A professor at the Krakow University of Economics, distinguished by his long-standing and intensive research, teaching, and organizational activities, exceeding his standard professional duties. His work brings lasting benefits to the state and its citizens, and after receiving the title of Professor, he significantly intensified his scholarly and public activities.

In the third decade of the 21st century, he authored, co-authored, reviewed, or edited 19 scientific papers, including the monograph “Food Industry in Poland – a New Path of Development” (2023). His portfolio includes approximately 250 publications, including 89 scientific articles and 8 monographs, which significantly influence the development of economic sciences and business practice. He specializes in macroeconomics, microeconomics, finance, and, more specifically, the food industry.

Prof. Firlej serves as the scientific editor of the journal “Problems of Economics & Law” and is active in the scientific bodies of numerous academic journals. He is deeply committed to supporting the development of young scientists, overseeing the Student Institute of Economic Analysis at the Kraków

Piotr Grzonkowski has been building experience in finance, operational management, and strategic leadership for nearly two decades, focusing on business development in one of the most demanding and dynamic sectors of the food industry.

Since 2025, he has served as CEO of the Food & Agri Business Line at LipCo Foods Group – a multi-food organization present in over 50 countries. He is responsible for comprehensive vertical integration in the poultry sector, encompassing all stages of the value chain – from feed production, hatcheries, and breeding, through the veterinary segment, partial processing, and finally the sales and distribution of finished products.

Piotr Grzonkowski has been with the group since 2006, progressing through the management ranks.

At SuperDrob, a key part of the group, he has served on the Management Board since 2015 – initially as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for five years, then as the Chief Development and Agricultural Officer (COO) for two years, and from 2022 as Vice President of the Management Board. Since 2018, he has also served as President of ŁukPasz, responsible for the development of the feed segment within LipCo Foods. From 2019 to 2025, he was a member of the General Council of the Polish Economic Society, actively participating in work to foster entrepreneurship in Poland.

Piotr Grzonkowski graduated from the Faculty of Cybernetics at the Military University of Technology, which allowed him to develop a unique management approach based on process and data analysis. He also holds a degree from the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), an MBA from the University of Finance and Management, the Management Psychology program at the Warsaw School of Economics, and the Strategic Leadership Academy at the ICAN Institute.

Privately, he is the father of two daughters and is passionate about football and fishing.

Graduate of the Faculty of Management at the Academy of Economics, the Faculty of Law and Administration at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, postgraduate studies in Capital Group Management at the SGH Warsaw School of Economics and MBA studies at the University of Minnesota. Doctor of Laws, specializing in theory and philosophy of law. Since 2003 professionally connected with “Alventa” SA. Creator of “Alventa Invest” Group. Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan from 2016 to 2020. Counsellor at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Krakow. Member of the Council of the Polish Chamber of Chemical Industry. Member of the “Bractwo Kurkowe” in Krakow. Member of the Order of Knights Templars Ordo Militiae Christi Templi Hierosolymitani.

1995 – Studies at the Faculty of Animal Science, University of Agriculture and Technology in Olsztyn (currently UWM), postgraduate studies in pedagogy.

Participation in courses and training in agriculture and management

2023 – MBA WSB Meritum

Since graduation, he has been continuously working in the agri-food industry.

Since 2004, he has held managerial positions at “SOKOŁÓW” S.A. as Deputy Director for Purchase and Director of Cattle Purchase.

Since 2021, Vice President of the Management Board for Raw Materials, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Agro Sokołów, and member of the Supervisory Board of Sokołów – Logistyka Sp. z o.o.

Interests: agriculture, jogging, traveling

Married, adult daughter.

Studied foreign trade and law at the University of Gdańsk (1979), obtained a doctorate from the Faculty of Management and Economics of the Gdańsk University of Technology  (1996), and a doctorate from the College of Finance and Management of the SGH (1999). He continued his studies at the London School of Economics, JICA Osaka, ESC Rouen, J.W.Goethe Universitat in Fankfurt, NEIU Chicago, J.Guttenberg Universitat in Cologne, ZSEM in Zagreb.  Since the early 1990s he has been director of the Solidarity Economic Fund. He participated in the National Privatization Program. He managed Radmor PLC, Gdynia Shipyard, he was president of PHZ Baltona. He worked at the Institute of Entrepreneurship Research and Private Enterprise, Pol-Am Foundation for Consulting and KIG.  In 1996 he was employed at the Gdańsk University of Technology in the Department of Finance, where he was promoted to professor and Head of the Department (2000). Since 2007 he has been employed at KZiF SGH in Warsaw. In 2017, he obtained the title of professor. He is an employee of the Department of Economic Policy and Monetary Theory.

RESEARCH SPECIALIZATION

1. Financial planning and budgeting in public and private entities,
2. The objectives and strategies of economic operators in the financial perspective,
3. Capital and operational restructurings, mergers and acquisitions,
4. Management and controlling of investment projects,
5. Valuation and creation of the value of the company,
6. Evolution from behavioral economics to social economy