Company: Vipnet Ltd., Zagreb, Croatia

Company Description: Vipnet is the first private GSM operator in Croatia and the best market entrance of the second GSM operator in Europe ever. It has more than 1.6 million customers and is a partner of world’s leading mobile operator Vodafone. Employees of average age 32 are mostly highly educated experts. The company is in 100%-ownership of mobilkom austria and is a member of MA Group.

Nomination Category: Company, Office & Product Awards Categories

Nomination Sub Category: Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program

Nomination Title: Movement.Communication.Life. demining campaign

   1. Tell the story about what this nominated company achieved in the past year (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

With some 4 000 square kilometers of suspicious areas, Croatia is still among ten world countries most contaminated by land mines. Every fourth citizen of Croatia is daily exposed to mine threats, and the sad figure of 1.733 people whose death was caused by mines additionally accentuates the need to start dealing with this problem in a systematic and determined manner.

As early as in 2002 Vipnet recognized the mine problem in Croatia as the greatest obstacle to normal life, free movement and the safety of citizens

just as to the harmonized economic development of all parts of Croatia. Vipnet therefore decided to contribute to solving of this problem by donating one million kuna to the Croatian Mine Action Centre (CROMAC). This donation helped de-mine 123.488 square meters of agricultural land in the village of Nijemci.

Vipnet confirmed its commitment the following year, when the company donated another million kuna to CROMAC, which helped de-mine 127.930 square meters of agricultural land and water supplies, finalizing the de-mining process in the area of agricultural complex Bastica and enabling the revival of agricultural production in this area which eventually contributed to higher employment rate in the region.

Bearing in mind the importance of long-lasting activities in the de-mining project, Vipnet marked its 5th anniversary of business operations in 2004 by organizing the action aimed at raising financial means necessary for further de-mining activities throughout Croatia. This action successfully raised 300.000 kuna that were, together with one million kuna, donated to CROMAC and used for de-mining of the water supply land in the village of Dabar and the path towards and Elementary School in the village of Licki Osik in June 2005. The donation enabled refurbishing of the water supply in the village of Dabar, which is one of the preconditions of larger return of the people who escaped during the war. On the other hand, demining of the path towards the elementary school in Licki Osik enabled children from that and surrounding villages to go to school safely.

Vipnet organized all the donations under the slogan «Movement.Communication.Life», emphasizing the importance of free communication and free movement for better quality of life in the community.

With every donation Vipnet organizes a special program for the local children where the donation event is held, aimed at increasing awareness about the

danger of mines. In 2005, in the scope of raising awareness Vipnet organized a contest for the children from several local schools in drawing, painting

flower pots and writing. The works were put up for an exhibition which was organized as the part of the donation event and specially presented to the

guests with a PowerPoint presentation. To rise awareness on the national level, Vipnet also organized a national contest in drawing on the theme of

children’s perception of the danger of mines. The best children works were published in national daily newspapers and weekly magazines.

For its efforts, in 2005 Vipnet received a credential from CROMAC as the biggest private donor for demining.

   2. List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, http://www.youraddress.com:

http://www.vipnet.hr/cw/show?idc=8756191&idnews=285062

http://www.vipnet.hr/cw/show?idc=8756022&idnews=305958

http://www.hcr.hr/index.php?link=aktualnosti-opsirnije&aid=309〈=en

http://www.bug.hr/vijesti/index.asp?id=64703

http://www.index.hr/clanak.aspx?id=268423

http://www.itnovosti.com/article.asp?ID=3771

http://www.pomakonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=56&Itemid=55

   3. Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader of this nominated company:

Led by Marie-Helene Magenschab Vipnet strengthened its position of the leader

in innovation and responsible business practices in Croatia.

Marie-Helene Magenschab spent almost her entire career in mobilkom austria AG&CoKG, as Head of Strategic Market Planning and Research, Director of Marketing and Sales in Vipnet, mobilkom austria’s member in Croatia and Head of International Market Affairs in mobilkom austria AG&CoKG, responsible for coordination of all aspects of Vodafone cooperation, development and implementation of the group’s strategy and positioning. After working as independent Marketing Consultant for Central and Eastern Europe, she returned to Vipnet on the position of CEO.