Zygmunt Łopalewski

Head of Central Europe Corporate Comms & Public Affairs

Poland

About

I operate at the intersection of business, reputation and institutional reality. My work focuses on building external stability around complex organizations – particularly where manufacturing footprint, regulatory exposure and commercial ambition meet. I believe credibility is not built through visibility alone, but through consistency, preparedness and long-term relationships. Over the years, I have worked in environments where global strategy, regional structures and local execution must coexist. My role is often less about creating noise and more about preventing it – ensuring that leadership decisions are supported by a stable external environment. I am loyal to the environments I help build, yet I value independent thinking and intellectual curiosity. Navigating complexity requires both structure and perspective. Outside of work, I recharge through photography, mountain trekking and travel. The mountains remind me that clarity often comes after effort – and that the broader view always matters.

Experience

  • Beko Europe (Full-time · 2 yrs 3 mos)
    • Head of Central Europe Corporate Comms & Public Affairs
      Dec 2024 - Present · 1 yr 7 mos

      Leading Corporate Communications and Public Affairs across Central Europe within the evolving Beko Europe regional structure. The role was shaped in response to the expansion of manufacturing footprint and increased regulatory and institutional exposure in the region, requiring stronger coordination between commercial markets, industrial operations and external stakeholders. Scope includes: Strategic external positioning across Central Europe Institutional and industry engagement in manufacturing-related environments Crisis preparedness and cross-level escalation coordination (local–regional–European) Reinforcing market credibility in commercially sensitive contexts Focus: building external stability and protecting operational continuity in a complex, multi-layer organization.

    • Central Europe Communications and Government Relations Senior Manager
      Apr 2024 - Dec 2024 · 9 mos

      On April 2nd, 2024, the definitive Contribution Agreement between Whirlpool Corporation’s wholly owned subsidiary Whirlpool EMEA Holdings LLC and Arçelik’s wholly owned subsidiary Beko B.V. has been completed and a newly formed company Beko Europe has been established.

  • Council Member at APPLiA Polska, związek producentów AGD
    Jun 2021 - Present · 5 yrs 1 mo

  • Member Of The Supervisory Board at ElektroEko Organizacja Odzysku Sprzętu Elektrycznego i Elektronicznego SA
    Jun 2022 - Present · 4 yrs 1 mo

  • Whirlpool EMEA (Full-time · 8 yrs 10 mos)
    • Central Europe Communications and Government Relations Senior Manager
      Jan 2022 - Apr 2024 · 2 yrs 4 mos

    • Corporate Communications Senior Manager East Europe
      May 2018 - Dec 2021 · 3 yrs 8 mos

      Responsible for Corporate Reputation, Communications and Government Relations - reporting to Senior Director of Operations Area North (Poland, Slovakia, UK) – Chairman of Whirlpool Polska. Managing External Communication Strategy (Media/Government Relations) for Poland based on the Whirlpool Leadership Model. Communication leader of Poland Industrial Plan (investment of ~300 mio Euro of manufacturing activities) for the crucial stakeholders and media. Collaboration with Circular Economy legislative process in Ukraine and Poland, promotion of industry, consumer care and connectivity in Poland, cooperation with Members of the European Parliament. Company representative in relations with AmCham, OECD, Applia, business associations in the most relevant East Cluster countries (Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia); 100+ meetings, sessions & events. Reporting and supporting roles for all the functions in East Europe during the Covid-19 pandemic. CSR activities management based on Whirlpool principles and directions as cooperation with Habitat For Humanity EMEA and Red Cross: 30+ different activations.

    • Government Relations Manager East Cluster
      May 2016 - May 2018 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      Communication coordinator of Whirlpool/Indesit Legal Entities Merger for the crucial stakeholders and media (2017-18) – total of 6’000+ employees in Poland. Reporting to General Manager Manufacturing Operations East Cluster and Senior Director Communication and Government Relations Whirlpool EMEA. Manager of Corporate/Government/Media Relations/CSR Projects in Poland and East Europe Countries based on Whirlpool strategy and goals coordination of events (i.e., 1’000+ participants in Wrocław at the 35th Anniversary of the ’81 Marial Law Imposition in Poland; with high government representatives and meetings with key stakeholders in key markets and in EU representatives. Strategic partnership for finding additional sources of funding the company investments in East Europe (industrial, commercial, R&D and shared service center projects). Leading corporate communication with media & stakeholders in Poland (local, regional, and national) through strong and regular relationships with trust and engagement; coordinating work of PR agency; 10+ major events for media and journalists. Assuring proactive membership in American Chambers Of Commerce, CECED industry organization, business associations in the most relevant East Europe countries (Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Czech, Hungary, Romania).

  • External Communications Manager at Indesit Company
    Mar 2006 - Jul 2015 · 9 yrs 5 mos

    Managing Institutional, Government and Media Relations on national and regional level for all the company location; reporting to Country Manager Poland and President Of The Board, General Manager, Industrial Director. Crisis management in collaboration with legal advisors and multifunctional teams (2006-2011) Jonathan Project CSR action with institutional and government partners- support for youth endangered of social exclusion through trainings on the job, practices, volunteering and offering permanent job contracts (2010-2014), ~100 participants that successfully completed the project Supporting Internal Communication functions to increase people engagement and achieve business goals.