The management board is being expanded from five to six members. Apart from Bobinac, incumbents Žiga Debeljak and workers' representative Drago Bahun are being joined by Stanka Pejanović, Tomaž Korošec and Saša Marković.

Their five-year terms will start on 20 July, with the exception of Marković, who was appointed as of 1 September, Gorenje said in announcing the news in a regulatory filing with the Ljubljana Stock Exchange.

Bobinac had been reappointed chairman in July 2017 and tasked late last year to put forward a new management.

Commenting on the appointments today, Bobinac referred to the ongoing takeover by the Chinese group Hisense, saying that the company "is getting a team that has the know how to and can make use of all advantages that the strategic partner brings to the group".

He praised Bahun's "delicate sense for social dialogue and balance between various stakeholders within the Gorenje group", and Debeljak for "very good financial management" and for having laid down a "comprehensive approach to digitisation".

Digitisation would remain Gorenje's priority, especially in light of development of smart and connectible appliances.

Stanka Pejanović has headed Gorenje's Serbian subsidiary for the past four years. Before Gorenje she was employed at the retail group Mercator, first as director of Mercator-S, and later as management board member responsible for SE Europe operations.

As Gorenje board member she will be in charge of staffing, organisation and support services.

Tomaž Korošec has been employed in the Gorenje group for more than 20 years, the last year as the chairman's advisor for corporate purchasing, investment and central maintenance.

He also served as executive director for production and after the takeover of Asko oversaw the group's reorganisation which saw five factories being moved between five different countries to cut costs.

Korošec will be responsible on the board for technology, production, development, supplies and investment.

Saša Marković has since 2015 headed the personal care products marketing department at Philips Electronics North America. He will be responsible for sales and marketing.