishment project and the Cernavoda Units 3&4 project, to the highest standards of nuclear safety and environmental sustainability. The expansion of nuclear capacity aims to support the energy security of Romania and the region, energy independence and the achievement of decarbonization objectives.

The OUTSTANDING ENERGY LEADER award goes to COSMIN GHITA, CEO OF NUCLEARELECTRICA.

EMPOWERING FUTURE GENERATIONS AWARD – MIHAI BOLDIJAR

The EMPOWERING FUTURE GENERATIONS award is offered to a manager for whom the care given to employees is at the top of his priorities. The company he leads constantly invests in projects to ensure the well-being, efficiency, and innovation capacity of employees, but also in long-term educational projects to develop future generations of employees.

The EMPOWERING FUTURE GENERATIONS award goes to MIHAI BOLDIJAR, general manager of Robert Bosch S.R.L. and representative of the Bosch Group in Romania.

EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AWARD – DANIELA MICUSAN

This is an award offered to a leader driven by empathy and who leads by example. Being a skilled negotiator and a successful stakeholder manager, holding tight to her values and always striving for perfection, this manager won the trust of both its partners and teams. Also, always puts a focus on quality, adaptability, but the key business driver is definitely the people. Being responsible for 2045 of employees, in a very dynamic & challenging industry is not a walk in the park, not to mention the past pandemic and current events on the geopolitical stage that impact all the companies and especially put a lot of pressure on leaders’ shoulders.

For this and any many more, we offer this award to DANIELA MICUSAN, Managing Director of Majorel Romania

ENERGY MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARD – BOGDAN BADEA

ENERGY MANAGER OF THE YEAR award goes to a manager who runs a vital company for the energy sector in Romania. This company is a leader in electricity production and the main provider of technological services needed in the National Energy System. The company is in the process of expansion and is looking at projects with a total installed capacity of 1,000 MW, with renewable energy projects being a priority.

ENERGY MANAGER OF THE YEAR award goes to BOGDAN BADEA, the president of the Hidroelectrica directorate.

ENERGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD – CORNELIU BODEA

The ENERGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD represents the recognition of the achievements of an entrepreneur who, for 30 years, has been actively involved both in the development of the energy industry in Romania and in the development of Romanian entrepreneurship through the projects carried out, which brought value to the Romanian economy and society today. The company he leads plays an essential role in Romania’s preparation for the energy transition and in the change of mentality towards sustainable consumption, which would offer the next generations a clean and safe future, based on a present that is being built in a sustainable manner.

The ENERGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP EXCELLENCE award is offered to CORNELIU BODEA, CEO Adrem  and President of the Romanian Energy Center (CRE)

POWERFUL DIGITAL DNA AWARD – ANDREI MIHAI CRACIUN

This award is offered to an enthusiast of digital technologies and a professional in creating and connecting various opportunities in strategic coordination, digitization and innovation. His professional career of over 14 years is built in academia and this speaks for itself. The one we are awarding today holds in the area of expertise, technical aspects such as data analysis, digital ecosystems, digital transformation but for us, the most important thing is his ability to perform in these areas from a perspective of human, social and community utility.

The prize for owning a POWERFUL DIGITAL DNA is offered to ANDREI MIHAI CRACIUN, Head of Digital Transformation & Data Analysis, West University Timișoara

DIGITAL ECONOMY SUPPORTER AWARD – RADU PUCHIU

The DIGITAL ECONOMY SUPPORTER award is given to the initiator of the DES Hub project, a collaborative framework designed to enable a dialogue between authorities, the private sector, academic sector, and NGOs through which Romania can increase its digital performance measured by the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI).

The DIGITAL ECONOMY SUPPORTER award goes to RADU PUCHIU, CO-FOUNDER OF H.APPY CITIES and initiator of the DES Hub project.

GREEN ENERGY PERFORMANCE AWARD – ENGIE ROMANIA

This award is offered to a company that has established as its objectives to decarbonize their own activities, by investing in renewable energy and by supporting customers to reduce the carbon footprint, as well as the operational costs. With a dynamic expansion in the market of green energy and photovoltaic systems, tonight’s winner developed, among other things, 3 photovoltaic systems that reduce the electricity consumption by more than a third of the customers who use these solutions.

THE GREEN ENERGY PERFORMANCE AWARD is offered to ENGIE ROMANIA.

COMMITMENT TO ROMANIAN MARKET AWARD – AFI EUROPE ROMANIA

The COMMITMENT TO ROMANIAN MARKET AWARD is awarded to one of the most important real estate developers in Romania, for the long-term activity on the local market and for the projects developed until now. This year, this company delivered a new phase of its office project in Bucharest. At the same time, the second phase of the project also received LEED Platinum pre-certification for the measures regarding sustainability and operational efficiency.

The COMMITMENT TO ROMANIAN MARKET AWARD is offered to AFI EUROPE ROMANIA.

BEST-IN-CLASS DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AWARD – INFORM

The award in this category is given to a company for the best digital transformation initiatives, such as creating new ways of operating and growing the business, the ability to lead the transformation of the enterprise and a demonstrated ability to generate value in the market and not least, for best practices in implementing advances in AI, cloud and digital infrastructure. For them, digital transformation is critical to growing and operating in today’s reality of how to create, grow and transform businesses.

BEST-IN-CLASS DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AWARD goes to the INFORM

GREAT PLACE TO WORK AWARD – WIPRO TECHNOLOGIES

The GREAT PLACE TO WORK AWARD goes to a company with a presence on the Romanian market for more than 15 years and was among the employers who shaped the modern workplace ecosystem in its industry. It holds a Great Place to Work-Certified organization, a recognition considered the ‘Gold Standard’ in identifying and recognizing Great Workplace Cultures. Their values in workplace are based on High-Trust, High-Performance Culture– Credibility, Respect, Fairness, Pride and Camaraderie. With more than 2000 employees in Romania and 220.000 globally, the winning company harnesses the power of hyper technology in the benefit of their clients and employees and empowers and proves a strong commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship.

WIPRO TECHNOLOGIES is a GREAT PLACE TO WORK

RELIABLE PARTNER AWARD – ELECTRICA FURNIZARE

The RELIABLE PARTNER award goes to a company that has successfully completed several turnkey projects regarding the installation of photovoltaic plants for its partners. Photovoltaic power plants reduce the energy consumption of the companies that benefit from them, but also help to reduce CO2 emissions.

The RELIABLE PARTNER award is given to ELECTRICA FURNIZARE.

GLOBAL EXPANSION AWARD – ALEXANDRION GROUP

This award goes to the market leader in the production and distribution of spirits and wines in Romania and the only single malt producer in the country. The group has a history of over 200 years in the local spirits industry, producing some of the strongest brands in Romania, recognized both nationally and internationally for their quality and refinement. The company is in full expansion process aiming to gradually cover the whole globe in a few years.

THE GLOBAL EXPANSION AWARD goes to ALEXANDRION GROUP

ROMANIAN ECONOMY SUPPORTER AWARD – EXIMBANK

The ROMANIAN ECONOMY SUPPORTER award is given to a financial institution that supports the investments of Romanian companies and the development of the local economy through complex financing solutions.This bank is actively involved in supporting and promoting the Romanian business environment, its financial instruments being dedicated exclusively to the corporate segment.

The ROMANIAN ECONOMY SUPPORTER award goes to EXIMBANK.

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AWARD – FAN COURIER

The CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AWARD is awarded to the leader of the courier market in Romania. This company is investing over 10 million euros to develop the network of lockers on a national level, through which the end customer will no longer depend on the courier’s daily schedule. The company has already installed the first 220 lockers in several cities in the country, with the network expected to double by the end of the year. The expansion plan calls for 1,000 units to be installed in the country by the middle of next year.

The CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AWARD goes to FAN COURIER.

THE FRONTRUNNER IN SUSTAINABILITY AWARD – KAUFLAND ROMANIA

Apart from the economic and social component, the sustainable growth of a company is also reflected in caring for the environment and the measures it takes for minimizing the impact generated by its operations. The company awarded tonight is a leader in the retail industry and at the same time, a nationally present retailer. Their policies regarding environmental protection make use of the best international practices and are being replicated by the company in Romania. This company is  constantly analyzing and measuring the impact they have on the environment and therefore strive to identify and implement the best solutions to minimize the footprint our activity has on the environment.

THE FRONTRUNNER IN SUSTAINABILITY is KAUFLAND ROMANIA

LEADERSHIP IN SUSTAINABLE OFFICE DEVELOPMENT AWARD – VASTINT ROMANIA

The LEADERSHIP IN SUSTAINABLE OFFICE DEVELOPMENT award is given to a leading company on the Romanian real estate market. This developer has introduced the 3-meter height regime as standard for the office buildings in the portfolio. Its projects, Timpuri Noi Square and Business Garden Bucharest, enjoy the appreciation of tenants, having a lot of facilities and sustainable features.

The LEADERSHIP IN SUSTAINABLE OFFICE DEVELOPMENT award goes to VASTINT ROMANIA.

STRONG BUSINESS EVOLUTION AWARD – SCC SERVICES ROMANIA

The award of this category is given to a company that has been present on the Romanian business processes and services market for 10 years. With over 1100 employees in Romania, the last few years have meant for them both a dynamic expansion and the relocation of employees to a new business center, a process that ended this year in March. As they say, in addition to developing their portfolio of solutions and areas of expertise, they build a people-centric culture where every employee understands the value and contribution, they bring to the strategic business goals and how they can achieve them.

The STRONG BUSINESS EVOLUTION AWARD is offered to SCC SERVICES ROMANIA

BEST EMPLOYER BRANDING EXPERIENCE AWARD – COGNIZANT SOFTVISION

The BEST WORKPLACE – EMPLOYER BRANDING EXPERIENCE award goes to a company started the path of bespoke experiences for their Talent in 2020, when they decided to focus on an employee and client centric strategy. In 2021 and 2022, they have fully shown that they stand by this strategy through all the experiences that they have created for their employees, clients or partners. This company created experiences, memories and activities that brought their Talent together, recreated the pre-pandemic sense of belonging and purpose and managed to state once again that this actually is “The Place To Be. Now and beyond”, as their EVP slogan proudly expresses it.

The BEST WORKPLACE – EMPLOYER BRANDING EXPERIENCE goes to COGNIZANT SOFTVISION.

THE PERFORMER IN SUSTAINABILITY AWARD – ARCTIC

This award goes to a company that for years, established as one of the most recognized local brands in its field and also a supporter and enabler of green and sustainable actions. The company owns the first and only LEED Platinum factory in Romania, which has resulted both in an increase in productivity and a significant limiting of environmental impact. It uses 100% green electricity and renewable energy systems for heating and cooling, with solar photovoltaic panels (930 kWp) and concentrated solar power (700 kWth), and plans to increase it’s photovoltaic capacity by 160% by the first half of 2023. Awarded Sustainability Lighthouse by World Economic Forum and one of the ten most sustainable Industry 4.0 production facilities in the world, the only one of its kind in the region and one of only four in Europe.

THE PERFORMER IN SUSTAINABILITY AWARD is ARCTIC

BEST SUSTAINABLE FINANCE SOLUTIONS PROVIDER AWARD – RAIFFEISEN BANK

For the promotion and encouragement of sustainable financing for companies in Romania – the winner of this award issued the first green bonds on the Romanian capital market and also, the bank follows sustainability criteria when financing companies’ businesses.

The BEST SUSTAINABLE FINANCE SOLUTIONS PROVIDER award goes to RAIFFEISEN BANK

BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – ROMAQUA GROUP

The winner of this award is a company that owns one of the strongest Romanian brands in its portfolio. Since 1998 on the Romanian market, and an annual turnover of over 170 million euros, it has made investments of over 250 million euros so far. The company has approximately 2,200 employees in 7 factories. It is also environmentally conscious, the company’s average energy consumption is reduced to 80% compared to the industry average.

The BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD is offered to ROMAQUA GROUP

VISIONARY GREEN EVOLUTION AWARD – GREENPOINT MANAGEMENT

The VISIONARY GREEN EVOLUTION award-winning company is a promoter of good practices in the packaging waste industry and in achieving the environmental targets for its customers. Also, as a result of the waste management actions of the last year, it has reaffirmed its position as a market leader and it increases its impact as a leader in the OIREP field year by year. This company is also the only one in the industry to publish a proactive sustainability report and to constantly invest in business automation.

THE VISIONARY GREEN EVOLUTION AWARD goes to GREENPOINT MANAGEMENT

BUSINESS GROWTH AWARD – ATOS ROMANIA

BUSINESS GROWTH AWARD goes to a company that registered a significant increase in the number of employees in 2022.

At the end of 2021, the company had more than 3,000 employees on the local market, in offices in Bucharest, Brasov, Iasi and Timisoara. This year, the company recruited about 1,000 IT specialists, of which 400 are juniors.

The GROWING THE LOCAL BUSINESS award goes to ATOS ROMANIA.

STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS SERVICES AWARD – SOCIETE GENERALE GLOBAL SOLUTION CENTRE

This award celebrates one of the leading companies operating in shared business services industry and has a local presence for more than 11 years. It is a company that puts a great value on its people and has reached an important milestone of 2700 employees due to an accelerated growth over the last three years. It has also become a regional standard of excellence for the Group’s operations thanks to an extraordinary team of skilled and dedicated professionals. Over the next years, the awarded company will focus to enrich the actual position as a center of excellence delivering smart business solutions with the help of its innovation driven team.

THE BUSINESS SERVICES STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE AWARD goes to SOCIETE GENERALE GLOBAL SOLUTION CENTRE

OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AWARD – DO SECURITY

This award is given to a company that is a regional leader among security and protection companies, with a presence on the Romanian market for over 20 years. Tonight we are awarding a brand that is built every day by the company’s teams and management and whose business values and milestones are responsibility, safety, innovation, synergy, competence and the efficient use of new technologies.

The OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AWARD is given to the DO SECURITY company

BEST SUSTAINABLE BUILDING SOLUTIONS PROVIDER – ALUKÖNIGSTAHL

The Best sustainable building solutions provider award goes to a company that for 27 years has been a market leader and trendsetter for sustainable solutions applied to building envelopes in Romania. Thousands of office buildings have benefited from constructive solutions optimized for the success of the investments and for the comfort of the beneficiaries. Together with its suppliers of aluminum and steel systems, it promotes solutions for green buildings and the circular economy.

The BEST SUSTAINABLE BUILDING SOLUTIONS PROVIDER AWARD goes to ALUKÖNIGSTAHL

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