New Croatia PM: ‘I am a Patriot and Honoured to Help my People’

New PM-designate Tihomir Orešković and President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović (photo/uredpredsjednice/pixsell)

New Croatia PM-designate Tihomir Orešković told the media that he is a patriot who was honoured to be given an opportunity to help out his country and people…

Croatia’s new government was formed on Monday in parliament, with reformists MOST (bridge) and the ‘Patriotic Coalition’ joining forces to form government for the next 4 years.

Orešković (49), who has forged a successful business career abroad, told the media on Monday that he would now in the next 30 days work on building a team who will take Croatia ‘forward’.

“Firstly, I am a patriot. I can say that I am honoured to be given an opportunity to come back and help my people,” said the new PM-designate, who after leaving Croatia as a 2-year-old with his family, forged an impressive career in business in Canada and Europe.

When asked how his managerial know-how can contribute to leading a country, Orešković said that there were some similarities that would help him.

“I would not say that it is the same, but leadership is about defining goals, and in both (positions) dialogue is required. Once these objectives are defined, I hope that we will work together. It is my role to somehow transfer what needs to be done to get these programmes implemented,” he said, adding that hopes to take full advantage of his experience in business, and that he has seen and understands how the world thinks.

He hopes that Croatia can take advantage out of the fact that he was a part of the financial world, saying that he wants to help raise Croatia’s rating, which will reduce debts and expenses.

Orešković, who says he hopes to form a team of experts with experience around him in Ministerial positions, says that it was important everyone works together to improve Croatia’s economy and health system.

Orešković was born in Zagreb in 1966 and in 1968 left for Canada with his family. After studying at the McMaster University in Ontario, he graduated with a Chemistry degree in 1989. In 1991 he completed his MBA in finance and information systems.

In 1992 he started working for pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly in Canada and held a number of positions there before moving to Teva, owners of Croatian firm Pliva, in 2009. He was Teva’s CFO for Europe until his returned to Croatia to enter politics. When asked why he left a big paying job to return, he said that whilst being a patriot and wanting to serve his people, he also enjoyed new challenges.