Working Lives: Krakow

When Mikolaj Placek joined Oknoplast, a plastic windows manufacturer started by his father, he set out to learn the PVC business from the bottom up.

So he worked on the shop floor and in the marketing and finance departments before finally taking control of the whole company.

His tactics paid off. Mr Placek's company is a major player on the European market. He is a millionaire.

It is a market leader in Italy which is where he has been focusing his attention. Rather than advertise he decided a sponsorship deal with Italy's famous Inter Milan football club would give him greater reach.

It also means he can get to watch football, something he loves but no longer has time to play.

On the rare occasion he does take a break, he and his girlfriend jet off in a private plane to an exotic location. But his holidays tend to be very active; he is not one to simply relax on a beach.