Goran Kolak
Episode · #256
VRIJEME JE ZA GOSPODARSTVO Gordan Kolak
Guest Goran KolakHosted by Darko BukovacMay 3, 2026
Goran Kolak
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation
Gordan Kolak took the helm of Končar, a hundred-year-old industrial giant, after a career primarily in IT and management consulting. This transition, from the fast-moving world of digital solutions to a company synonymous with heavy manufacturing and energy, is not typical. Kolak now leads a system of 4,000 employees, responsible for everything from power generation to railway transport, with an export share exceeding 60%. His perspective offers a look at how a leader from a different background approaches the stewardship of a critical national industry, navigating both legacy and the future.
Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
Končar’s 2020 results were better than the previous year, despite the pandemic. This performance, Kolak explains, is rooted in the fact that "energy, which is the core of our business, cannot stop." A crisis reveals the fundamental resilience of business models built on indispensable, never-stopping demand.
02
Over 63% of Končar’s business comes from exports, with contracts spanning new countries and continents. Relying solely on a domestic market is a long-term liability for any complex industrial system; global reach isn't just an ambition, but the only path to sustainable growth and relevance.
03
Kolak describes Končar as a "locomotive" that pulls along smaller and medium-sized companies by integrating their products and knowledge into its own offerings. Large industrial exporters don't just grow themselves; they cultivate an ecosystem, enabling smaller, local partners to access global markets they couldn't reach alone.
04
Kolak’s career path led him from Doking, King ICT, and Megatrend — companies rooted in IT and business solutions — to leading Končar, a manufacturing behemoth. Diverse leadership experience, even from seemingly unrelated sectors, can be a potent asset when taking the helm of a traditional industrial company, injecting fresh perspectives into established operations.
05
The new solar power plant on Vis island is a significant step, yet Kolak expects it to be considered "smaller in the future" compared to what's coming. Milestones in critical infrastructure are not just about their current scale; they are about signaling future direction and demonstrating new capabilities that redefine what's possible for a company.
06
The contracted business value at the end of 2020 reached 4.4 billion HRK, a substantial increase, including 21 new electric trains for Croatian Railways and 6 trams for Latvia. Even amidst economic uncertainty, long-term infrastructure projects continue, demonstrating stable demand for essential industrial goods that underpin national development and transport.
07
The departure of Mr. Bago, who led Končar for 21 years, and Kolak’s subsequent appointment as CEO. A long-tenured leader’s departure marks a significant shift, not just in personnel but in organizational perspective, often opening the door for new strategies and a re-evaluation of the company’s future trajectory.