Gorenje Long-Time Director Ivan Atelšek Dies Dec 19, 2011

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Mr. Ivan Atelšek, age 84, long-time director of Slovenian appliance maker Gorenje, died recently.

Atelšek. sometimes called "the father of Gorenje," was Gorenje's director from 1953 until 1980 and served as a supervisory board member representing employees from 1997 through 2010.

Atelšek is credited with having the great ambition, vision, and determination needed to develop Gorenje from a small workshop with a few employees into one of the largest companies in Yugoslavia with 20,000.

Vital to Gorenje's success, he developed it into one of few companies from Yugoslavia that exported goods to West. He strongly believed that devoted employees were crucial for the company to succeed.

He was awarded several awards for his contribution to the development and growth of Gorenje and the Slovenian economy, including a 1969 award of the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for outstanding economic and business achievements.

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