“With SBA Group entering a new and ambitious stage of development, the team is supplemented by a professional with a global outlook and extensive international experience. Together, we will seek to further strengthen the positions of the Baltic States’ largest SBA furniture sector in global markets where competition is only going to increase,” SBA vice president Egidijus Valentinavičius says.
“In terms of its values, SBA is one of the strongest groups, uniting thousands of excellent professionals. The principles of innovation and sustainability have laid a firm foundation, in the furniture sector and in other sectors, for global expansion. I realize that I am taking charge of SBA Baldų Kompanija during a time of intense expansion and so, in a professional sense, this period will be particularly interesting. Many ambitious projects, which will add significant value, await and I will dedicate my energy and experience to ensure their success,” R. Kižienė stated.
Throughout most of her career, R. Kižienė has held various strategic level leadership positions in Lithuanian and foreign companies. For a long time, she worked at VP Group. She was the board chairwoman for Euroapotheca, which manages pharmacy networks in the Baltic States and elsewhere in Europe, as well as leading one of Lithuania’s largest international business transactions. Three years ago, Euroapotheca purchased one of the largest Swedish pharmacy chains, Apoteksguppen, for 300 million euro. After the purchase, R. Kižienė held the position of chairwoman for this Swedish company’s board. Previously, she led the Swedbank treasury department, and in recent years, has been the board chairwoman for the companies Aviator and Civinity.
The SBA furniture manufacturing sector’s SBA Baldų Kompanija manages six furniture manufacturing companies in Lithuania and Belarus: Klaipėdos Baldai, Šilutės Baldai, Germanika, Visagino Linija, Mebelain and Laminn, as well as the logistics centre, Innovo Logistika, operating in the SBA Industrial Innovation Valley. These companies employ a total of 3,800 staff members. Prior to R. Kižienė, SBA Baldų Kompanija was headed by E. Valentinavičius.
The SBA Group is one of Lithuania’s largest, operating in the real estate, textile and furniture manufacturing sectors. The group’s companies employ over 5,000 staff members. Last week, SBA announced plans to implement a new expansion strategy. Over three years, the group intends to invest over 300 million euro and create more than 800 new jobs.
