Canceled Paul Olechnowicz, president of Grupa LOTOS – Policy

If in the Guinness Book of Records was the category of “longest Office of the President of Polish state-owned companies,” Paul Olechnowicz, president of Grupa LOTOS, would get a diploma record holder. He upheld the President’s chair for 14 years. This record is not to be repeated. Today must go to make room for a friend of Adam Hofman.

Chairman of the “market” and not political paratrooper

Paul Olechnowicz met in 2002 Maciej Giereja secretariat, the president of Polish oil – extensions of the Ministry of Treasury, dealing with restructuring and privatization of state-owned companies oil and chemical industries. I was scheduled to interview with Gierejem, but I had to wait, because the door weighed the fate of the Gdansk Refinery. Gierej urged Olechnowicz to this undertook the task draw Gdansk company out of trouble. He succeeded, with the president of Polish Oil was very proud.

He acquired an experienced manager “market” and not political paratrooper. Olechnowicz, former president of Elblag Zamech, then ABB Poland, had just returned from Switzerland, where he worked at the headquarters of ABB. He took not only the task to guide the Gdansk Refinery, but be pasted to the other companies with which the Treasury did not know what to do. These were called. southern refineries, factories remembering the times of Ignacy Lukasiewicz, with no chance of finding an investor.

Besides, the Gdańsk Refinery was a problem, because no counting the oil company was not interested in a small factory, without its own commercial network and fuel pipelines. Interested in her past, only the Russians, Jan Kulczyk and mysterious company Rotch. No investor does not bode no good. It was the same with Orlen, whose seaside competitor sometimes tempted, sometimes irritated. The idea to join Lotus Orlen, was constantly repeated by politicians of different options.

Olechnowicz defended himself before the merger, busily fighting for the independence of built Grupa LOTOS. One method was to escape the investments that made Lotus was constantly in debt. But the money was not wasted. 10+ Programme has led to a doubling of production capacity of the company, which today has already processed more than 10 million tons of oil per year and is one of the most modern companies. The company used these powers often over 100 per cent., Selling more products than he has produced. Rozpychał on the market, more and more irritating Orlen.

A model student all of successive governments

Olechnowicz proved to be a master of survival. When Orlen presidents at the moment changed, he took the position. How did he do? He did it very cleverly, creating its supporting lobbies Pomeranian politicians of all options. It was the same with the unions. They supported him to the end. When there were rumors that it cancel all central trade unions Lotus głośnio protested.

Olechnowicz convinced of all, trade unionists and politicians Pomeranian that only he can guarantee that an independent Grupa LOTOS, based in Gdańsk. The inclusion Orlen will mean that Pomerania will lose its biggest company. Gdansk plant will be one of the field plants PKN Orlen. Pomerania lose its prestige and will suffer financially.