PwC Central and Eastern Europe

With the artificial intelligence boom at the forefront, businesses are prioritising strengthening  cybersecurity and modernising to be better prepared to face threats. We are gathering business leaders to discuss why there is a need for better C-suite collaboration and strategic investment to enhance cyber resilience. Join the CEE webcast where Peter Durojaiye, PwC Partner and CEE Cybersecurity & Privacy Leader, will present the recent 2025 Global Digital Trust Insights report with the spotlight on our region. This will be followed by a panel discussion with an eminent lineup of leaders from across the CEE and EMEA region: Enkelejd Zotaj, Chief Information Officer, Luminor Group, Estonia Kris Slotwinski, Chief Information Security Officer, BNP Paribas, Poland Laura Duncan, PwC Partner, Cybersecurity, UK Marek Chlebicki, PwC Partner and CEE Technology Risk Assurance Leader, CEE, Poland Register here: https://lnkd.in/d8RTAngi #FutureofCEE #cybersecurity #risk

What do financial institutions from CEE think about their anti-money laundering (AML) practices? What’s next for them? How do they differ from financial institutions in the wider EMEA context? The CEE Edition of the EMEA AML Survey 2024 provides valuable insights into the AML landscape in our region, highlighting: 🔸Leveraging new technologies to combat financial crime Over 90% of CEE-based financial institutions expect to invest in digital tools in the next 24 months. 🔸Transaction monitoring as a top investment priority Over 30% of financial institutions in CEE plan to invest in that area within the next 24 months. 🔸Talent pool advantage Financial institutions in the CEE region benefit from the wealth of talent available to help organisations tackle financial crime. Explore the full report: https://lnkd.in/dVKDMADK #AML #KYC #FinancialCrime Richard Major, Damian Kalinowski, Liviu Chirita, Pawel Jaroszewicz

What are the latest workforce trends in Central and Eastern Europe? Our 2024 Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey reveals: 🔸Employees in CEE are keen to adapt and learn in the face of changes—but need support from their employers to implement transformation successfully.  🔸While CEE workers recognise technology's potential, nearly half haven't even tried generative AI at work. Companies should ask themselves if they can be doing more to help their people get the most from technologies. 🔸CEE workers value upskilling and many have untapped talents that are being not utilised by their employers. Those employees who have received specialised training are more confident about career moves, job security and satisfaction than those without. Read the full report to gain insights to improve engagement, retention and support your workers during transformative times: https://lnkd.in/dJ3-He8f #workforce #FutureofCEE #GenAI #skills Oana Munteanu, Małgorzata Fiedorczuk, Katarzyna Komorowska (Tomalak), Márta Reguly, Andrea Palanova, Zhivka Petkova, Ph.D., Irēna Arbidāne, Nerijus Nedzinskas, Elena Kaeva, Dagmar Haklova, Rena Hajiyeva

Does your organisation need support in developing its innovative net-zero solutions? The EU's Innovation Fund offers funding opportunities for projects focused on low-carbon technologies, carbon capture, renewable energy and energy storage. While the application process can be complex, our team is here to help. We are hosting a webinar to provide expert guidance on submitting a competitive proposal. Webinar highlights: 🔸The eligibility criteria and selection process  🔸The latest updates on the 2024 funding call 🔸Strategic insights and practical advice for a compelling application. Date: 11 December 2024 Time: 10:00 am CET Register for the webinar here: https://lnkd.in/d8YkGxV2 #InnovationFund #NetZero #Sustainability #Funding

Our research shows that only 58% of companies believe they adapted their business models at the right time. Timing the reinvention of a business model is a critical strategic decision that can lead to either significant success or failure. To manage the risks of mistimed reinvention, PwC has conceptualised the business model reinvention (BMR) Pressure Index made up of six sector-level measures: industry performance, attractiveness, innovation, regulation, shocks and BMR intensity.  These indicators, validated by 30 years of data across various sectors, correlated well with the periods right before reinvention occurred in each sector. Explore how to leverage these indicators to anticipate change: https://pwc.to/4epDf2u #Transformation #BusinessModel #Strategy

At last week’s COP29 in Baku, PwC CEE partnered with Extreme Hangout to deliver a session on ‘Sustainability through smart city mobility’, based on our recent CEE Smart Cities Mobility Index. Here are our key takeaways: 🔸Cities in the CEE region and around the world are making significant progress in becoming smarter, but;  🔸Urban mobility ecosystems around the world can work better together to drive green transformation.  🔸Behavioural change is key to a healthier and more sustainable lifestyles in cities  🔸Education and young people have a big role to play in bringing this change. A huge thank you to Albena Markova, PwC Partner and CEE Sustainability Platform Leader, for opening a session and Agnieszka Gajewska, PwC Partner and Global Government & Public Services and CEE Clients and Markets Leader for moderating the discussion. Special thanks to Anna Wierzbicka, PhD, Director of Environmental Management City of Lodz Office, Aleksander Rajch, Director of Public Affairs PSNM – We drive new mobility!, Tafadzwa Kurotwi, Climate Activist, Humanitarian and Country Lead SHE Changes Climate and Sean Maguire, Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships Clean Air Fund for sharing their insights from a range of perspectives into what cities can do to be smarter and more sustainable. To learn more about the CEE Smart Cities Mobility Index, visit:  https://lnkd.in/du8wHyY4 #SmartCities #FutureofCEE #COP29 #SmartMobility #Sustainability #COP29PwC Jens Hörning, Piotr Michalczyk, Jason Wardell, Agnieszka Rogowiec, Jeffery McMillan, Jan Brazda, CFA, Ivo Cupak, Iveta Maliskova, Tony McLaughlin, Marta Laskowska, Tomasz Maj, Tessa McIver

Polish online media outlet Tygodnik Polityka has comprehensively summarised our interview series “The Next 20 Years”. We started this series to celebrate the 20th anniversary since eight CEE countries joined the European Union. Together with CEE business and political leaders, we discussed the future we are building in our region with the EU, asking them what lies ahead. While acknowledging undeniable progress, leaders cautioned that the era of "easy growth" is over. Navigating a complex geopolitical landscape demands innovation and adaptability. Despite these uncertainties, invited stakeholders maintain strong belief in the potential of the CEE region and Poland. This series is a collection of different perspectives contributing to the vision of the future of CEE. Learn more about key takeaways from the interviews—read the translation of Polityka’s article and watch the full interviews here: https://lnkd.in/dMMn6QZv #FutureofCEE #transformation #EU PwC Polska, Agnieszka Gajewska, Michał Mastalerz, Jeffery McMillan, Marta Laskowska, Kuba Kurasz, Piotr Kolomycki, PwC Czech Republic, PwC Slovenia

Explore the eight-step journey for AI value outlined by PwC and Microsoft in our new playbook. With 59% of CEOs in CEE acknowledging that GenAI will revolutionise value creation, delivery and capture over the next three years, it's crucial to adopt a strategic approach. How can companies progress from current cloud maturity level to their future goals? What do industry leaders do to deploy AI at scale? How can they make the most of AI? Download our playbook to learn more about actionable insights and strategies to utilise AI's capabilities: https://pwc.to/4fdhL9o #AI #Microsoft #GenAI #Cybersecurity #BusinessTransformation João Couto, Mauro Xavier, Mona de Boer, PhD, Sebastian Paas ☁, Neil Redmond, Aleksei Resetko, Prafull Sharma Jakub Borowiec, Mariusz Chudy, Anda Rojanschi, Marcin Sidelnik, Adam Harackiewicz, Paweł Kaczmarek ☁, Przemysław Galiński

Last week at COP29 in Baku, PwC brought together eminent regional industry speakers to explore one of the key topics on green transition—the future of green hydrogen. The panel explored global, regional and local outlooks on the potential of green hydrogen. The main focus was on how the public and private sectors can collaborate to drive green hydrogen transition and what the biggest challenges are for both sectors. Thank you to Shaukat Tapia, PwC Azerbaijan’s Country Managing Partner, for his introduction, Jan Brazda, CFA, PwC Partner and CEE Government and Public Services Leader for his keynote speech and Albena Markova, PwC Partner and CEE Sustainability Platform Leader, for moderating the panel session. Also, we are grateful for valuable insights from our panellists: Rana Humbatova, Deputy Director of the AREA Agency, Teymur Guliyev, Deputy Vice President of State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), Hammad Masood, CEng, MBA, Executive Director, Global Green Hydrogen of ACWA Power and Jan Brazda. #Sustainability #FutureofCEE #COP29 #COP29Azerbaijan #COP29PwC

How effectively are legal departments across the CEE region leveraging the latest technology? Our survey reveals 36% of respondents believe a comprehensive range of tools can significantly enhance business operations. Harnessing technology is essential for transforming legal functions, making them future-proof and ready to tackle current and future business challenges. However, the survey also shows that 31% of CEE companies still do not use compliance management tools, 48% do not utilise document review platforms, and 51% don’t employ generative AI. This indicates a vast potential for transformation.   Learn more about the latest trends contributing to the transformation of legal departments in CEE: https://lnkd.in/dQrdzWDG #GeneralCounsel #Transformation #Legal Aleksandra Bańkowska, Cezary Żelaźnicki, Yana Zoloeva, Bridget Uebel, Sona Kotrbova, Arjola Rushiti, Elchin Mammadov, FCIArb, Igor Nikolić, Angel Bangachev, Dzenet Garibovic, Petr Kincl, Vano Gogelia, Zoltan Varszegi, Blendi Zhitija, Anete Puče-Dimitrovska, Rokas Bukauskas, Kiril Papazoski, Ilona Panurco, Munkhjargal (Mugi) Ragchaakhuu, Nikola Aksić, Jana Borska (Stelbacka), Sanja Savič M.Sc.