Financial Leaders' Hall of Fame 2012

As the end of 2012 is fast approaching, Business Arena Magazine continues its long tradition and proudly gives recognition to business leaders and organizations that have excelled in the banking and financial sectors over the last year.

This year’s edition of Business Arena Magazine’s Financial Leaders’ Hall of Fame brought together some 150 banking and financial leaders and professionals for a special sit-down gala dinner, which apart from the award ceremony also featured a fashion show and artistic performances.

Banking and financial leaders, experts and professionals agreed at this years’ Financial Leaders’ Hall of Fame awards gala that 2013 would not be a bed of roses for business, as Romania’s economy has yet to consolidate its recovery.
Even so, innovation, resourcefulness, perseverance and a culture of responsible risk-taking have helped many overcome major challenges. Thus, Business Arena’s traditional annual event brought recognition to individuals and organizations in the field that recorded outstanding results and achievements.
Invited to make some opening remarks about the trends that have characterized the financial and banking sector in 2012, Radu Gratian Ghetea, CEC Bank President and President of the Board of the Romanian Banking Association, said: “I believe 2012 has seen little change compared to 2011, and next year will not be that different from 2012 either.” He added: “We are now going through a time when this sector of the economy cannot really see spectacular developments. Of course, at EU level there are talks about the banking union and an entire set of new measures, but if we look strictly at Romania and its banking system, I can only note that 2012 has been a difficult year in which nonperforming loans have maintained last year’s growth rate and we are likely to see a similar trend in 2013.”