Jan J. Kluk, OBE
After finishing his higher education in the UK , from 1965 –1975 Jan Kluk's career developed first in the industrial and then the financial services sectors. Further studying business administration he progressed in sales and marketing, rapidly achieving Sales Director status in FPC Investments. In 1976, Jan was appointed an Executive Director of Invicta Plastics, the maker of "Master Mind", and educational aids based on the work of Dr. Edward de Bono. In that role Jan first visited Poland. Since then he has specialised in developing trade in Central and Eastern Europe.
In 1979, Jan Kluk was appointed COO of ICL Poland Operations and moved to Warsaw. During his employment with ICL, the British computer systems and services company in the Fujitsu group, he progressed to Regional President ICL- Fujitsu and was instrumental in developing a consolidated multi-million dollar business in Poland, Hungary, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Belarus, Ukraine, Lithuania and Russia. On 3 occasions he was awarded the CEO Excellence Award for outstanding performance, and was 16 times qualifier for over achievement. These countries, like the IT industry itself, were characterised by constant, rapid change throughout his career, giving him not only practical experience but also a unique perspective on the management of change and cross cultural business transformation, and technology transfer in Central & Eastern Europe.
As a COO of Poland Operations he was uniquely awarded the ICL Global Salesman of the Year Award. In 1988, Jan was a co-founder of Furnel International SA, the first British-Polish manufacturing joint venture. He was President of its Supervisory Board for nine years. Furnel had revenues of GBP60 million and at the start employed more than 4000 people in five factories and one electronics assembly plant. In 1999, Jan successfully disposed of the ICL-Fujitsu shares to a strategic buyer.
In 1989, Jan Kluk with Alekander Lesz and his team, jointly created Softbank SA, which became the largest Polish software house in the banking sector. Whilst A. Lesz was the Executive President , Jan was President of its Supervisory Board until 1997. They jointly led the team that successfully placed the company on the international stock exchanges in 1998.
As Chairman of the BPCC- British-Polish Chamber of Commerce for three terms from 1992-2000, Jan was actively involved in developing British business in Poland, in close co-operation with the British Embassy and the British Know-How Fund. He hosted BPCC breakfast meetings, where speakers included Lady Thatcher, European Ambassadors, Prime Ministers, Ministers, and several British and Polish members of Parliament.
Jan served as Chairman of the Forum of European Chambers of Commerce and Trade, and Vice President of the Council of British Chambers of Commerce in Continental Europe. He is a keen supporter of Poland's contribution to the EU, and acted as advisor to Polish government departments and Brussels-based agencies, and the Polish Chamber of Information Technology and Telecommunications.
With special interest in managing organisational change, management know-how , technology transfer, cross-cultural development and training, Jan has served on the Board of Trustees of the Brussels based European Foundation for Management Development -EFMD. He created the first Management Resource Centre in Warsaw, which was aimed at developing the effectiveness and efficiency of leaders at work, through action learning, knowledge management and consultancy. In 1996, during the State Visit to Poland by Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, he chaired a conference on the Transfer of British Management Skills, with Prince Philip as the Keynote Speaker.
As a speaker, chairman, coach and facilitator, Jan has participated at many conferences and training events, including Ashridge Management College, London Business School, Cranfield Management College Farnham Castle, the Confederation of British Industry, Vienna Chamber of Commerce, German Chamber of Commerce, European Chambers of Commerce, EFMD seminars, Kozminski Business School, and various other organisations. His engagements in Poland have included the International Polonia Forum, AISEC and UNIDO conferences, the Poland Investment Summit, Polska Globalna conferences and the European Foundation for Management Development Global Conference.
Efficacy through Total Quality Management, Praxiology and business good practice are also among Jan's specific interests. He was a member of the Polish Quality Award and Normalisation of Standards Committee. He is a graduate of the Crosby Quality College, and a certified Quality instructor, and has worked in co-operation with the British Standards Institution (BSI). Jan has published several articles, and given seminars and training on TQM for the Council of Ministers and other Polish Government departments.
In December 1995, Jan was awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire) by Her Majesty The Queen, in recognition of his service developing British commercial interests in Poland. In 1996, he also received Poland's Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski Award for his significant contribution to the development of business and cultural links between the UK and Polish expatriates. He was elected Poland's "Businessman of the Year" in 1990, and was nominated as "Business Leader" in 1993.
In December of 2000, after more than 21 years, Jan handed over the ICL-Fujitsu operation in Poland, which was subsequently sold to an Austrian organization. He pursued his interests in Poland, as an independent management training consultant, based in Warsaw. Currently he is President of the MRC Group which works with international business experts offering business solutions as well as : Information Technology Consultancy, ERP, CRM, Business Process Management, Interim Management for problem organisations Total Quality Management Training, Restructuring and Change Management Strategic Business Consultancy , M&A, IPO and Financial Services.
MRC Group.Sp.zo.o
Ul. Swietokrzyska 30 lokal 32
00-116 Warszawa. Poland
Telfax+48 22 620 39 27, Mobile +48 509 753 018
www.mrcgroup.pl
