Publicis Groupe CEE today announces the appointment of Sanja Likar as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Publicis Groupe Slovenia. Likar takes over the role following the tenure of Toni Tomašek, who will now focus on his creative responsibilities within the organization.
Toni joined Publicis Groupe Slovenia as Creative Director in 2013 and became CEO in 2017, where he helped establish the Power of One operational model in Slovenia. Under his creative leadership, Publicis Groupe Slovenia was named “Agency of the Year” at Effie Slovenia 2016. This year, the agency won a gold award in the Long-Term Effectiveness category for NLB at Effie Slovenia, the first gold award in the “Services – Finance & Insurance” category in 23 years of competition.
Sanja Likar brings extensive experience and achievements from her time as CEE Marketing Director at Harvey Norman, where she led a team of 25 across Slovenia, Croatia, and the Balkans. Her professional development was also significantly shaped at Pristop, where she gained valuable experience in business development, services for major clients, corporate and marketing communications, and public relations, providing her with valuable insights from both agency and client perspectives. This dual perspective enables her to have a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between agency capabilities and client expectations.
Known for her strategic vision and innovative approach, Sanja is tasked with redefining the operational model of Publicis Groupe Slovenia, focusing on enhancing market recognition and driving transformative change. Her leadership style is characterized by empowerment and collaboration; she connects teams, fosters co-creative processes, and sets clear, shared goals. She is fluent in Croatian and proficient in all Adriatic dialects, further strengthening regional and local collaboration.
The appointment of Sanja Likar reflects Publicis Groupe CEE’s commitment to nurturing strong leadership that accelerates growth and drives innovation. “We are thrilled to welcome Sanja to our leadership team,” said Andonis Passas, CEO of Publicis Groupe CEE South. “Her strategic vision and dynamic leadership style align perfectly with our goals, and I am confident she will lead Publicis Groupe Slovenia to new successes.”
Upon her appointment, Sanja Likar stated: “Publicis Groupe has always championed transformation and progress. I am honored by the trust placed in me and excited to build on this foundation in Slovenia. By taking on this role, my ambition is clear: to advance The Power of One in Slovenia by further connecting our teams, technologies, and creativity in ways that drive growth, develop talent, and deliver greater value and meaningful development for our clients in an ever-changing environment.”
