Željko Kukurin, Ph. D. graduated from the Faculty of Economics and Business in Zagreb. He began his career in 2000 as an intern at Riviera Poreč while pursuing his Master of Science in Marketing.
From 2003 to 2009, he held various managerial positions in Sales and Marketing, developing strategic projects such as direct online sales and CRM. In 2010, he earned an Executive MBA from Bocconi University and became CEO of Istraturist d.d., one of Croatia’s most significant tourist companies, owned by Zagrebačka banka (Zaba), UniCredit Group. Over the next five years, Mr. Kukurin collaborated with Meliá Hotels International to manage the tourist portfolio in Umag.
In June 2015, he was appointed President of the Valamar Management Board, leading the company through significant growth and transformation and elevating it to the position of a leading tourist company in Croatia. Alongside his managerial duties, Željko Kukurin began a doctoral study focusing on investments in the hotel industry. Throughout his career, he has managed hotel investment projects worth over one billion euros. In 2020, he earned a Doctorate in Economics.
Under his leadership from 2015 to 2019, Valamar repositioned its portfolio and doubled its enterprise value, becoming the best employer in tourism. Mr. Kukurin was named Businessperson of the Year in 2017 and has been an advocate for corporate responsibility and sustainable tourism.
He holds key positions in the Croatian Tourism Sector, including Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Imperial Riviera d.d., and is actively involved in various professional and academic associations.