STEFAN KAWALEC

Stefan Kawalec has been appointed vice president of the management board of Commercial Union Polska, where his responsibilities will include supervising the central-functions department. He started his career in the research and development center for Polish State Railways (PKP) and from 1983-1989 he worked for the Warsaw School of Economics. From 1989-1994 he was employed as a general director for the Finance Ministry and as the finance minister's head economic consultant. Since 1991 he has participated in the preparation and implementation of the stabilization and transition of the Polish economy (Leszek Balcerowicz's plan) as a deputy minister. He has also coordinated Poland's negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and managed preparation and implementation of a program for restructuring and privatization of state-owned banks. Between 1994-2002 he was head consultant of Bank Handlowy and between 1998-2002 he managed the bank's strategy. He has a mathematics degree from the department of mathematics, mechanics and computer science at Warsaw University. He is married with five children. His hobbies include history and trekking.