10 Croatian Executives You Should Follow on LinkedIn in 2026
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Ready to boost your LinkedIn presence?
Check out these 10 Croatian C-level executives who are doing just that.
We’ve used ChatGPT to analyze their profiles and uncover the secrets behind their success.
These executives are using LinkedIn to push boundaries, and you can too.
Follow their lead to build a standout personal brand and maximize your LinkedIn impact.
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Ilija Brajković – CEO, Kontra
Ilija breaks the mold of the typical agency owner. He has built a reputation for radical transparency, frequently discussing the uncomfortable realities of running a digital business.
Whether he is explaining client struggles or sharing his company's pricing models, he removes the corporate filter. This approach makes the marketing industry feel accessible, stripping away the polish to reveal the actual mechanics of agency life.
Who Should Follow Ilija Brajković?
- Agency owners and freelancers who want a realistic look at the business side of marketing.
- Marketing professionals seeking unfiltered opinions on industry trends.
- Entrepreneurs who prioritize transparency over corporate jargon.
About Kontra
Kontra is a full-service digital agency. They position themselves as a company that delivers concrete outcomes rather than vanity metrics. The agency's services cover digital strategy, performance marketing, and content creation.
Ilija’s LinkedIn Content Strategy
Ilija treats LinkedIn as a professional journal. He frequently discusses the reasoning behind business decisions, sharing lessons learned from challenges.
His content often centers on digital marketing strategy, offering practical tips and calling out ineffective practices in the industry. He uses his voice to champion openness in business.
What Makes Ilija Different?
Most agency CEOs try to look polished, but Ilija appears real. He wins by admitting mistakes and explaining what he learned from them.
This makes his successes feel earned and his advice practical. His background includes roles as a marketing lecturer and speaker, demonstrating his commitment to education.
Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy
- Be vulnerable: Share the lessons from your failures, not just your successes.
- Educate your market: Explain how your industry works behind the scenes to build authority.
- Consistency is key: Regular updates keep you top-of-mind without needing to go viral every time.
Where Ilija Can Grow
Ilija could expand his reach by producing more video content. Short video breakdowns of his written posts would introduce his direct style to a broader audience that prefers watching over reading.
Albert Gajšak – CEO, CircuitMess
Albert is a creator who turned a high school electronics project into a global STEM business. Starting as a teenager with a successful crowdfunding campaign, he has become the face of Croatian hardware innovation.
His story demonstrates persistence, showing you can build physical products from Croatia and sell them worldwide.
Who Should Follow Albert Gajšak?
- Hardware enthusiasts and makers interested in the "build in public" journey.
- Crowdfunding hopefuls looking for a proven path to launch successful campaigns.
- Educators and parents seeking engaging ways to teach STEM.
About CircuitMess
CircuitMess designs and manufactures DIY electronic kits that teach electronics, coding, and AI. Their goal is to inspire future creators through fun, hands-on projects. The company has successfully raised funds through multiple campaigns, including the MAKERphone project.
Albert’s LinkedIn Content Strategy
Albert documents the difficulties of hardware manufacturing. He posts photos from the factory floor, updates on shipping logistics, and celebrates retail partnerships.
His content is visual and tangible, showing the creation process from components to finished product. He frequently shares updates on new products and technologies.
What Makes Albert Different?
He bridges the gap between a maker and a CEO. He does not just talk about the finished product; he shows the difficulties of production and logistics.
This gives followers a practical, backstage pass to the operations of a global hardware business.
Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy
- Show the product: If you sell physical goods, use visuals that highlight them in every post.
- Celebrate milestones: Turning a product shipment or partnership into a content event creates momentum.
- Involve your team: Highlighting employees makes the company feel like a community mission.
Where Albert Can Grow
Albert focuses heavily on the "what" and "how." He could expand by sharing more of his broader perspective. Writing about the future of education and why hands-on learning matters in an AI-dominated world would position him as a wider industry leader.
Ivana Gažić – Chief Executive Officer, Zagreb Stock Exchange
Ivana is the steady leader guiding Croatia's capital markets. As the head of the Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE), she balances the technical details of finance with a mission to improve financial literacy.
Her presence commands respect, representing stability and institutional knowledge for the region's investment culture.
Who Should Follow Ivana Gažić?
- Finance professionals and investors interested in the Adriatic region.
- Women in business looking for role models in high-level executive positions.
- Anyone interested in the mixture of regulation, economy, and business growth.
About Zagreb Stock Exchange
The Zagreb Stock Exchange is the central marketplace for trading Croatian securities. It facilitates capital raising for companies and trading for investors. As a key institutional player, the ZSE is recognized as a regional leader in capital markets.
Ivana’s LinkedIn Content Strategy
Ivana uses her platform to advocate for market transparency and education. She shares updates on ZSE initiatives, such as educational academies for investors.
She frequently highlights conferences and panels where she speaks, reinforcing her status as a key voice in European finance. Her posts focus on the stability and development of the Croatian market.
What Makes Ivana Different?
She humanizes a strict industry. While she discusses serious financial topics, she also supports mentorship and gender equality in finance.
This makes the stock exchange feel less like a faceless institution and more like a driver of social progress.
Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy
- Champion a cause: Connect your personal brand with broader industry goals like financial literacy.
- Highlight partnerships: Displaying collaboration with other institutions builds credibility.
- Be the face of your brand: Institutional leaders often hide. Being visible makes the organization feel human.
Where Ivana Can Grow
Ivana could engage more directly with the startup community. Writing about how early-stage companies can prepare for eventual IPOs would bridge the gap between the traditional stock market and the new wave of Croatian tech entrepreneurs.
Hajdi Cenan – Co-founder / CEO, airt
Hajdi is a leading figure in the Croatian tech scene, known for both her business acumen and her industry advocacy. She is central to the AI discussion, often acting as a bridge between the startup community and policy makers.
She brings a practical, business-focused perspective to artificial intelligence, moving the conversation beyond hype to actual utility.
Who Should Follow Hajdi Cenan?
- Founders and startup operators interested in the EU tech environment.
- Professionals interested in AI regulation and its business implications.
- Women in tech seeking inspiration from a leader who actively supports others.
About airt
airt is an AI startup that helps businesses, particularly in the banking sector, utilize their data more effectively through deep learning. The company focuses on predicting user behavior to improve operational processing. Hajdi brings her experience in operations and sales to the venture, positioning it as a serious player in the B2B AI space.
Hajdi’s LinkedIn Content Strategy
Hajdi acts as a commentator on the state of AI and startups in Europe. She shares photos from high-level roundtables and tech conferences.
Her posts often explain global tech news for a local audience, detailing what new regulations or trends mean for Croatian businesses. She frequently discusses her commitment to the tech ecosystem outside of her own company.
What Makes Hajdi Different?
She is a major connector. Her content is not solely focused on her company.
It is about the entire tech ecosystem. By constantly uplifting other startups and organizations, she has become a central node in the network. This naturally draws attention back to her own work.
Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy
- Curate the industry: Be the person who explains what big news means for your network.
- Lift others up: Celebrating the ecosystem makes you a leader of it.
- Show up offline: Posting about real-world events proves you are active and connected.
Where Hajdi Can Grow
Hajdi could share more specific case studies or personal stories from building airt. While her ecosystem work is excellent, reminding the audience of the specific technical problems her company solves would balance her profile between thought leader and operator.
Ivan Bešlić – Co-Founder and CSO, Sofascore
Ivan is the strategic mind behind one of Croatia’s biggest global exports. He helped turn a local project into a worldwide sports data phenomenon.
His style is grounded and approachable, often reflecting on the hard work of building a sustainable business rather than chasing overnight success.
Who Should Follow Ivan Bešlić?
- Product managers and developers working on consumer apps.
- Sports enthusiasts interested in the data behind the game.
- Founders looking for advice on scaling a product globally.
About Sofascore
Sofascore is a leading sports data platform that provides live scores and deep statistics for thousands of leagues and events. It has grown into a global giant with over 22 million monthly users worldwide. The company is known for its ability to present complex data in intuitive ways.
Ivan’s LinkedIn Content Strategy
Ivan focuses on product culture and the philosophy of building great software. He shares observations on how Sofascore handles massive traffic spikes during major sports events.
He also writes about company culture and leadership, often sharing his unique views in public forums.
What Makes Ivan Different?
He focuses on the user experience. His posts often circle back to how a specific technical decision improved the app for the sports fan.
This user-centric leadership style is unique on LinkedIn, where many executives focus only on revenue or growth metrics.
Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy
- Focus on the end-user: Explain business decisions through the lens of customer satisfaction.
- Share the scale: Numbers that represent global reach build instant authority. Use them.
- Keep it humble: Acknowledge the team and the hard work involved in success to remain relatable.
Where Ivan Can Grow
Ivan could create more content based on the data Sofascore collects. Publishing visualizations of interesting sports trends derived from their proprietary data directly on LinkedIn would be highly shareable content.
Patrick Rudat – CEO, Kaufland Hrvatska k.d.
Patrick brings a fresh, energetic approach to the traditional world of retail. As the CEO leading a major supermarket chain, he challenges the stereotype of the distant corporate executive.
He is highly visible, often appearing in stores and engaging directly with employees, showing a leadership style that is hands-on and people-focused.
Who Should Follow Patrick Rudat?
- Retail professionals interested in supply chain and store operations.
- Managers looking for examples of modern, empathetic leadership.
- Anyone interested in sustainability and corporate responsibility in large businesses.
About Kaufland Hrvatska
Kaufland is one of the leading grocery chains in Croatia. It is part of the Schwarz Group, which is a significant international retailer. The company operates numerous stores across Croatia and is a dominant player in the Croatian retail market.
Patrick’s LinkedIn Content Strategy
Patrick’s feed is a mix of corporate responsibility and employee appreciation. He posts about Kaufland’s sustainability initiatives, such as supporting local producers.
He also shares "day in the life" moments from store visits, highlighting individual store managers and teams. His communication is often direct and personal.
What Makes Patrick Different?
He makes a large corporation feel local. By focusing on local producers and Croatian employees, he counters the image of a foreign multinational.
His enthusiasm is clear. He uses informal language that makes him feel like a colleague rather than a distant manager.
Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy
- Be visible in the field: Photos outside the office often perform better than boardroom headshots.
- Highlight values: Constantly reinforcing what the company cares about (e.g., local support) attracts like-minded talent.
- Keep it high energy: Positive, enthusiastic communication is contagious.
Where Patrick Can Grow
Patrick could offer more observations on the operational challenges of retail. Discussing how they handle supply chain disruptions or seasonal demands would add a layer of business learning to his leadership-focused content.
Ana Zovko – Chief Digital/Tech Officer, Croatia osiguranje
Ana is leading the shift of a traditional industry into a digital-first era.
As the key figure behind LAQO, Croatia’s first 100% digital insurance brand, she represents the successful combination of corporate stability and startup agility.
Her perspective is valuable for anyone trying to innovate from within a large organization.
Who Should Follow Ana Zovko?
- Corporate innovators and "intrapreneurs."
- Professionals in fintech and insurtech.
- Marketing and CX leaders focused on digitization.
About Croatia osiguranje (LAQO)
Croatia osiguranje is the country's oldest insurer. Its digital brand, LAQO, is a modern solution that was the first fully digital insurance offering in the region. LAQO allows users to buy policies in minutes. The company itself is a major financial institution in Croatia.
Ana’s LinkedIn Content Strategy
Ana focuses on "The Future of Insurance." She shares news about LAQO’s new features and the general shift towards digital adoption in finance.
She frequently discusses the importance of customer experience and how technology can remove friction for the user, often speaking at major tech events.
What Makes Ana Different?
She proves that insurance does not have to be uninteresting. Her content is modern and focused on innovation.
She frames insurance products not as financial obligations but as tech products, using the language of software to describe policy management.
Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy
- Reframe your industry: Use modern language to make traditional products feel new.
- Celebrate innovation: Regularly posting about new features shows your company is moving forward.
- Focus on user pain points: Highlighting how your technology solves customer problems is a powerful message.
Where Ana Can Grow
Ana could curate more content around lessons learned in large-scale digitization. Sharing stories about features that didn't work or experiments that failed would provide a deeper learning experience for her audience of corporate innovators.
Izabel Jelenic – CTO, Infobip
Izabel is the technical visionary behind Croatia's first unicorn. As a co-founder, he has seen the company grow from a small project in Vodnjan to a global giant.
His presence is quiet but powerful, representing the engineering backbone of the region's biggest tech success story. He is the Chief Technical Officer responsible for the platform's stability.
Who Should Follow Izabel Jelenic?
- Software engineers and CTOs.
- Tech entrepreneurs scaling global platforms.
- Developers interested in CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service).
About Infobip
Infobip is a global cloud communications platform that enables businesses to build connected experiences. They are a true giant in the tech world. The company boasts over 65 offices around the world, making it a major Croatian international success story.
Izabel’s LinkedIn Content Strategy
Izabel shares the technical milestones of Infobip. He posts about new data centers, engineering breakthroughs, and developer conferences.
His content is often directed at the developer community, focusing on the architecture and reliability of the platform. He frequently mentions the importance of global scale and infrastructure.
What Makes Izabel Different?
He represents quiet competence. He doesn't post for engagement bait; he posts to inform the developer community.
When he speaks, it is usually about a major technical shift or a significant company achievement. This gives his profile a sense of gravity and authority.
Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy
- Speak to your peers: If you are a technical leader, do not be afraid to be technical.
- Highlight infrastructure: Showing the physical scale of your tech (servers, data centers) impresses non-technical people too.
- Stay true to your roots: Referencing the company's humble beginnings keeps the brand grounded despite its global size.
Where Izabel Can Grow
Izabel could share more about his personal engineering philosophy. Short posts on how he hires engineers or what he looks for in system architecture would be incredibly high-value content for the thousands of developers who follow him.
Nataša Rapaić – CEO and President of the Management Board of Hrvatski Telekom
Nataša is one of the most powerful women in Croatian business. As the recently appointed CEO at Hrvatski Telekom, she has a deep understanding of the consumer market.
Her leadership style combines corporate strategy with a strong focus on connectivity as a basic human right in the modern age.
Who Should Follow Nataša Rapaić?
- Telecommunications professionals.
- Aspiring female executives in the corporate world.
- Anyone interested in the digital infrastructure of Croatia.
About Hrvatski Telekom
Hrvatski Telekom (HT) is the leading telecommunications provider in Croatia. They provide services to millions of customers and are the primary driver of digitization in the country. The company is committed to investing in 5G and fiber optic networks across the nation.
Nataša’s LinkedIn Content Strategy
Nataša’s content revolves around the concept of "Connection." She posts about the expansion of 5G networks and digital inclusion initiatives.
She frequently ties business goals to social impact, positioning the telco as a partner in the nation's progress. Her updates clearly reflect the company's commitment to investing in modern infrastructure.
What Makes Nataša Different?
She focuses on the human side of tech infrastructure. Instead of just talking about bandwidth speeds, she discusses what that speed enables—remote work, education, and entertainment.
This narrative strategy makes a utility company feel essential and emotional.
Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy
- Link product to purpose: Show how your service improves lives, not just how it works.
- Celebrate internal promotions: Nataša often highlights her team's career growth, which builds a strong employer brand.
- Use professional video: High-quality video messages from the CEO convey authority and care.
Where Nataša Can Grow
Nataša could engage more in direct dialogue with customers on the platform. Hosting Q&A sessions about the future of connectivity would break down the wall between the CEO and the subscriber base.
Iva Kovačević-Pihler – CEO, Medikor
Iva leads a company that sits at the intersection of health and technology. She has successfully managed a family business through decades of change, keeping it relevant in a modern market.
Her leadership is defined by a commitment to preventative health and bringing medical-grade technology into the home.
Who Should Follow Iva Kovačević-Pihler?
- Healthcare professionals and pharmacists.
- Family business owners looking for guidance on modernization.
- Advocates for preventative health and wellness technology.
About Medikor
Medikor is a long-standing Croatian company that started in 1995. It specializes in medical devices and consumer health products. They are the authorized representative for major global brands. The company's goal is to provide quality products and services that improve health.
Iva’s LinkedIn Content Strategy
Iva advocates for "Health at Home." Her posts often educate the audience on the importance of regular blood pressure monitoring or respiratory health.
She combines product information with lifestyle advice, positioning Medikor as a partner in health. Her focus is on bringing wellness technology to consumers.
What Makes Iva Different?
She leads with empathy. Health is a personal topic, and her content reflects a genuine care for the well-being of the community.
She successfully blends the authority of a medical supplier with the warmth of a consumer brand. She often speaks about the challenges of finding balance between work and life.
Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy
- Educate to sell: Providing value through health tips earns you the right to introduce your product.
- Honor your history: Referencing the company’s longevity builds trust in a competitive market.
- Focus on lifestyle: Show your product in use in everyday life to make it relatable.
Where Iva Can Grow
Iva could collaborate more with doctors or wellness influencers on LinkedIn. Featuring guest experts in her content would expand her reach and add an extra layer of medical credibility to her brand.
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