Board of Directors

President of Concordia

Dan Șucu is President of the Concordia Employers’ Confederation, representing the Employers’ Federation of Retail Networks, which he also leads, and the founder of Mobexpert Group, Romania’s most important furniture manufacturer and retailer.

Dan founded the company in 1993, and the first thing he did was sell a house, family inheritance, to buy a truckload of furniture from France. Today, one in ten Romanians has a Mobexpert piece of furniture in their home, and the network includes over 30 hypermarkets and stores. Mobexpert Group employs 2,400 people, has an annual turnover of approximately 200 million euros, and owns eight furniture factories producing for both the Romanian market and export.

Honorary President

Steven van Groningen is the former President of the Concordia Employers’ Confederation, currently Honorary President, and a founding member of the Council of Banking Employers in Romania.

A Dutch national, van Groningen has led banks in Hungary, Russia, and since 2002 has served as President and CEO of Raiffeisen Bank S.A. Romania, a role he held for 25 years. He is actively involved in, among others, the Aspen Institute Romania, Hospice Casa Speranței, and the Foreign Investors Council, and serves as a member of the board of directors of Fondul Proprietatea. He is the first president and one of the founders of United Way Romania and currently holds the role of Secretary General of United Way Netherlands.

Van Groningen is a former competitive rower and Olympic Games participant, a triathlete competing in Ironman events, and remains very active in sporting life.

Vice-president of Concordia

Radu Căprău is First Vice-President of the Concordia Employers’ Confederation, representing the Energy Employers’ Federation (FPE), and a member of the OMV Petrom Directorate responsible for Downstream Oil activities.

A graduate of the University of Economic Studies in Brașov, Radu built his career in sales. He joined OMV Romania in 2000 as Area Manager and has since held various management positions within the OMV Group in Bulgaria, where he was responsible for Retail, and in Romania, where he served as Head of Avanti International, later taking over Downstream Supply and Sales along with the management of OPM and Petrom Aviation. In 2018, he became Head of Crude Supply and Trading, based in Vienna.

Vice-president of Concordia

Ondrej Safar is Vice-President of the Concordia Employers’ Confederation, representing the Federation of Associations of Energy Utility Companies (ACUE).

A electrical engineer and graduate of the Czech Technical University in Prague, Ondrej Safar has extensive knowledge of the Balkan energy markets. Until mid-2018, he led Sepaș Enerji, a Turkish company within the CEZ Group, having previously coordinated the Group’s operations in Bulgaria and Romania.

He joined the CEZ team in April 2004 and in November 2005 headed to Oltenia to join CEZ Group colleagues in Romania. During a seven-year mandate, he oversaw the construction of the Fântânele-Cogealac Wind Farm, as well as the management of renewable energy production facilities, hydro and wind, and the coordination of CEZ Vânzare.

From 1 August 2018, Ondrej Safar took over CEZ’s operations in Romania, becoming the new Country Manager and President of the CEZ Romania Directorate.

Vice-president of Concordia

Mihai Matei is Vice-President of the Concordia Employers’ Confederation, representing the Employers’ Association of the Software and Services Industry (ANIS).

Mihai graduated from the Faculty of Automation and Computer Science at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest. He is the CEO of Essensys Software, a company he founded in 2005. With over 20 years of experience in the IT sector, he is the principal author of the first software procurement guide for public institutions in Romania and a prominent voice in the country’s technology industry. Mihai is also one of the founders of the NGO Geeks for Democracy, where he coordinates the Fund for Democracy and other civic projects.

Vice-president of Concordia

Mihaela Lupu is Vice-President of the Concordia Employers’ Confederation, representing FinBan.

She began her career within the UniCredit Group in August 1998, at HVB Bank Romania S.A., as a Financial Analyst, progressing by 2004 to Coordinator of the Financial Control Department. In 2007, she was promoted to Head of the Financial Control Department at UniCredit Țiriac Bank, becoming Director of Planning and Control in 2010.

Her leadership experience and qualities led to her appointment in 2013 as CFO and member of the Directorate of UniCredit Bank in Romania. From 2017, she took on new challenges within the Group, successively holding the position of Head of Group Planning, Capital Management & Strategic ALM. From 2021 until October 2023, she served as Chief Financial Officer for Central and Eastern Europe, before being appointed CEO of UniCredit Bank Romania on 16 October 2023.

Mihaela Lupu holds a degree in Economics from the Bucharest University of Economic Studies and is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS).

Vice-president of Concordia

Iulian Stanciu is Vice-President of the Concordia Employers’ Confederation, representing the Romanian Federation of the Digital Economy (FRED).

He is one of the most prominent figures in Romanian entrepreneurship and the founder of several successful businesses. As Executive President of eMAG, he led the company’s regional expansion and the development of a complex digital ecosystem encompassing delivery services, marketplace and fintech. With over two decades of experience in the IT and retail industries, Iulian Stanciu is recognised for his strategic vision and his substantial contribution to the digitalisation of the economy.

In recent years, Iulian has played a significant role within the “Nouă ne pasă” Foundation, which supports education as an essential pillar of Romanian society’s development, as well as in initiatives promoting entrepreneurship, sustainability and digitalisation

Vice-president of Concordia

Dragoș is Vice President of Concordia, representing HORA – the organization of the HORECA industry in Romania – and the President of City Grill.

Dragoș is a successful entrepreneur and the president of City Grill, the largest network of traditional restaurants in Romania, a group he co-founded in 2004. Since 2020, his company has also been active in the food delivery market in Bucharest through City Grill Delivery, ranking among the top five players in the capital’s delivery sector.

He is also an investor in the Romanian version of the TV show Dragon’s Den (Imperiul Leilor) and believes his mission is to share his experience with young people who want to contribute to the development of Romania’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Dragoș graduated from the Politehnica University of Bucharest and holds an Executive MBA in Business Administration and Management from ASEBUSS – University of Kennesaw.

Vice-president of Concordia

Simona is Vice President of Concordia, President of the Romanian Hotel Industry Federation (FIHR), Chair of the Advisory Council for Tourism under the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MEAT/MEDAT), and an Independent Member of the Board of Directors at Electroalfa.

For over a decade, she led Romania’s largest hotel chain ,Ana Hotels, establishing herself as one of the most influential voices in the hospitality industry. Through strategic vision and adaptive leadership, she has guided top organizations and partnerships through major transformations, managing the challenges of economic crises, the COVID-19 pandemic, and recent geopolitical shifts.

Her expertise in capital markets and the financial sector, built over more than 14 years, includes major transactions – IPOs, M&A deals, privatizations – as well as pioneering initiatives such as the first sponsored GDR program of a Romanian bank listed on Nasdaq, LSE, and BVB, and the launch of Romania’s municipal bond market.

Currently, she focuses her efforts on developing and promoting Romania’s national tourism strategy, leveraging leadership, governance, and cross-sector collaboration.

A graduate of the Master in Board Practice and Directorship program at Henley Business School & Envisia, and holder of an Executive MBA from ASEBUSS – University of Washington, she combines hands-on experience with strong academic training, guided by excellence, innovation, and responsible governance.

Member of Concordia’s Board of Directors

Sergiu Manea is a member of the Board of Directors of the Concordia Employers’ Confederation, representing FinBan. He is President of FinBan and CEO of Banca Comercială Română (BCR), Romania’s most important financial group, encompassing universal banking operations (retail, corporate & investment banking, treasury and capital markets), as well as specialised subsidiaries in leasing, private pensions and home savings banks.

Sergiu became CEO of BCR in October 2015. Under his leadership, BCR underwent a transformation process marked by a significant new chapter — the launch of George, Romania’s first intelligent banking platform. During his tenure, BCR positioned itself as a promoter of prosperity through education, establishing the largest financial education programme in Romania, Școala de Bani, as well as the entrepreneurial education platform BCR Școala de Business.

Sergiu Manea graduated from the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies in 1995 and subsequently obtained a Master’s degree in Finance at DOFIN Bucharest. He began his career through a series of positions at leading financial institutions, including BRD, ING Bank Romania, Citibank Romania and Bank Austria Creditanstalt.

From 2000, he held several roles in Financial Markets at ABN AMRO Bucharest and London, and between 2005 and 2010 served as Managing Director, Head of EEMEA Markets, UniCredit Markets & Investment Banking at Bank Austria. Sergiu then became Managing Partner of Ibus Capital, a private investment advisory firm based in Vienna, Austria, before joining BCR, where he served as Executive Vice-President of Treasury, Capital Markets & Group Large Corporates.

Member of Concordia’s Board of Directors

Daniela Dărăban is a member of the Board of Directors of the Concordia Employers’ Confederation and Executive Director of the Federation of Associations of Energy Utility Companies (ACUE), appointed at the request of its members to ensure the most effective representation of the industry’s interests in the context of the significant transformations brought about by the energy transition.

Prior to this role, Daniela Dărăban worked at GSK Pharma Romania as Corporate Affairs & Communication Head and Board member. Before joining GSK in 2019, she served for eight years (2011-2019) as Director of Public and Government Relations for ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania.

Daniela also has experience in the public sector, having served as Public Relations and Communication Adviser to the President of ANRE (2010), the Minister of Finance (2009), and the Minister of Economy and Energy (2006-2008).

She holds a degree from the Faculty of Political and Administrative Studies at Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca.

Member of Concordia’s Board of Directors

Franck Neel is a member of the Board of Directors of the Concordia Employers’ Confederation, President of the Oil and Gas Employers’ Federation (FPPG), and a member of the OMV Petrom Directorate, responsible for Downstream Gas.

Franck studied energy at the University of Rouen, where he obtained an engineering degree, before completing a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering at Cranfield University in the United Kingdom. He began his career at Gaz de France, where he spent seven years in the Engineering department and subsequently in Marketing and Sales, holding various positions in countries including France, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands, Italy and the United Kingdom. He worked for 25 years within the Engie Group, and in July 2018 moved to Romania to join OMV Petrom.

Member of Concordia’s Board of Directors

Cătălina Dodu is a member of the Board of Directors of the Concordia Employers’ Confederation, representing ANIS. She is Partner and Cybersecurity Leader for the EY South Cluster and Consulting Service Line Leader, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Employers’ Association of the Software and Services Industry (ANIS).

A graduate in Cybernetics, she began her career as a programmer at a small automotive distribution company. Driven by a passion for programming, she became the 22nd employee at Bitdefender, before moving on to Siemens and then ATOS, where she has worked since 2011. She is a Strategic Advisor for Global Women in Tech and is actively engaged in initiatives supporting the development of a sustainable business environment.

Member of Concordia’s Board of Directors

Oleg Roibu is a member of the Board of Directors of the Concordia Employers’ Confederation, representing FRED, and General Counsel of the eMAG Group, with extensive experience in legal affairs, regulation and public policy. He consistently contributes to the dialogue between the business community and decision-makers through initiatives dedicated to the digital economy, at both national and European level.

He is a member of the Boards of Directors of the Romanian Federation of the Digital Economy (FRED), ANIS and the Edge Institute.

Member of Concordia’s Board of Directors

Simona Istrate is a member of the Board of Directors of Concordia and President of the Employers’ Organization of Private Railway Companies in Romania (OPSFPR).

Simona Istrate has a bachelor’s degree in legal sciences and a master’s degree in criminal sciences. She has a rich experience in the field of central public administration, acquired in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, where she coordinated the Legal Department and the Directorate of Rail Transportation. He also has experience in the management of state-owned companies, as he was a member of the Board of Directors of the National Railroad Passenger Transport Company “C.F.R. Călători” – S.A. and of the National Railroad Company “CFR” – S.A.

Since 2020 he has been an advisor to Grampet Grup S.A. and member of the Board of Directors of REVA S.A.

Since August 1, 2023, he is President of the Employers’ Organization of Private Railway Companies in Romania, which represents 15 freight railway companies, accounting for more than 60% of the total volume of rail freight.

Member of Concordia’s Board of Directors

Mario Crețu is a member of the Board of Directors of the Concordia Employers’ Confederation, representing the Employers’ Federation of Retail Networks (FPRC).

He has been Director of Institutional Affairs at Carrefour Romania for over four years, a period that coincides with his involvement in AMRCR. He also coordinates the company’s environmental activities.

Mario holds a degree from the University of Bucharest in Political Science and Administration, and a Master’s in Law and Community Affairs from the National School of Political and Administrative Sciences. His professional experience includes over 12 years in the press (Antena 3 and Agerpres), one year at the World Trade Center Bucharest in corporate affairs, three years in public administration as adviser to the Minister of Health and Director of the European Affairs Directorate at the Ministry of Health, approximately three years as adviser to the Director General of Romgaz and the company’s corporate affairs officer and spokesperson, and since February 2019 he has been working at Carrefour.

Member of Concordia’s Board of Directors

Dan Niculescu is a member of the Board of Directors of Confederația Patronală Concordia, representing the Employers’ Federation of Road Transporters from Romania (FPTR), a representative employers’ organisation at sectoral level in the road transport industry.

He is President of the National Union of Road Transporters of Romania, a member of FPTR. FPTR represents approximately 1,500 companies in the road transport sector, employing around 70,000 people, and plays an important role in representing the interests of road transporters in social and employers’ dialogue both in Romania and at European level.

With over 20 years of experience in military aviation, he has developed strong competencies in leadership, operational management and organisation. Since 2008, he has held the position of Commercial Transport Director at Dianthus Company.

He holds a degree in Law and a Master’s in European Community Law, with solid experience in representing business interests and advocating for policies aimed at developing the road transport sector in Romania.

Member of Concordia’s Board of Directors

Constantin Bratu is a member of the Board of Directors of Concordia and the General Manager of Brewers of Romania, the employers’ association whose members represent over 90% of the local beer market.

He returned to lead the organization in August 2024, following a similar tenure held between 2005 and 2016. He has served as a Public Affairs Consultant at WefflerMark and has been a founding member and president of CIPRA since October 2021. He also led Green Resources Management as General Manager and was the Public Affairs and Communications Director for Coca-Cola Romania. Prior to that, he headed the Corporate Affairs division at British American Tobacco Romania.

Member of Concordia’s Board of Directors

Judith Kiss is a member of Concordia’s Board of Directors on behalf of the Romanian Insurance Industry Employers’ Association (PIAR) and Director of Human Resources, Logistics and BCP Groupama, which she joined in 2015.

Judith has over 20 years of professional experience, during which time she has managed HR, logistics, BCP and public relations departments of major national and multinational companies in areas such as FMCG, retail, security services and IT.
In 2009, Judith graduated from the MBA program at ASE-CNAM Paris and is certified in Human Resources Management through the postgraduate program at Asebuss and the Master in Communication and Human Resources Management at SNSPA.

Member of Concordia’s Board of Directors

Cristian Moldovan is a member of the Concordia Board of Directors, representing the National Association of Soft Drinks (ANBR), and currently serves as Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Director at Coca-Cola HBC Romania.

With over a decade of experience in corporate affairs, regulatory matters, and sustainability, Cristian Moldovan has specialised in areas such as the circular economy, packaging and packaging waste, and the implementation of the Deposit Return System (DRS). His professional background combines solid results in the FMCG sector and business associations with experience gained in public office.

Prior to his career in the private sector, he held positions within the Government of Romania, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Romanian Parliament, where he managed European affairs and international relations portfolios. He was part of the teams that prepared Romania’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, at both governmental and parliamentary level.

He holds bachelor’s degrees in International Relations and European Studies, in Romanian Language and Literature – English Language and Literature (the “G.E. Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mureș), and in Journalism and Communication (“Babeș-Bolyai” University of Cluj-Napoca). He also holds a master’s degree in Security Studies and a PhD in Sociology, both from the University of Bucharest, and is a graduate of the Business Sustainability Management programme at the University of Cambridge, Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

Member of Concordia’s Board of Directors

Mihai Bordeanu is a member of the Board of Directors of the Concordia Employers’ Confederation, representing the Employers’ Federation of the Automotive Industry (FPIA), and CEO of Dacia & Head of Country for Renault Group’s activities in Romania.

His journey within the Renault Group began in 2010, when he took on the role of Marketing Director at Renault Commercial Roumanie for the Dacia and Renault brands. In 2014, he embarked on an international career as Marketing Director for Groupe Renault in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta (“Northern Territory”); in 2016 he became Marketing Director for the Eurasia region, and from 2019, Global VP Marketing for Dacia.

Mihai graduated from the Faculty of Cybernetics at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies and completed general management programmes at specialist institutions including London Business School and CEDEP (INSEAD).

He is also President of ACAROM (the Association of Automobile Constructors in Romania) and an active member of PAR — Romanian Auto Partnership — a working group dedicated to promoting and developing the automotive industry.

Member of Concordia’s Board of Directors

Dumitru Blaga is a member of the Board of Directors of the Concordia Employers’ Confederation and President of the Association of Furniture Manufacturers in Romania, a position he has held since 2 November 2023, following two four-year terms as Vice-President of the association.

With 35 years of experience in the furniture industry, having progressed through every role from production to management, Dumitru Blaga is Director General and Administrator of SIMEX, an internationally recognised furniture brand. The luxury furniture produced in Șimleu Silvaniei, in Transylvania, under the SIMEX brand, is sold not only in Romania and across developed European markets, but also in the United States, gracing homes and palaces as well as hotels and offices.

Member of Concordia’s Board of Directors

Marius Ștefănescu is a member of the Concordia Board and President of the Patronage of the Foreign Labour Force (PFMS).

Marius Ștefănescu is a graduate of the Faculty of Management, with over 15 years of experience in the business environment, as an M&A consultant, active investor and entrepreneur, Marius Ștefănescu is Co-founder of the group of companies International Work Finder, Eco Synergy, Stratos, Stratos Aviation companies that have as their objects of activity the import of workforce from non-EU countries, environmental consulting and aviation.

Member of Concordia’s Board of Directors

Constantin Sebeșanu is a member of the Board of Directors of the Employers’ Confederation Concordia and the President of FIDES.

He has a career spanning over 30 years in management, development, and consulting in the fields of hospitality, real estate, and business. He has held several leadership positions, including CEO of Impact Developer & Contractor and General Manager of Grand Plaza Hotel and Parc Hotels. He is also a partner in Trend Hospitality and Expressoft.

A graduate of the Politehnica University of Bucharest, he furthered his education with specializations at Cornell University, Boston University, and Henley Business School, earning certifications in strategic management, resource administration, and financial strategy.

He is the founder of both FIDES and HORA, and a member of various professional associations, including AmCham, BRCC, and EHMA. He has served on the Boards of Directors of TAROM and CFR Infrastructură. He speaks fluent English, French, and Italian.

Member of Concordia’s Board of Directors

Mirabela Miron is a member of the Board of Directors of the Employers’ Confederation Concordia and President of the Federation for Innovation and Sustainable Competitiveness in SMEs (FICSIMM).

Twenty years ago, Mirabela founded the Avisso Group, a company specializing in financial-accounting and audit services, as well as business management consulting, project management, and attracting both refundable and non-refundable funding for private or public investment projects. As an entrepreneur, she remains actively engaged in community issues and is a keen observer of macroeconomic trends.

Through her roles as President of FICSIMM and of the Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (OFA), Mirabela has consistently contributed to identifying and proposing solutions for the improvement and development of the Romanian business environment, both in dialogue with national and European authorities.

Mirabela is also a strong advocate for the economic development of the Moldova region and is actively involved in social responsibility and community engagement through her volunteer and financial support of the “A Chance for Everyone” Association.

Member of Concordia’s Board of Directors

Răzvan Munteanu is a member of the Board of Directors of the Confederation of Employer Associations Concordia, representing the Employers’ Federation of Pharmacies in Romania (FPFR).

Răzvan has over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and the business environment. He is the founder and General Manager of the Professional Farma Line group of companies (active in retail, import, and distribution of pharmaceutical products), the founder and Vice President of the Association of Pharmacies and Pharmacists of Romania, and, last but not least, the founder and Vice President of the Employers’ Federation of Pharmacies in Romania.

 

Member of Concordia’s Board of Directors

Eugenia Deaconu is a member of the Board of Directors of the Concordia Employers’ Confederation, representing the Romanian Federation of Non-Wage Benefits Issuers (FEBER).

She has over 25 years of professional experience in public policy, legal affairs, compliance, corporate affairs, and business development. In recent years, she has played an active role in the digitalization of non-wage benefits in Romania. She currently serves as Director of Legal, Compliance and Public Affairs at Pluxee Romania.

Eugenia is actively involved in various business associations and cross-sector working groups focused on legislative reform, transparency, and governance. On a personal level, she continues to support civic education, volunteering, and professional mentorship initiatives, advocating for inclusion, democracy, and the development of vulnerable communities.

Former President of Concordia, Honorary member

Adrian Manolache is a honorary member of Concordia and Secretary General of the Association of Large Romanian Commercial Networks (AMRCR). Adrian is a commercial lawyer, a member of the Bucharest Bar since 2000, and studied the Economic Foundations of Competition Law at King’s College London. Its mission is to help entrepreneurs and managers to build and maintain healthy businesses from a legal point of view in Romania. For Adrian, the successful client-lawyer relationship is based on trust, just like any other partnership in someone’s life, and in this respect compromises do not find a place.

Adrian Manolache is honorary member of Concordia and Secretary General of the Association of Large Romanian Commercial Networks (AMRCR).