Sofijanić, Penezić and Đurović Named NALED Members of the Year for 2026
Snežana Sofijanić of Visa, Dragan Penezić of British American Tobacco, and Boban Đurović, President of the Municipality of Vrnjačka Banja, have been named NALED Members of the Year for 2026 at the traditional September Gathering, selected among more than 300 companies, local governments, and civil society organizations that are members of the association.
The awards were presented by NALED Managing Board President Vladislav Cvetković and Supervisory Board President Nikola Vuletić, in the presence of more than 1,000 guests attending the September Gathering, alongside members of the Executive Office led by Executive Director Violeta Jovanović.
“Tonight, in addition to celebrating results, we celebrate the people who have enabled NALED to make a difference for the business environment for two decades. It is therefore our great pleasure to introduce the NALED Members of the Year for 2026 – individuals whose dedication and hard work have proven them to be the kind of leaders every company or municipality deserves. We are proud that they have chosen to be our members, partners, and friends,” said NALED Executive Director Violeta Jovanović during the award ceremony.
The title of Business Leader was awarded to Dragan Penezić of BAT, who served as President of the NALED Assembly for nearly a decade, acting as an ambassador for all members and bringing together diverse perspectives in pursuit of common goals.
Penezić has consistently supported NALED’s efforts to promote fair competition, efficient inspections, and the fight against the shadow economy, while also helping bring reforms closer to citizens through initiatives such as the “Take a Receipt” prize game.
He is also recognized for supporting local communities, from establishing the first bulky waste recycling yard in Sremska Mitrovica to providing practical support to market inspection services. As he was unable to attend the ceremony, the award was accepted on his behalf by his colleague Tanja Jovanović.
In the Local Leader category, the award went to Boban Đurović, President of the Municipality of Vrnjačka Banja, whose municipality has been a NALED member since 2010 and today holds “Leader” membership status, reflecting its long-term commitment to reforms and improving the local business environment.
As a member of the Supervisory Board and now the Managing Board of NALED, Đurović has served as a strong voice for cities and municipalities while consistently implementing recommendations aimed at increasing transparency and efficiency in local government. Under his leadership, Vrnjačka Banja has become one of Serbia’s leading investment and tourism destinations, supported by programs that include persons with disabilities, the Roma community, and senior citizens. These efforts earned the municipality the European Commission’s “Most Roma-Friendly Mayor” award for leadership in social inclusion.
For years, the municipality has participated in the Taste of Serbia initiative, and its cooperation with NALED has expanded through the Towards Smart and Sustainable Green Cities in Serbia project, under which Vrnjačka Banja is developing a digital transformation plan and piloting a smart water infrastructure management application.
The Collaboration Leader award was presented to Snežana Sofijanić, Vice-Chair of the eGovernment Alliance and Head of Government Engagement for South East Europe at Visa.
She has been a strong advocate of digital transformation, whether through the Bolji način (A Better Way) initiative, which promotes wider adoption of cashless payments in Serbia and the region, or through projects that advance electronic payment of public services, such as Towards Next Generation eGovernment: Scaling Cashless Payments. She places her private-sector expertise at the service of the public interest and has been both a trusted expert and a driving force behind initiatives promoting cashless payments.
The September Gathering of NALED members and partners, traditionally held at the Royal Palace, was dedicated this year to celebrating the organization’s 20th anniversary.
