89 companies have been Short-Listed for the 14th annual CEE Business Services Awards, set for 25-26 February, 2026 in Warsaw.

The Awards Gala is preceded by 2-days CEE Business Services Summit, with key topics such GBS Transformation, AI-applied to GBS processes, a Geopolitical overview of the CEE/Baltics region, and 10+ Showcase Presentations, diving deep into select GBS centres and their processes: Agenda on 25 February and Agenday on 26 February.

The following companies have been short-listed, with the final vote to be 25 February, at the VIP Jury Dinner. Also during the Summit days, all attending Guests will be able to vote on the Nominees. The Jury vote is weighted 2/3 and the Popular Vote during the Summit is 1/3 weighting:


Best City: “After-Care Investor Services”:
City of Riga
City of Vilnius
City of Katowice

Best University-Business Cooperation of the Year:
Debrecen Business Service Centers
Körber Hungária Gépgyártó Kft.
MSC Shared Service Center Riga
Rocket Software Lithuania, UAB
PwC Service Delivery Center
Capita
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.
IBM International Services Centre s.r.o.
Cognizant Technology Solutions Lithuania
Western Union

Business Centre Director – GBS – CEE:
Atea Global Services
MSC Shared Service Center Riga
ORLEN Centrum Usług Korporacyjnych

Business Centre Director – GBS – Poland:
DSV - Global Transport and Logistics
ISS
Sterling

Emerging City of the Year:
City of Riga
City of Kaunas
City of Katowice

Most Vibrant Employer: 
Accedia
Elevate Change
TATA Consultancy Services Hungary Branch Office
Trivium Packaging BSC, Europe
Atea Global Services
GoCardless
MSC Shared Service Center Riga
Cencora / World Courier Lithuania
Devoteam Lithuania
Gurtam
LITIT
Nasdaq
Sterling
GSD Solutions
Holcim European Business Services
Lenovo (Slovakia) s.r.o.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR)
Sanofi
Zabka

Most-promising New-entrant “Business Services” Investor:
Epta International Kft.
Janus Henderson
Norse Atlantic Airways
DANONE

Top AI Application or Implementation Project of the Year (3 Winners in this category):
IBM International Services Centre
Stefanini Group
Tesco Business Solutions
Roche Services & Solutions EMEA (Riga & Budapest)
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.
IBA Group
Randstad Enterprise
Process Solutions Kft.
Atea Global Services
Holcim European Business Services
Accedia
Elevate Change
Devoteam
Gurtam

Top CSR Initiative - CEE/Baltics:
IBM
EPAM Systems Inc.
Epta International Kft.
Randstad Enterprise
Cencora / World Courier Lithuania
Citco Lithuania
Dexcom Lithuania
Johnson Matthey Global Business Services Lithuania
EPAM Systems Lithuania
Booking Holdings Romania
IBM Romania
Holcim European Business Services

Top CSR Initiative - CEE/Baltics:
DANONE
EY Global Services (Poland) Sp. z o.o
HEINEKEN Global Shared Services
IBM Romania
ORLEN Centrum Usług Korporacyjnych
Philips Capability Center Łódź
PwC Service Delivery Center
Sii Poland
Capita
Western Union

Top Employer Branding Initiative:
Lexmark Budapest Competence Center
Rocket Software Lithuania, UAB
Alcon

Top GBS Transformation Initiative of the Year -  CEE/Baltics:
Elevate Change
Cencora / World Courier Lithuania
Dexcom
Johnson Matthey
Cognizant Technology Solutions Lithuania
Western Union

Top GBS Transformation Initiative of the Year -  Poland:
Adaptive Group
DANONE
ORLEN Centrum Usług Korporacyjnych
Plus8Soft
Zabka Polska

Top IT Outsourcing Services Partner in CEE:
Accedia
ITELENCE
Stefanini Group

Japanese tech company Epson has announced a €6 million investment in Riga, Latvia, opening a new European Business Services (EBS) centre that will handle non-customer-facing shared services for Epson across Europe. The project is expected to create around 150 jobs, with the office planned to open next April (per city/government commentary).  To reinforce Epson’s commitment to local investment, Epson will be working with Riga based recruitment agency, Grafton, during the hiring process.
Rob Clark, Chief Operation Officer (COO) of Epson Europe, met with Latvian Prime Minister, Ms Evika Siliņa, during the decision-making process and the government’s strong support for businesses was also a key contributor to the final decision.
Evika Silina says, "After discussions with the management team of Epson, I was convinced that Latvia offers exactly what is important for such a global company, a stable and development-oriented business environment. Latvian talent, digital environment and attractive tax policy make us a strategically good choice. The company's decision to invest in Latvia is a benefit, not only for the capital city, but for the entire country. Such investments strengthen our economy, create quality jobs and help grow export-capable services. The more global companies choosing Latvia, the safer and more competitive our country's future becomes.”
Mayor of Riga, Mr Viesturs Kleinbergs adds, “The Global Business Services sector (GBS) in Riga is growing and gaining impressive momentum. World-class companies, such as Epson, are choosing Riga as an integral part of their European and global networks. The presence of such companies clearly demonstrates that Riga can offer professional talent, high-quality infrastructure and a stable, predictable environment for long-term growth.
“Epson, alongside other strong players, will continue contributing to the positive business environment in Riga by enabling the building of more office buildings and creation of a modern work culture - reaching the highest of international standards. This development creates new jobs, attracts highly qualified specialists and fosters an innovation ecosystem, making Riga an increasingly visible and significant point on the European GBS map. We will continue to work to strengthen this potential further and make Riga the first choice for global companies.”
Rob Clark says of the news, “Epson is committed to cementing a long-term presence in Riga, investing in the local economy and importantly, supporting talented people. Our new office is designed with collaboration, diversity, equality and progression at the centre, creating an environment where every team member can thrive.
“Although Epson is best known for pioneering sustainable print technology, Epson innovations extend far beyond. Our technology empowers immersive entertainment experiences like Cirque du Soleil, drives sustainability in the fashion industry and supports dynamic learning in modern classrooms. In manufacturing, our robotic solutions are paving the way, while our breakthroughs in sustainable materials include helping to develop a plant-based substitute for plastic used in packaging. You can even find Epson technology advancing research in space.

The fully-updated new edition of CEE Business Services Directory is now available (15 January 2026).

The Directory is the most-comprehensive Listing of GBS/Shared Services Centres located in the CEE/Baltics region, with more than 1500 GBSs listed.

Advanced purchase reservations can be made via the payment link below.

Our CEE BSC Directory has more than 1,500 GBS/BSCs listed from across CEE.  We have produced – once again - the most-comprehensive listing of companies in the Business Services sector across the entire region of Central Eastern Europe, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.

Methodologies and processes for the Directory Listings:
We update the data continuously during the year in our internal databases.

We'd like to give a big thanks to all of the Cities and Investment Agencies from across the Central Eastern Europe region, who have been wonderfully-helpful with data for our listings, including HIPA/Hungary, CzechInvest, SARIO, Invest Lithuania, LIAA (Latvia), and Inward investment teams from more than 15 cities this year.
If you'd like to view the full Directory online, please see it on Issuu (free).

2 Options to buy the Directory (and receive 4 quarterly updates during the year):
1) One-off Purchase of 2026 Directory: If you'd like to buy a PDF copy of the 2026 Directory, cost is 590 euro. 
2) Subscribe to "Quarterly-Updated Directory": We update the Directory, every quarter, with new editions coming out in the first weeks of: April, July, October 2026, and January 2027. Each quarter, we fully review and update 5 cities, so during the course of one year, 20 Cities are fully-updated.
To subscribe to our "Quarterly-Updated Directory", cost is 1780 euro.  

To purchase PDF (and print) version of the Directory, see 2 options here.

Proton, a Swiss privacy-focused technology company, is expanding its software engineering operations in Lithuania as part of its broader global development strategy. The Vilnius office, established in 2019, currently employs around 20 specialists and acts as a regional R&D hub integrated into Proton’s global product teams.  
Proton was founded in 2014 by a team of scientists who met at CERN. Guided by the belief that privacy is a fundamental human right, the company has grown into a global provider of secure, open-source services with more than 100 million accounts across 180+ countries. Its products include Proton Mail, Proton VPN, Proton Drive, Proton Calendar, Proton Pass, Proton Authenticator, and Proton Wallet. The company’s users range from privacy-conscious individuals to journalists, activists, NGOs in high-risk environments and privacy-first businesses. 
Proton selected Vilnius for expansion due to its high-quality engineering talent, strong university programmes in computer science and cybersecurity, and a mature technology ecosystem. According to Beatriz Dominguez, VP People at Proton, Lithuania also offers favourable conditions for privacy-first innovation, supported by government incentives and strong connectivity to European data infrastructure. 

"Our Vilnius office plays an important role as a regional R&D hub contributing to Proton’s core services, not back-office functions. With the market now fully activated for hiring, we are excited to expand our team and strengthen our presence within the local tech community", said Beatriz Dominguez, VP People at Proton.

As reported in late December 2025, Global asset manager Janus Henderson is establishing its new business service center (BSC) in Budapest.

The London-based company, which manages almost $500 billion in assets, will create 400 jobs in Budapest. The new center will be Janus Henderson's largest European office and the third globally.

In the initial period, the Budapest office will mainly deal with operations directly supporting investment activities, the role of which will be continuously expanded with high value-added functions such as risk management, data analysis and legal compliance monitoring.

Budapest will thus be enriched not only with a new operational center, but also with a complex BSC covering a number of professional areas, which will offer outstanding career opportunities to Hungarian professionals.
Supported by the HIPA Hungarian Investmet Promotion Agency, the company will also launch a HUF 1.6 billion training program for the training of future investment and financial professionals.

Janus Henderson has been in business for 90 years, with 25 offices worldwide and over 2,500 employees. Its services are used by more than 60 million people.

Global technology innovator, Epson, announces the opening of its new European Business Services centre (EBS) in Riga, Latvia. It will house non-customer facing roles, making it a critical hub for Epson’s business throughout Europe.
From 28 cities, across 18 countries, Riga was selected as being the most desirable based on five key factors: European location, political and economic stability, real estate and staff costing, workforce qualifications and language skill.
With an investment of 6 million Euros, Epson’s new office marks a significant contribution to Latvia’s dynamic business environment.
Latvia’s open and client-focused approach is making it the region’s fastest-growing destination for international investors, highly supported by the Riga City and Riga Investment and Tourism Agency. The support is further extended by other government institutions such as the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) and the Ministry of Economics.
Rob Clark, Chief Operation Officer (COO) of Epson Europe, met with Latvian Prime Minister, Ms Evika Siliņa, during the decision-making process and the government’s strong support for businesses was also a key contributor to the final decision.
Evika Silina says, "After discussions with the management team of Epson, I was convinced that Latvia offers exactly what is important for such a global company, a stable and development-oriented business environment. Latvian talent, digital environment and attractive tax policy make us a strategically good choice. The company's decision to invest in Latvia is a benefit, not only for the capital city, but for the entire country. Such investments strengthen our economy, create quality jobs and help grow export-capable services. The more global companies choosing Latvia, the safer and more competitive our country's future becomes.”
Mayor of Riga, Mr Viesturs Kleinbergs adds, “The Global Business Services sector (GBS) in Riga is growing and gaining impressive momentum. World-class companies, such as Epson, are choosing Riga as an integral part of their European and global networks. The presence of such companies clearly demonstrates that Riga can offer professional talent, high-quality infrastructure and a stable, predictable environment for long-term growth.
“Epson, alongside other strong players, will continue contributing to the positive business environment in Riga by enabling the building of more office buildings and creation of a modern work culture - reaching the highest of international standards. This development creates new jobs, attracts highly qualified specialists and fosters an innovation ecosystem, making Riga an increasingly visible and significant point on the European GBS map. We will continue to work to strengthen this potential further and make Riga the first choice for global companies.”
Rob Clark says of the news, “Epson is committed to cementing a long-term presence in Riga, investing in the local economy and importantly, supporting talented people. Our new office is designed with collaboration, diversity, equality and progression at the centre, creating an environment where every team member can thrive.
“Although Epson is best known for pioneering sustainable print technology, Epson innovations extend far beyond. Our technology empowers immersive entertainment experiences like Cirque du Soleil, drives sustainability in the fashion industry and supports dynamic learning in modern classrooms. In manufacturing, our robotic solutions are paving the way, while our breakthroughs in sustainable materials include helping to develop a plant-based substitute for plastic used in packaging. You can even find Epson technology advancing research in space.
“We’re proud to champion innovation and look forward to welcoming Latvia’s brightest talent on this exciting journey.”
To reinforce Epson’s commitment to local investment, Epson will be working with Riga based recruitment agency, Grafton, during the hiring process.

Watts, a Danish greentech company specialising in smart home energy solutions, has established a new software competence center in Vilnius. Over the next three years, the company plans to hire up to 100 engineers and technology specialists to accelerate development of its smart home energy platform.  

Founded in 2016 in Køge, Denmark, Watts develops integrated renewable-energy solutions that help households track their energy consumption and make informed, data-drive decisions to reduce their environmental impact as well as manage costs more efficiently.  

Today, more than 700,000 Danish households use Watts’ energy app (WattsOn), smart devices, and its intelligent Homegrid™ system to monitor consumption, understand usage patterns, and optimize their daily energy choices.  

The Vilnius competence center will be responsible for core software development across the entire Watts ecosystem, including back-end services, mobile applications, embedded software, EV charging intelligence, and advanced predictive algorithms. 

According to Per Madsen, Director at Watts, choosing Lithuania was not only a strategic decision – it was a human one: "Our first collaboration with Lithuanian engineers exceeded all expectations. The talent here is world-class, but what impressed us most was the mindset – people genuinely want to build meaningful products. Watts was founded to reduce CO₂ emissions and create real impact in people’s lives, and in Lithuania we found a talent pool motivated by that same purpose. That’s why we’re here. We’re building our future products together."

As part of its long-term vision, Watts plans to bring its consumer app – WattsOn – to Lithuanian households. The company has begun preparations to integrate with the ESO Data Hub, enabling Lithuanian users to access detailed consumption data, track their CO₂ footprint, and benefit from the same intelligent alerts and insights trusted by users in Denmark. 

Famed British engineering firm Rolls-Royce is set to open a business services center in southern Poland.

The company, active in the defense, aviation, and energy sectors, will open what it calls a Global Capability Center in the southern city of Kraków, Helen McCabe, the company’s chief financial officer said.

The Kraków GCC, which already already has 120 employees will support a wide range of business functions for Rolls-Royce across Europe and globally, including:

• Finance and accounting services
  
• Procurement operations
  
• Human resources support
  
• Data analytics
  
• Project and process management
  

The firm is also, apparently, seeking to expand production of emergency power supply components, and, as a consequence, is looking at investing in Poland. 

The Polish Press Agency reported that Rolls-Royce is looking for new business partners and is exploring potential locations for a plant to produce components for engines and power units.  

“Poland is becoming an increasingly important market for the Power Systems business,” McCabe told Puls Biznesu. 

“Growing global demand for defense-industry products requires expanding production capacity and developing additional sources for component manufacturing.  

“We are considering a location in Poland, which could involve producing components for diesel engines as well as complete propulsion systems,” she added. 

The company emphasizes that no decisions have been made yet.  

In 2023, Rolls-Royce, which also produces Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), signed a letter of intent with the Polish regional industrial group, Świętokrzyska Grupa Przemysłowa, to develop the small-scale nuclear technology in the country. 

The first Rolls-Royce SMR reactor in Poland is planned to begin operations in 2037.  

Global asset manager Janus Henderson is establishing its new business service center (BSC) in Budapest, further strengthening Hungary's position as one of the leading business service locations in the region.

The London-based company, which manages almost $500 billion in assets, will create 400 jobs in Budapest. The new center will be Janus Henderson's largest European office and the third globally.

In the initial period, the Budapest office will mainly deal with operations directly supporting investment activities, the role of which will be continuously expanded with high value-added functions such as risk management, data analysis and legal compliance monitoring.

Budapest will thus be enriched not only with a new operational center, but also with a complex BSC covering a number of professional areas, which will offer outstanding career opportunities to Hungarian professionals.

Supported by the HIPA Hungarian Investmet Promotion Agency, the company will also launch a HUF 1.6 billion training program for the training of future investment and financial professionals.

Janus Henderson has been in business for 90 years, with 25 offices worldwide and over 2,500 employees. Its services are used by more than 60 million people.