Zdenko Matak, member of the Management Board of Erste&Steiermärkische Bank d.d. ("Erste banka") responsible for Retail, Retail Banking Development, Direct Channels and Digital Banking, has decided to step down from his current position at the end of his term on 31 July 2024. He began his career in the IT department of Bjelovarska banka in 1989, and held various managerial positions in the retail banking segment in the period from 1999 until 2014, when he became member of Erste banka's Management Board. Matak will continue his career in Erste banka and, in the future, act as an advisor to the Management Board for retail banking.
In line with the above, Zdenko Matak will be succeeded by Retail Banking Development Director Katarina Kraljević, who will assume her new position on 1 August 2024. Erste banka's Supervisory Board's decision to appoint Katarina Kraljević is subject to the approval of the Croatian National Bank and European Central Bank.
Katarina Kraljević holds a Master's degree in economic sciences and has many years of experience working in the banking sector. She started her career in 2001 as a financial advisor for citizens at Bank Austria Creditanstalt d.d. in Zagreb. In the period from 2002 to 2005, she was a financial agent for SMEs at Centar banka d.d., after which she transferred to Erste banka to the position of Risk Manager for Micro Businesses, Trades and Citizens. From 2008 to 2015, she was head of the Private Clients and Micro Businesses Risk Management, and from 2015 to 2017 she was Deputy Director of Retail. Since January 2018, she has been the head of Retail Banking Development.
"Zdenko Matak played a big role in securing Erste banka's current position, contributing greatly to its continuous growth and development over the past 35 years, particularly in the retail banking segment. We are extremely grateful to him for his overall contribution and joint successes achieved during all these years. Respecting his personal decision, we look forward to being able to continue relying on his support, in the form of the advisory function he will be performing," Christoph Schoefboeck, President of the Management Board, said on this occasion. "On the other hand, we are extremely pleased and proud that Zdenko will be succeeded by no other than Katarina Kraljević, who has extensive prior experience of working at different positions in our bank. I am certain that her knowledge, expertise, energy and clear vision will allow her to continue the bank's successful positioning in the retail segment, as well as developing our digital strategy, one of the most important pillars of our business in the challenging times ahead," Schoefboeck concluded.