WBJ marked its 15th anniversary with a birthday cake Kasia Marcinkiewicz/WBJ

At the Book of Lists 2009 Gala last week, the food and drink were top-notch and the atmosphere genial. The event celebrated a number of milestones, not least of which was the launch of the 14th edition of Book of Lists, a seminal guide to Polish business and industry.

“Although it’s the 14th time Book of Lists has been published, it is always a great pleasure to finally get the newest edition in our hands, and to see the results of our researchers’, project coordinators’ and sales team’s hard work. Please remember that the book is based on contacting and exchanging information with more than 2,000 companies,” said Morten Lindholm, vice president of Valkea Media, publisher of Book of Lists and Warsaw Business Journal.

WBJ Awards

The second annual WBJ Awards were also handed out at the gala, with editor-in-chief Andrew Kureth making the presentations.

“Last year we gave out our awards for the first time and it was a great success. This year, we continue the tradition. We have three very worthy recipients – all of whom have been influential in Poland’s business environment and have set a strong example for other companies and businesspeople,” he said.

Computer manufacturer Lenovo took home the 2008 Investor of the Year award. The firm was honored for its investment in a factory and order-processing center in the Legnica Special Economic Zone at which annual production is to reach 1.7 million computers and over 1,200 jobs will be created.

“We are very happy to be in Poland and to have our investment here. We would like to sustain our investment and we appreciate this award, which is the first official award we’ve received in Poland,” said Mariusz Komar, financial director at Lenovo Poland.

The Real Estate Investor of the Year award, presented in partnership with Crowley Data Poland, was given to Mayland Real Estate. The firm was one of the most active developers in the Polish property market in 2008, opening three new shopping centers, and it has further expansion plans for Poland and the CEE region. The award was accepted by Maciej Kiełbicki, a board member at Mayland Real Estate.

The Business Leader of the Year award was given to Warsaw Stock Exchange president Ludwik Sobolewski. He was honored for having steered the bourse through both boom and bust periods, and for having a vision for the WSE’s future even in these grim economic times.

Distinguished service

Longstanding WBJ contributors Judith Gliniecki and Paul Fogo both received Warsaw Business Journal Distinguished Service Awards for their Legal Eye column. The pair have been contributing to the paper for years, longer even than any of the current editorial staff.

“Writing a legal column during the past 10 years on Polish law has brought home to me the need for better and more consistent enforcement of the laws currently on the books. A law is only as good – or bad – as the manner of enforcement. As long as enforcement continues to lag behind, Poland will never fully benefit from membership in the EU,” Paul Fogo, a senior attorney with Miller, Canfield, W. Babicki, A. Chełchowski & Partners, said.

Judith Gliniecki, a partner with Wierzbowski Eversheds, was of a similar opinion. She added, “It’s a good opportunity to make legal issues relevant to business and to show that lawyers can have a sense of humor, too.”

“Fortunately, after years of working here, Polish law is still so frustrating that I have a job,” she joked.

Happy birthday WBJ

Capping off the evening were a short documentary film about WBJ’s many years in print and a birthday cake.

“It was 15 years ago that Warsaw Business Journal first appeared, and tonight we are saying happy birthday,” said WBJ’s Kureth.