Management Board

Tone Strnad

Tone Strnad

Chairman of Management Board and Founder of Medis

Tone Strnad founded Medis in 1989 after an executive career in a large pharmaceutical company. Under his leadership, Medis evolved from a startup to the Medis we know today - an international company that provides innovative medicines to patients in 18 European countries.

In addition to Medis, Mr. Strnad has founded several companies (1-servis, Entrapharm, Vizera) and has been involved as a partner or advisor in several other startups. As a philanthropist, he is a supporter of many cultural organizations and associations as well as individual talents. Among other donations, he and Medis donated a permanent art installation Obrazi (Faces) by artist Jakov Brdar for the Old Town of Ljubljana. For his dedicated work and contribution to Slovenian pharmacists, he was awarded the highest pharmaceutical award in Slovenia, the Minařik Award of Excellence, in 2020. He is a founding member of Slovene-German Business Association and currently acts as President of Supervisory Board.

In 1988, he was appointed an honorary member of the Academic Folklore Group France Marolt, serving earlier as its president, chairman of the supervisory board, and a consistent moral and material supporter.

In 1989, he founded the company Medis and became its director, later serving as the chairman of the board of directors and director of Medis Group.

In 2002, he received the Minarik Award for his contribution to the development of Slovenian pharmacy and diligent work.

In 1994, he initiated the establishment of the Association of Representatives of the Pharmaceutical Industry of Slovenia and served as its president until 1999. In 1999, the Association joined the Chamber of Commerce of Slovenia as the Wholesale Pharmaceutical Traders Section, and he served as its president from 2004 to 2015.

In 2015, he established the International Medis Awards for Clinical Research, an award presented to nine doctors and pharmacists from nine Balkan and Central European countries who have published the best articles in globally significant professional journals in the current year.

In 2012, he became a member of the Supervisory Board of the Slovenian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In 2018, he received the Ravnihar Plaque, an award presented by the Association of Cultural Societies of Slovenia for selfless and consistent moral and material support of amateur culture, as well as assistance in its promotion and dissemination at all levels of the country's and local community's social life.

In 2019, he became the president of the Supervisory Board of the Slovenian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In 2020, he received the highest Slovenian recognition for a pharmacist, the Minarik Award, presented by the Slovenian Pharmaceutical Society for his significant contribution to Slovenian pharmacy.

Tone Strnad founded Medis in 1989 after an executive career in a large pharmaceutical company. Under his leadership, Medis evolved from a startup to the Medis we know today - an international company that provides innovative medicines to patients in 18 European countries.

In addition to Medis, Mr. Strnad has founded several companies (1-servis, Entrapharm, Vizera) and has been involved as a partner or advisor in several other startups. As a philanthropist, he is a supporter of many cultural organizations and associations as well as individual talents. Among other donations, he and Medis donated a permanent art installation Obrazi (Faces) by artist Jakov Brdar for the Old Town of Ljubljana. For his dedicated work and contribution to Slovenian pharmacists, he was awarded the highest pharmaceutical award in Slovenia, the Minařik Award of Excellence, in 2020. He is a founding member of Slovene-German Business Association and currently acts as President of Supervisory Board.

In 1988, he was appointed an honorary member of the Academic Folklore Group France Marolt, serving earlier as its president, chairman of the supervisory board, and a consistent moral and material supporter.

In 1989, he founded the company Medis and became its director, later serving as the chairman of the board of directors and director of Medis Group.

In 2002, he received the Minarik Award for his contribution to the development of Slovenian pharmacy and diligent work.

In 1994, he initiated the establishment of the Association of Representatives of the Pharmaceutical Industry of Slovenia and served as its president until 1999. In 1999, the Association joined the Chamber of Commerce of Slovenia as the Wholesale Pharmaceutical Traders Section, and he served as its president from 2004 to 2015.

In 2015, he established the International Medis Awards for Clinical Research, an award presented to nine doctors and pharmacists from nine Balkan and Central European countries who have published the best articles in globally significant professional journals in the current year.

In 2012, he became a member of the Supervisory Board of the Slovenian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In 2018, he received the Ravnihar Plaque, an award presented by the Association of Cultural Societies of Slovenia for selfless and consistent moral and material support of amateur culture, as well as assistance in its promotion and dissemination at all levels of the country's and local community's social life.

In 2019, he became the president of the Supervisory Board of the Slovenian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In 2020, he received the highest Slovenian recognition for a pharmacist, the Minarik Award, presented by the Slovenian Pharmaceutical Society for his significant contribution to Slovenian pharmacy.

Maja Strnad Cestar

Maja Strnad Cestar

Chief Executive Officer (since 1.8.2023), Board Member

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Since joining Medis 21 years ago, Maja Strnad Cestar, M.S. Econ, has held a range of senior leadership roles, including the position of Chief Operating Officer, where she was responsible for improving business performance and minimizing risks. She has also led the team of directors and managed the development of Medis’ subsidiaries.

Martina Perharič

Martina Perharič

Chief Business Officer, Board Member for Strategic Development

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Martina Perharič, PhD, B.S. Pharm, is an experienced healthcare executive manager whose career spans for 33 years. After receiving her doctorate in medical sciences, she worked as a sales and marketing executive at Aventis and later joined Medis in 2001. Her commitment to excellence is reflected in Medis' expansion and growth, positioning the company as the leading commercialization company in Central and Eastern Europe. As a Chief Business Officer Pharmaceuticals, she is responsible for the business development strategy of pharmaceuticals, and for international partnerships and alliances.

Erna Slana

Erna Slana

Managing Director Finance and Controlling, Board Member for Finance

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Erna Slana is a seasoned Global Chief Financial Officer with over 20 years of proven experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining Medis, she gained experience in the telecommunications, aviation and financial industries. Her in-depth knowledge and experience in Corporate Finance has helped Medis grow into a multinational company with outstanding financial results. She leads and is part of one of the largest teams at Medis responsible for finance, controlling and accounting.