Manager of the Year 2025 is Enver Šišić

The Manager of the Year award has been presented since 1991 as the highest recognition for leadership excellence in Slovenia. In the selection process, the committee reviews more than 80 performance indicators, analyzes financial results over the past five years, gathers 360-degree feedback, and conducts interviews with shortlisted candidates about their vision and strategy.

This year’s laureate, Enver Šišić, leads one of the most recognizable groups in the region. Under his leadership, Perutnina Ptuj Group has become the fastest-growing agri-food group in the region and one of the most profitable poultry companies in Europe.

We therefore proudly present him with the Manager of the Year 2025 award.

A Leader Who Turns Challenges into Opportunities

He arrived at the Ljubljana railway station in 1992 as a young student. In his pocket, he had twenty German marks and the phone number of a friend in Slovenia. The war had taken his home, reshaped his future, and taught him an invaluable lesson: life demands courage, adaptability, and perseverance.

Enver Šišić carried this life lesson into the business world. Today, he embodies it as the CEO and President of the Board of Directors of the Perutnina Ptuj Group – Slovenia’s largest poultry producer and one of the leading food companies in Southeast Europe.

Projects Others Avoided

He began his career in 1998 as a young technologist. Instead of taking shortcuts, he consciously chose the most demanding projects – the ones others overlooked because they seemed too complex or risky. “Only where it’s difficult does the chance for success exist,” he says today.

Slowly but steadily, he climbed the corporate ladder: from Head of Development, Director of the Meat Industry, and Executive Director of Production to CEO. “It took me twenty years to reach my current position. All that time, I took the stairs – because that’s the only way to truly get to know people and processes. If you take the elevator, you miss what happens between the floors.”

Numbers That Tell the Story

When he took over the group in 2019, revenues stood at €250 million. Five years later, they exceeded €532 million. Sales doubled, and profit tripled. Today, Perutnina Ptuj ranks among the fastest-growing agri-food processing companies in the region and one of the most profitable poultry producers in Europe.

Three-quarters of its sales are generated in foreign markets, with average export growth exceeding 20% per year. The vision is clear: to increase revenue to €1 billion. Steps toward this goal are already in motion – through strategic investments and strong employee trust.

One Billion as a Realistic Goal

Over the past five years, more than €200 million has been invested in development – in production expansion, digitalization, automation, and sustainable solutions. A further €120 million renovation of the meat processing plant in Ptuj is underway, creating 300 new jobs. This ambition is not a wishful dream but the logical outcome of strategic work.
“When we talk about one billion in revenue,” Šišić emphasizes, “it’s not just a financial target, but a commitment to regional development, new jobs, and pride among the people who create here.”

Perutnina Ptuj in Numbers:

• Over 120 years of tradition – established in 1905
• 5,165 employees (compared to 3,677 in 2019)
• €532 million in revenue in 2024 – target: €1 billion
• €58.5 million profit, 130% higher than in 2019
• 75% export share – present across European markets
• 145,671 tons of production in 2024, target 200,000 tons by 2027
• Over €200 million invested in the past five years; €120 million meat industry renovation ahead
• Iconic brand Poli – with sublines Poli Kids, Poli Green, Slim&Fit, Poli Pops, and Piknik
• Highest standards: ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, Green Star (three stars)

People Before Balance Sheets

But the story goes beyond financial results. Enver Šišić modernized the pay system, abolished outdated wage scales, and introduced a fairer reward model.

They established the PP Education platform and a digital learning classroom, enabling employees to grow and move internally. “Knowledge is available to everyone today. What truly matters are experience and skills – and those cannot be bought or copied,” says Šišić.

He adds: “If you motivate people to feel valued, if you think about people the same way you think about business, then you have a real chance to succeed.”

Sustainability as a Commitment to the Future

Šišić’s connection to Perutnina Ptuj is deeply personal – “this is not just my workplace; it’s part of my life.” That’s why he develops the company with respect for people, the environment, and the region.

Under his leadership, Perutnina Ptuj became the first company in the region to introduce antibiotic-free poultry farming. It joined the Better Chicken Commitment initiative for animal welfare, builds smart farms, invests in circular economy practices, reduces energy and water use, develops sustainable packaging, and increases the use of renewable energy sources.

Trendsetters

Perutnina Ptuj doesn’t follow market trends – it creates them. Its most recognizable product, Poli, was declared Brand of the Year at SOF 2024, while the company also received the titles Excellent Food Company and Podravje Company of the Year.
In recent years, it has introduced numerous innovations: Poli Kids, Natur Premium, Slim&Fit, Poli Green (plant-based line), Poli Pops (high-protein snacks), Piknik BBQ range, and various HoReCa solutions.

Supporting Culture and Sport

Perutnina Ptuj is closely connected to its local community through sponsorships and partnerships: supporting the Arsana Festival, Kurentovanje, Perutnina Ptuj Cycling Club, Ptuj Book Club, and many other projects enriching the region’s cultural and sports life.
These are not just financial gestures but a way of giving back to the community that gives the company its roots.
“When you support culture, sports, and tradition, you invest in people – in their energy, joy, and creativity. And that always returns to the company,” says Šišić.

A Leader Who Keeps His Word

“The most important thing is to deliver what you promise,” says Šišić. For him, leadership means integrity, consistency, and leading by example. He teaches through his actions – with responsibility, precision, and a strong work ethic.

The company’s owner fully trusts him. “In all these years, he’s only called me once,” Šišić says with a smile. That alone shows that results speak for themselves.

The Power of a Personal Story

When he speaks about his colleagues from the Haloze hills, many of whom have worked at the company for over four decades, pride resonates in his voice. “This is not just a workplace. This is family. This is community.”

The greatest strength of his leadership lies in his personal commitment:
“I don’t want to be remembered for the number of investments or new products, but for how I improved the lives of my colleagues and their families.”

It’s fair to conclude that Enver Šišić is a leader who combines personal integrity, business excellence, and humanity. He proves that true leaders don’t just build companies – they create the future, together with people and for people.

Members of the 2025 Manager of the Year Award Committee:

Aleksander Zalaznik (Chair), Tomaž Berločnik, Boštjan Gorjup, Petra Juvančič, Tjaša Kolenc Filipčič, Medeja Lončar, Aleša Mižigoj, and Sabina Sobočan.