Achievements of the Winners at CEE Business Services Awards 2026

We have compiled highlights from the Jury Package, and comments from both Jury members and Attendees, to demonstrate achievements of the winners.
Here are 3 summary bullet-points per Winner:

Top Employer Branding Initiative
Rocket Software Lithuania

• Built a strong, engineering-driven employer identity that integrates global innovation culture with local talent development.
  
• Demonstrated deep collaboration with universities and internal mobility programs that strengthen long-term workforce sustainability.
  
• Positioned Lithuania as a strategic capability hub through a clear, differentiated employee value proposition.
  

Top IT Outsourcing Services Partner in CEEStefanini Group

• Delivered scalable, multilingual IT services across the CEE region with measurable business outcomes for enterprise clients.
  
• Embedded AI-driven automation and digital transformation capabilities into core service delivery.
  
• Demonstrated regional leadership through operational excellence, innovation, and consistent client impact.
  

Emerging City of the YearKaunas

• Showed rapid growth as a high-potential business services hub, strengthening its position as a strategic alternative to capital cities.
  
• Leveraged strong university pipelines and competitive operating conditions to attract new investment.
  
• Demonstrated clear upward momentum in investor confidence and services-sector expansion.
  

Most-Promising New-Entrant “Business Services” InvestorDANONE

• Established a high-quality services footprint aligned with long-term strategic growth in the region.
  
• Introduced structured operational processes and scalable service models from day one.
  
• Signaled continued confidence in CEE as a competitive location for global business services expansion.
  

Best City: “After-Care Investor Services”Vilnius

• Demonstrated a structured, proactive investor after-care model supporting long-term reinvestment and expansion.
  
• Successfully integrated municipal, talent, and business ecosystem stakeholders into a coordinated support framework.
  
• Showed strong track record in retaining and scaling global investors within the city.
  

Business Centre Director – GBS – CEEAtea Global Services

• Provided stable, long-term leadership driving sustained center growth and capability expansion.
  
• Strengthened Riga’s position as a strategic IT and digital services hub within the Nordic-Baltic region.
  
• Demonstrated operational excellence and talent development across multiple service domains.
  

Business Centre Director – GBS – PolandSterling

• Led rapid expansion of Poland’s operations into a global delivery hub.
  
• Built a high-performance service culture with strong client retention and measurable commercial impact.
  
• Positioned the Polish center as a strategic contributor to international growth, including expanding its services-delivery in India.
  

Top CSR Initiative – HungaryEpta International

• Delivered locally grounded CSR initiatives with measurable community and employee engagement impact.
  
• Integrated sustainability and social responsibility into everyday business operations.
  
• Demonstrated consistent long-term commitment to regional social development.
  

Top CSR Initiative – RomaniaBooking Holdings Romania

• Implemented impactful community-focused initiatives supporting education and social inclusion.
  
• Fostered employee volunteerism and meaningful local engagement.
  
• Demonstrated commitment to sustainable and responsible growth in the Romanian market.
  

Top CSR Initiative – Baltics/CEECencora Lithuania

• Embedded CSR into core business operations and workforce development initiatives.
  
• Delivered measurable community engagement and talent pipeline programs.
  
• Demonstrated responsible growth aligned with global ESG standards.
  

Top CSR Initiative – PolandHEINEKEN Global Shared Services

• Integrated ESG priorities into operational strategy and employee engagement.
  
• Delivered sustainability initiatives with measurable environmental and social outcomes.
  
• Strengthened its role as a responsible corporate citizen within the Polish business ecosystem.
  

Most Vibrant Employer – BulgariaElevate Change

• Built a high-engagement workplace culture supported by structured talent development programs.
  
• Demonstrated measurable growth while maintaining strong employee retention.
  
• Positioned itself as a dynamic employer within Bulgaria’s evolving services sector.
  

Most Vibrant Employer – HungaryTATA Consultancy Services (Hungary)

• Established a large-scale, diverse talent base supported by structured career pathways.
  
• Maintained strong employee engagement within a complex multinational delivery environment.
  
• Reinforced Hungary’s role as a strategic IT and business services hub.
  

Most Vibrant Employer – LatviaGoCardless

• Demonstrated strong employee engagement metrics and continuous feedback-driven improvements.
  
• Built an inclusive and transparent workplace culture aligned with global best practices.
  
• Positioned its Latvian operations as a dynamic and high-performing growth hub.
  

Most Vibrant Employer – LithuaniaNasdaq

• Combined strong employer branding with competitive benefits and internal mobility opportunities.
  
• Maintained high engagement and talent retention within a global financial services environment.
  
• Reinforced Lithuania’s reputation as a hub for high-value financial operations.
  

Most Vibrant Employer – PolandŻabka Polska

• Developed an agile, partnership-based internal services culture supporting rapid business growth.
  
• Embedded transformation ambassadors and automation initiatives into daily operations.
  
• Fostered strong employee engagement within a fast-scaling retail ecosystem.
  

Most Vibrant Employer – SlovakiaHolcim European Business Services

• Built a stable, multicultural service center with strong regional integration.
  
• Delivered consistent workforce engagement and community involvement initiatives.
  
• Positioned Slovakia as a competitive nearshore hub for finance and business services.
  

Best University–Business Cooperation – Hungary & Slovakia
IBM International Services Centre s.r.o. (Slovakia)

• Developed structured internship and academic partnership programs aligned with workforce needs.
  
• Created clear pathways from university engagement to full-time employment.
  
• Strengthened long-term talent sustainability through institutional collaboration.
  

Best University–Business Cooperation – BalticsMSC Shared Service Center Riga

• Established deep, ongoing cooperation with local universities and academic stakeholders.
  
• Delivered measurable internship conversion and graduate development outcomes.
  
• Strengthened Latvia’s talent pipeline for maritime and logistics services.
  

Best University–Business Cooperation – PolandPwC Service Delivery Center

• Built structured partnerships combining academic insight with real-world project exposure.
  
• Enabled smooth graduate transition into professional service roles.
  
• Contributed to strengthening Poland’s future-ready services workforce.
  

Top GBS Transformation Initiative of the Year – CEEElevate Change

• Executed a comprehensive transformation integrating AI-driven recruitment and workflow automation.
  
• Delivered measurable efficiency improvements and enhanced candidate experience.
  
• Elevated the strategic role of HR services within the broader business ecosystem.
  

Top GBS Transformation Initiative of the Year – BalticsDexcom

• Implemented focused operational transformation improving process efficiency and scalability.
  
• Strengthened governance and service delivery within its Baltic operations.
  
• Demonstrated sustainable modernization of core service functions.
  

Top GBS Transformation Initiative of the Year – PolandDANONE

• Delivered structural process improvements and capability expansion within Polish operations.
  
• Strengthened governance and digital enablement across service functions.
  
• Positioned Poland as a strategic node within Danone’s global services network.
  

Top AI Application or Implementation Project of the Year (3 Winners):Roche Services & Solutions EMEA (Riga & Budapest)

• Successfully rolled out large-scale AI adoption programs embedding AI into daily workflows.
  
• Built a structured champion network ensuring sustainable AI literacy and compliance.
  
• Positioned AI as a strategic capability foundation across the organization.
  

Tesco Business Solutions

• Implemented enterprise-scale AI-powered automation handling high transaction volumes.
  
• Achieved measurable reductions in turnaround time and operational errors.
  
• Demonstrated clear ROI and scalable impact across retail operations.
  

Devoteam

• Engineered end-to-end AI-enabled service orchestration across the customer lifecycle.
  
• Integrated automation, workflow engines, and AI analytics into a unified ecosystem.
  
• Delivered measurable efficiency gains and predictive operational improvements.