Božič, 56, took over in Hrastnik in 2010, when the company, founded in 1860, was deep in the red and faced bankruptcy.

He turned the export-oriented firm back within a year and it has been profitable since, posting a net profit of EUR 6.2m last year on sales of EUR 55m.

The Managers' Association has pointed out that under Božič Steklarna Hrastnik has not only invested in development, it has also focused on workers.

With value added rising, the company has expanded its workforce in the economically depressed region and has raised wages by over a third since 2010.

The award will be conferred in the evening at the annual congress of the association that will focus on change management.

The topics for discussion include the digital transformation of business, changing business models, and organisational change.

Speakers include top corporate officials such as Petrol CEO Tomaž Berločnik and Siemens Slovenia director Medeja Lončar, but also representatives of start-ups and consultants.