Denis is executive seasoned professional & strategic consultant with 15+ years of working experience and core competencies in general management and leadership (including leading 1bn $ company), strategic communications, strategy and public affairs.

Denis graduated from Russian studies and sociology (University of Ljubljana) and in parallel in International Relations, in 2006 he received Prešeren Award for the best diploma. He continued his studies at the Faculty of Economics and Business in Maribor, where he received his master’s degree in International Business Economics in 2009. After that he continued his academic research at PhD level in in the Faculty of Social Sciences and finished in 2013 with his dissertation on Energy Diplomacy of the Russian Federation. Redesigned doctoral dissertation was also published in in a book same year. In 2018 he completed his Executive MBA studies at IEDC – Bled School of Management.

He started his business career at Prva osebna insurance as a deputy CEO in Ukraine subsidiary company. In 2008 he took over the position of sales and marketing director of fast-growing and leading R&D company in the field of mobile asset management Telargo. A year later, he embarked on diplomatic posts and between 2010 and 2014 acted as Economic Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Moscow. After returning from Russia, he continued his career in leadership positions at the SIJ – Slovenian Steel Group, where he was working until 2017. First as an Executive director of Corporate Communications and later as CEO and Vice-president of Management Board.

Denis is a co-founder of the company DTRANSFORMA, a consultancy devoted to serving corporate clients, who focus on developing an open digital culture with effective communication through new channels that drives business results. Since 2018 he worked as a Director of Business Development at Stratkom, where he was transforming communication and public relations landscape with new business models, digital tools and channels. In 2020 he co-founded Herman & partners, where he was CEO and partner till 2023.

He was a member of supervisory boards of Perutnina Ptuj (2016-2017) and SIJ Group (2014-2016). For six years he is a member of Business-marketing Council at the Olympic Committee of Slovenia and since 2019 also Vice-president of the Swimming Association of Slovenia.

Denis is also a mentor, lecturer, and regular columnist with multi perspective approach, combining gained knowledge and experiences, writing for several Slovenian media and his blog. He writes about variety of topics, including digitalisation, business modelling and strategy, international politics and energy relations, international business and also business environment and leadership.

Former swimmer who turned into a recreational marathon runner and triathlon. Proud husband and a father. A passionate traveler who tries to combine many interests into a meaningful life. And to write about it.