Goran Pekez was born on 10th of October 1975 in Obrenovac, Serbia.

He received his BA in International Law from Faculty of Law, University of Belgrade, and MBA in International Business from the Business School of the University of Leeds, UK. Master’s dissertation was based on practical work in area of Management of Intellectual Property with Johnson&Johnson Group.

As of May 2003 Mr. Pekez is working with JT International (JTI), Switzerland, member of Japan Tobacco Inc., as Corporate Affairs and Communications Director in charge of Adriatic region (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia). During his work with JTI, Mr. Pekez was engaged in acquisition of factory in Senta, Serbia, opening of business operations and offices in Albania, Croatia and Macedonia, (vice) chaired a number of committees in FIC and Amcham. He is also President of the Japanese Business Alliance in Serbia.

Before joining JTI he was working with Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina as Legal Officer in charge of Economic Development in the cabinet of Amb. Henry Lee Clarke. During this period he participated in some of the major investment projects in the country providing full spectrum of legal advice (drafting contracts, registering companies and consortiums, analyzing legal compliance requirements, etc.), as well as coordinated drafting of new legislation system that was internationally perceived as the exemplary for the Western Balkans.