President of the Chamber
GHEORGHE MARIAN CRISTESCU
Gheorghe Marian Cristescu began his adventure in the hotel industry over 25 years ago. He gained professional experience working in Poland for several international companies, including Radisson chain, Accor Hotels, and Best Western International.
From 2016 to 2024, Gheorghe Marian Cristescu served as the President of Polski Holding Hotelowy (PHH), formerly known as Chopin Airport Development (CAD). During his eight-year tenure, he played a pivotal role in transforming PHH into the largest Polish-capital hotel company in Poland. Under his leadership, the company expanded its portfolio with multiple acquisitions and hotel openings, strengthened its market position, and became a key player in the Polish hospitality sector. His strategic initiatives, including the development of airport-adjacent hotels and fostering partnerships with global brands, were instrumental in PHH's growth and success.
Currently, Gheorghe Marian Cristescu is the President of the Polish-Romanian Bilateral Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Throughout his career, he has received several awards, including “Personality of the Year” by Hotelarz magazine and the title "Man of the Year" by PropertyNews.
Vice-President of the Chamber
ERYKA GIZIŃSKA, PhD
Eryka Gizińska, PhD in economics, is an executive director with extensive international experience. For over 20 years, she has been focusing on managing and coordinating international projects in the following industries: IT, pharmaceutical, chemical and industrial. She has strong competences in the field of marketing and corporate communication, investor relations and the CSR area. For years, she managed some of the largest and most admired brands in the world. She started her career in marketing and PR at Microsoft, and after a few years she became the Communications Director at IBM. Later, she worked as Marketing and PR Director at Johnson&Johnson Medical Devices, responsible for Poland and the Baltic States. She also worked in high managerial positions in Polish companies: CIECH S.A. as Marketing and Communications Director and US Pharmacia as Communications Director. She graduated from the Warsaw School of Economics, Faculty of Management and Marketing. At the same university, she prepared and defended in 2020 her doctoral dissertation entitled "Polish executive staff in light of long-term post-crisis implications – exemplified by IT and Pharmaceutical Sectors.” Privately fascinated by Romania and the culture of this country, since 2016 she has been involved in bilateral business projects and actively participates in economic missions.
Executive Director
ADAM SOBIESZKODA
Business consultant in the area of business development in foreign markets, mainly in the Romanian market. He has several years of experience in consultancy in international business development and foreign market entries, as well as in international sales. He has completed many projects in the field of international business development for small, medium and large Polish and foreign enterprises in the following industries: agri-food, machinery, metalworking, industrial production. He graduated from the Warsaw School of Economics with a master's degree and the Poznań University of Economics and Business with a bachelor’s degree.
Chamber Representative in Romania
OVIDIU VĂLEANU, MBA
Ovidiu Valeanu is the Managing Partner of bnt Gilescu, Valeanu & Partners, a position he has held since 2005. He also serves as Co-Head of the bnt attorneys in CEE International Real Estate Practice, where he oversees large-scale, cross-border real estate and investment projects for one of the leading law firm networks in Central and Eastern Europe.
With expertise in Corporate and M&A, Real Estate, Joint Ventures, Privatization, and Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), Ovidiu has built a distinguished career over more than 20 years. He graduated from the University of Bucharest with a law degree in 1998 and obtained an MBA in 2004 from the University of Ottawa, jointly awarded by HEC Montreal and the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies.
Ovidiu has extensive experience advising international clients on complex cross-border transactions and large-scale investments. His work includes representing major investors from Poland, Austria, Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, and beyond in projects such as the acquisition of thousands of hectares of agricultural, industrial, and forest land, as well as the development of retail, commercial, logistic and residential properties. He has also guided international funds and companies in establishing greenfield investments and expanding their presence in Romania.
A key focus of Ovidiu’s professional efforts has been fostering strong economic ties between Romania and Poland. He has provided strategic legal advice to Polish companies entering the Romanian market, facilitating cross-border investments and ensuring seamless integration into Romania’s legal and business environment. His work has been instrumental in attracting significant Polish investments to Romania, helping to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.
Fluent in English and Romanian, Ovidiu is known for his ability to manage high-stakes international projects and deliver customized legal solutions. His expertise and leadership continue to play a crucial role in bridging markets and supporting cross-border investments across Europe and beyond.
Member of Audit Committee
Prof. PAWEŁ ŚLIWIŃSKI
Doctor of Economic Sciences, head of the Department of International Finance and professor at the Poznan University of Economics. He studied at the University of Economics in Poznań, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, as well as at the Universities of Tilburg (Netherlands) and Antwerp (Belgium). He holds licenses as an advisor in public securities trading (FSC license No. 111) and as a securities broker (FSC license No. 1094). Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Nationale-Nederlanden Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń na Życie S.A. and Nationale-Nederlanden Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń S.A. Chairman of the Board of INC S.A. (listed on the main market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange) and INC Brokerage House S.A.
Honorary Consul of Romania in Kraków, Member of Audit Committee
IGNAT TIMAR
born in Bistrita, Bistrita-Nasaud County - Romania. After the revolution in 1989, Poles from Kraków came to Romania with humanitarian aid, with whom he established friendly relations. After several trips to Poland, at the invitation of Poles from Kraków, they jointly decided to continue his education in Poland - he graduated from high school and studies at the University of Economics in Kraków. During high school and university, he deepened his knowledge of Polish-Romanian cooperation. Professionally, he learned about the economic relations of both countries, and privately, he was interested in history, tourism, sports, and other fields of culture intertwining in Polish-Romanian relations. After graduating, he worked as a consultant for Polish and Romanian companies. He cooperated with the Honorary Consulate of Romania in Katowice and took part in economic missions both in Poland and Romania. In the early 2000s, he met the Polish-Romanian Society in Krakow. Initially, he participated in meetings as a member of the Society, then as a member of the Management Board, and since 2009 he has been the president of the Management Board of the Society. It has been twenty years since he lived in Poland. From the very beginning, he explains the culture and history of Romania to Poles, and when he is in his homeland, he talks about Poland. He works professionally in a company from the electronics and IT industry – PLATINET S.A. where he serves as Export Manager for Romania and Republic of Moldova and is a member of the supervisory board of PLATINET S.A. He is married and has two children who are brought up in Polish-Romanian culture - they always go to Romania on vacation so that the children can also learn about the other half of their identity.
