After completing his studies in Hotel Management at the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management in Opatija, Sebastian Palma completed his Master’s Degree in Corporate Finance at the SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan in 2009. He started his business career at Laguna Novigrad d.d. as a Sales and Marketing Representative, and in the same year, he gained foreign experience in Germany and the United States.
At the former Riviera Poreč d.d., he was Regional Hotel Director, Assistant to the Destination Manager of Operations for Investments, and a member of the local Tourist Board from 2003 to 2008. In 2009, he worked at BS Private Equity as an Investment Manager in Milan, and in the same year, he became Head of Investment and Development Projects at Valamar Hotels and Resorts and remained in office until 2012. He was Director of Finance, Accounting, and Controlling at Istraturist d.d. from 2012 to 2015 and was appointed Director of Strategic Planning and Controlling at Valamar Riviera d.d. from 2015 until 2020.
In 2020, he became an Advisor for Strategic Development to the Management Board of Valamar Riviera d.d. and a member of the Management Board of Imperial Riviera d.d. In 2022, he was appointed Vice President for Strategic Controlling at Valamar Riviera d.d. and continues to be a member of the Management Board at Imperial Riviera d.d.
In 2026, he was appointed Executive Vice-president for Strategic Planning and Controlling at Valamar Riviera d.d. and was reappointed as a member of the Management Board of Imperial Riviera d.d., with the term of office commencing on 26 February 2026.