A voluntary honorary Superbrands Council is formed annually, comprised of highly recognized professionals with a deep appreciation of the business environment, specialized in marketing, communication and business administration and reputed representatives of business media.

Adrian Covacescu

Partner Deloitte & Touche

Adrian Covacescu has been working with Deloitte since the company’s beginnings in Romania, currently holding the position of Audit Partner & Country Leader. He benefits of 30 years of professional experience, out of which fifteen years with Deloitte in Romania and Central Europe.
Benefiting from Adrian Covacescu’s experience, Deloitte Romania developed into one of the leading professional services organisations in the country.
Adrian was involved in the privatisation process of BCR, as Team Leader Financial Advisor of the consultancy team for that project.
Adrian Covacescu is a Chartered auditor in Romania and the former president and current member in the managing Board of the Romanian Association of Internal Auditors.
Adrian is a passionate fisherman and has a keen sense of humor that perfectly matches his fishing passion.

Anca Harasim

Executive Director, American Chamber of Commerce in Romania

Anca Harasim is the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania and the President of Harvard Club Romania-Moldova.
She has a Master Degree in Public Administration from John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
Over the last sixteen years, she has fulfilled assignments in major NGOs in Romania, as Executive Director of the Soros Foundation for an Open Society, the Fulbright Commission and AmCham Romania. Her consultancy experience consists of previous assignments like World Bank consultant for Albania’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Program, and advisor for the European Commission’s largest PHARE Program in Romania on reforming the Local Public Administration.
She is currently serving on the boards of numerous foundations, business associations and committees, such as Princess Margareta of Romania Foundation, CODECS Foundation for Leadership, United Way Romania, etc.

Andrei Plesu

Rector, New College of Europe Institute Advanced Study

Andrei Plesu, complex personality, prominent Romanian cultural figure, acknowledged professor former Minister of Culture in early 1990s and ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs in late 1990s, provocative essayist and articles author. Andrei Plesu started his professional activity in 1971, as scientific researcher, at the Institute for Art History in Bucharest. In early I980s, he was appointed associate professor at the Academy of Fine Arts and, in 1991, he was designated Professor of Philosophy of Religion, at the Faculty of Philosophy within the Bucharest University. In 1993, he founded Dilema cultural magazine. In 1994, he founded The New Europe Foundation and has been holding the position of Rector of the New Europe College. Ever since, Andrei Plesu is member of the World Academy of Art and Science,
Corresponding Member of the Consejo Argentino para las Relaciones Internacionales, Member of the Academie Internationale de Philosophie de l’Art in Geneva, Switzerland and member of various scientific assemblies and collegiums in Europe.

Ariana Toparcean

Country Manager Reader’s Digest

Arina Toparcean has been leading the Romanian branch of Reader’s Digest publishing house, as Country Manager since 2004. Less than two years after its launch, Reader’s Digest Romania has a turnover of over US$ 18 million, three product lines (books, music CDs and magazine), and a headcount of more than twenty people. She is responsible for the overall revenues and profits of the Romanian business. She also plays the role of Publisher for the Reader’s Digest magazine in Romania, and represents Reader’s Digest in the managing council of the Romanian Direct Marketing Association. Her previous professional experience includes working for GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Romania as Group Product Manager, Procter & Gamble Balkan Markets, as Brand Manager, etc.
She acquired various competencies through trainings and specialisations in the field of Marketing, Communication, Media, PR Brand Managing, Financial Analysis, Profit Forecast, Team Effectiveness, Leadership, Presentation, etc.

Constantin Stroe

Vice-President CA Automobile Dacia – Renault

Constantin Stroe is the Vice-President of the Administration Board of Automobile Dacia since 2002.
He graduated the Polytechnic Institute, TCM Faculty in Bucharest and has been working ever since in the car industry.
He obtained the title of Doctor Engineer specialised in Vehicles Manufacturing Technologies and has various management specialisations. His professional activity comprises also the positions of President and General Manager of ACAROM and Vice President of the Association of Automotive Importers of Romania (APIA) and member of the Liaison Committee of ACEA, The European Association of Car Manufacturers.
As a confirmation of his lifetime activity in automotive industry, Mr. Stroe was awarded in 2004, by the French state, with “The Legion of Honor” distinction.
With a huge experience in automotive industry, Mr Stroe has three inventions registered and functional, and seven applied innovations.

Cristina Simion

Managing Director Edipresse AS Romania

Cristina Simion is currently holding the position of Managing Director at Edipresse AS SRL.
A graduate of the Hydro-Technical Faculty Iasi, in 1992, she completed her knowledge with the Post University Radio Journalism BBC School, 1993; BBC Summer School in Business English, Greenwich University London, 1995; Stanford University, California 2001. She is also a graduate of De Baak Management,The Netherlands and had a Freedom House Scholarship. She also holds a Master in Sciences and presently prepares her Ph.D. in Change Management.
In 1997, she joined Romanian Publishing Group as Marketing Director, and subsequently she became Editorial Director, Managing Director and Publisher for various magazines of the media group.
She has published marketing and management articles in IDEAS (monthly magazine of the International Newspapers Marketing Association),The Global Network; she also collaborated with 24 ore, Monitorul, Times Romanian Monitor.Timpul, etc.

Dan Chisu

President Dakino Foundation

Dan Chisu has graduated from the Ecole Superieure Audiovisuelle, Paris, obtaining a professional cameraman specialty. In 1991, he founded the Advertising Society DaKINO and the homonymous International Film Festival, which he produced and organized for the last fifteen editions. He has produced and organized the BiFEST festival (2004), Noaptea Sportului Extrem (2001), Festivalul de Film Publicitar Romanesc (1994), Noaptea Devoratorilor de Publicitate (1994/2006). Dan was the co-producer of Mediafest (1997), the first Phoenix tour in Romania (1991), the concert of Goran Bregovic (1998), and the one of Emir Kusturica (1999). He has also produced many successful TV shows on different Romanian TV channels. In 1993, he entered the cinema field, by realising the making-of and starring into “Senatorul melcilor” movie (1993); also, he co-produced, realized the making-of and starred into “Asfalt tango” (1997).
Dan’s involvement with the theatre comprises the production and direction of “SaKADATextraSENSORial” theater play in 2001/2002.

Daniel Pana

Executive Director, Marketing and Sales Romanian Commercial Bank

Daniel Pana is the Executive Director of Marketing and Sales Division of BCR’s Head Office in Bucharest. Since July 2004, he has been responsible, among others, for designing the bank’s annual marketing plan. He benefits from a solid background in bank marketing and sales policies’ designing. Having proven negotiation achievements, he is in charge of training the bank’s marketing and sales forces in order to improve the customer relations techniques, as well as developing the sales abilities of the teams. Daniel Pana has an Executive MBA from the University of Washington Business School, Bucharest.
At present, Daniel Pana is preparing his Ph.D. in Management of Marketing with the Economic Sciences Academy in Bucharest. His professional training includes numberless courses, seminars and trainings in Romania and in countries like Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and US.
He speaks English and German and describes himself as a dynamic, fast learner, self-driven and team player individual.

Doina Levintza

Fashion Designer

Doina Levintza has a B.A. in Architecture and successfully carries out activities as theater film and TV scenograph, fashion designer and TV producer Hence, she has created decors and costumes for over 60 TV theater plays, sixteen TV opera and operetta get ups, seven Romanian and international music festivals and various other TV shows. She has collaborated with all Romanian major theaters, such as Bucharest National Theater She has created decors and costumes for numberless theater plays in Paris, France, the former Republic of Yugoslavia, Hungary and UK.
Doina Levintza has been managing her own Fashion House since 1997, being the first East-European fashion designer ever to participate in the Fashion Week in New York. Levintza organized over 100 fashion presentations and participated in numberless fashion and scenography presentations in Romania and abroad.
In addition to all her artistic activities,she was appointed the unique clothing supplier the Royal House of Romania.

Dumitru Bortun

Ph.D., President Romanian Association of Public Relations Professionals

Dumitru Bortun, founding member and President of the Romanian Association of Public Relations Professionals; professor in ordinary with the Faculty of Communication and Public Relations “David Ogilvy” – National School of Political Studies and Public Administration; Lecturer at the Faculty of Imitative Arts, National University of Fine Arts, Bucharest.
Dumitru Bortun is also the Director of the Department of Analysis of Euroadvance Consulting Agency.
He has a Ph.D. in Philosophy and has published over 70 studies, essays, articles and interviews in joint volumes, in specialized publications, in cultural magazines, and in daily media. He is the author of many university courses, as well as of the books: “The epistemological basis of communication” (2002), “Public Relations and the New Society” (2005).
He lectured at various seminars for communication specialists from public institutions and companies, at national and international level.

John Long

Business Development Manager, Former CA President Rompetrol Downstream

John Long is the former President of the Rompetrol Downstream Board, responsible for the development of the network.
He has worked in the downstream sector of the oil industry for 34 years and, before joining Rompetrol, he was the Managing Director of LUKoil Downstream in Romania, establishing their first stations in the country. Prior to his assignment with LUKoil, John Long was Retail Manager of Shell Romania and Board Director, having previously reestablished Shell in Cyprus. In the 1980s, he developed a network of circa 100 stations for Shell, in the Sultanate of Oman. Manager for Shell in the UK, throughout the 1970s, including manager motor trade and country manager South Wales and the west country. He is considered one of the leading industry experts in developing and promoting networks worldwide. John Long was educated at Campbell College and Queens University, Belfast. He holds an HND in Business Studies, a Dip. G.M. and an MBA. He is also a direct descendant of the famous Scottish writer Robert Louis Stephenson.

Kurt-Jurgen Strohmayer

General Manager JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel

Kurt-Jurgen Strohmayer is a well-experienced hotel manager, who has been working in the industry since 1977, when he started as a Chef at the Grand Hotel Wiesler in Graz, Austria. Since then, Kurt has worked in several Food & Beverages positions in various countries like Germany, Switzerland, Bermuda, Nigeria, Turkey, Bahrain, Russia and Spain.
Subsequently, he climbed his way up to top management in famous hotels all over the world, such as Marriott, Hilton and Renaissance Hotels, holding positions like F&B Manager at the Istanbul & Heidelberg Renaissance Hotel, Director of Operations at the Renaissance Moscow Hotel and General Manager at Mallorca Marriott Golf Resort & Spa from where he moved in July 2003 to Bucharest to be in charge of the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel.
Kurt is also a Board member of the Foreign Investors Council, Junior Achievement Program, the United Way Romania, as well as member of various other international business associations.

Marcela Moss

Communication & Marketing Manager Mobexpert Group

Marcela Moss, Communication & Marketing Manager of Mobexpert Group since 2000, in charge with coordinating the activity of the marketing department and the elaboration of the marketing strategy for each commercial component of the company. Her assignments also include the preparation of the annual marketing plan, the establishment and implementation of the communication policy, planning the advertising campaign, the analysis of the campaigns outcomes, the examination of publicity incomes and expenses for each campaign, managing the media relations, monitoring the competition, organizing company’s special events, etc.
She is licensed in marketing and has acquired specific knowledge and experience also by participating in several marketing, management and branding conferences and seminars, in Romania and abroad.
Marcela Moss has a strong marketing experience and a solid background in the furniture industry, working in the branch for almost ten years.

Mihail Vartosu

Regional Managing Director Grey Global Group Balkans

Mihail Vartosu broke into the advertising world in September 1992, when he became the Managing Director of Grey Bucharest, company affiliated to Grey Worldwide. He currently holds the position of Regional Managing Director for Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro within Grey Global Group.
Mihail Vartosu is a Doctor Engineer in Electronics and Communications, has a specialty in International Relations from the Royal Institute for Strategic Studies and International Relations Clingendael, Hague, the Netherlands and a specialty in Marketing Management from the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Since 1996, he has been the (Honorary) President of the International Advertising Association – the Romanian Chapter and Board member of the Romanian Association for Audience Measurement (ARMA) and of the Advertising Agencies Union in Romania (RAAA).He is fluent in English, Czech, Russian and French.

Mircea Kivu

Executive Manager & President CA Institute for Marketing and Public Opinion Polls (IMAS)

Mircea Kivu, Executive Manager & President of the Administration Council of the Institute for Marketing and Public Opinion Polls (IMAS S.A.) since 2004. He holds a Master in Demography and Social Sciences issued by L’ Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris and a BA in Sociology from the University of Bucharest. In parallel with his activity at IMAS, Mircea Kivu is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences, Bucharest.
He took part in coordinating major projects like: The Development of Child Welfare Services; Public Awareness Campaign to Prevent Abandonment of Children in Romania, PHARE Program; Assessment of Child Care System Reform in Romania, commissioned by UNICEF Romania. Mircea Kivu is the author of a series of publications like: “Une Retrospective: la Politique Demographique en Roumanie”; “Annales de Demographic Historique”, Paris; “Les politiques demographiques en Roumanie”.

Narcis Horhoianu

Associate Marketing Director Procter & Gamble Marketing Romania

Narcis Horhoianu has worked for P&G for the last ten years, being responsible for various product categories during this time. As related to his current job, key responsibilities are on driving business on key categories of Baby/ Fern and Oral Care, acting as Multifunctional Team Leaden. He is, as well, member in Board of Directors on IAA (International Advertising Association).

Radu Dop

M.D., CEO Bucharest Euroclinic Hospital

Radu Dop has been the CEO of Euroclinic Hospital Bucharest since 2004. Prior to this assignment, he led the Emergency Hospital Bucharest as General Manager and held in parallel the function of Deputy Minister of Health back in the 1990s. He received the MD diploma in 1969 and became a senior surgeon in 1991.
He has several specializations in domains like communication, logistics, HR, medical services management, hospital management and is Eisenhower fellow. Radu is the Vice-president of the Romanian Medical Association and also a Member of the Working Group for eHealth of EU, Member of World Medical Association, the Founding Member of the Romanian Association for Public Health and Management, etc.
Radu Dop has acknowledged organising skills, thus putting together nine National & International Medical Conferences and Symposiums. His credo for life is: “Only understanding Nature, Man becomes wiser and better”.

Radu Georgescu

President GECAD Group

Radu Georgescu has been the major stakeholder and President of GECAD Group since the founding of the company, in 1992.
Radu Georgescu has a BS in Technology of Machines Construction. In 1994, GECAD launched on the market the first commercial version of the antivirus RAV program. Soon after that, the business developed, so that in 2003, more than ten million persons all over the world were protected by RAV Antivirus and 150 companies were distributing the product in 60 countries. In June 2003, GECAD sold the antivirus program RAV to Microsoft. Since then, Radu Georgescu and his team concentrated on expanding GECAD into a group of companies – AXIGEN, ePayment, GECAD NET and GECAD Software – each of them having a different business direction, but activating in the same innovative field of IT.

Stefan Teodorescu

Senior Brand Manager Bergenbier Interbrew Romania

Stefan Teodorescu, Senior Brand Manager Bergenbier with Interbrew Romania, since February 2005. His responsibilities are centered on developing and implementing the marketing plan for the biggest beer brand in Romania and close cooperation with trade marketing and sales departments.
His previous assignments include positions like Brand Manager Foods Serbia, Business Development Manager Knorr USCE, responsible for Knorr brand expansion in new categories of products and new geographies,part of USCE region (Bulgaria, Serbia, Moldova).
Stefan graduated from the Faculty of Economics, holding a BA in Economics and Commercial Law, issued by the Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest.
He attended several local and international trainings on Brand Activation for Growth, Brand Communication for Growth, Lever Faberge Appreciation Programme, Brussels, etc.
He dedicates his spare moments to playing basketball, traveling and reading.

Teodora Migdalovici

Ambassador Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival

Teodora Migdalovici is the Ambassador of “Cannes Lions” International Advertising Festival in Romania. She has been the initiator and the editor of the first communication industry newsletter in Romania. Subsequently, she became the advertising analyst of various business and visual art publications.
She collaborated as communication consultant for diverse projects for top companies like Euro RSCG Prague, Ogilvy Group, Creative Vision International, Columbia Tristar (through CVI), PrimaTV, Irecson Institute, Jurnalul National, the Institution of the Government Special Representative, Media Trust Intact or Coca-Cola.
Teodora is an associate teacher at the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences in Bucharest, teaching courses such as Creativity Tendencies or Brand Construction.
She is also a columnist at Jurnalul National and frequent correspondent for Shots Magazine (UK) and Marketing Magazine (Sarajevo).

Tudor Giurgiu

President – General Manager Romanian Television (TVR)

Tudor Giurgiu has been the President – General Manager of TVR (the Romanian Public Television) since June 2005.
Between 1998/2005 he was the Managing Director of Libra Film, an independent film/TV production company. He graduated from Bucharest Film & Theater Academy and worked as first assistant for important Romanian directors.
Creative Director for Atomic TV Romania between 1998/1999. Well-known director of pop videos and commercials, having worked with top and agencies and bands in Romania. The founder and the director of Transylvania International Film Festival (TIFF), the first and the most significant film festival in Romania. He was involved in various film projects that were selected and awarded in festivals and contests in Romania and abroad; his first feature film as a director, “Love Sick”, was selected in the 2006 edition of the Berlin International Film Festival, Panorama section.

Valerica Olteanu

Ph.D., Dean, Marketing Faculty Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest

Valerica Olteanu is the Dean of Marketing Faculty, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, Titular Professor on the subjects of Marketing, Marketing of Services, Management Marketing, Financial – Banking Marketing. He received his BS from the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies in 1973 and holds a Ph.D. in marketing, from the same academy. He also has a specialty in International Commerce and another one in Business Administration. He is the author or co-author of over 30 specialty works in Marketing, and has published more than 100 articles and scientific papers on marketing, tourism and services. Valerica Olteanu was appointed by the Romanian Parliament, in mid 1990s, as expert in Economic Policies and Privatisation Committee. He offered marketing consultancy for various private and state companies, such as European Drinks, MYO-O, Rova Rosiori, etc.
He was awarded the Virgil Madgearu economy prize of the Romanian Academy, for the book “Marketing”, 1992.

Vladimir Aninoiu

Leader for Developing Markets IBM CEMAAS

Vladimir Aninoiu currently holds the position of General Manager Developing Markets IBM CEMAAS in charge with operations for Slovakia and South East Europe. He has an MBA from the Open University Business School in UK and followed various IBM management courses in Romania and abroad. Previously, Vladimir Aninoiu was General Manager of IBM Romania and Moldova for more than eight years, and held the position of Sales Director with Romanian Business Systems. He is a member of the CODECS Club and of the Rotary Club Bucharest. He is passionate about traveling, and is fond of sports like tenis and alpine ski.