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Partner Tijana Žunić Marić Appointed as Data Protection Officer (DPO) by Lesnina S

31/03/2021

In March 2021, Lesnina S DOO Beograd appointed Tijana Žunić Marić, partner at Zunic Law, as its Data Protection Officer (DPO). This significant appointment underscores our firm’s commitment to personal data privacy and protection and reflects our deep expertise in this area of law.

Lesnina S is a prominent company specializing in home furnishing and decor, known for its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Lesnina S is also part of the larger XXXLutz Group, one of the world’s top furniture retailers. XXXLutz operates over 300 stores across multiple countries, providing a wide array of home furnishings, decor, and accessories to millions of customers. The group’s commitment to quality, style, and affordability has set it apart as a global leader in the industry.

The information about the appointment of the DPO has been published as a part of Lesnina S’s Privacy Policy, including information for all interested persons who wish to contact this subject to direct inquiries or exercise their rights regarding personal data protection.

The role of a Data Protection Officer is paramount in today’s data-centric landscape. Following the Serbian Law on Personal Data Protection and the overarching European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the DPO is responsible for ensuring compliance, providing data protection counsel, and serving as a liaison for data subjects and supervisory authorities.

A DPO is an independent entity responsible for ensuring that a company complies with applicable laws when collecting and processing data from customers, employees, service users, and other data subjects. Additionally, the DPO is tasked with informing and educating the company and its employees about all aspects of personal data protection, monitoring the implementation of privacy and data protection regulations, providing opinions on data protection impact assessments, and serving as a liaison with the Commissioner and data subjects. In essence, a DPO advises your company and ensures that your business aligns with legal obligations regarding data protection.

Although the Law on Personal Data Protection in Serbia has been in force since August 21, 2019, it seems that companies have not taken all the obligations prescribed by this Law that seriously, or they do not understand them (read more about this topic in our blog The Law on Personal Data Protection – A Few Guidelines On How To Get Compliant and Basic Concepts Of The Law On Personal Data Protection In Serbia- Is Your Company Compliant After Almost 3 Years Of Its Adoption?).

A common reason for non-compliance among data controllers and processors is a lack of clarity about their legal obligations. While Serbia’s Personal Data Protection Law is largely based on the GDPR, it’s crucial to distinguish between the roles of a Data Protection Officer (DPO) and a GDPR-appointed country representative. Although similar in some respects, these positions have distinct functions. For a detailed comparison, please refer to our article  Data Protection Officer vs GDPR appointed country representative for Serbia.

Many global controllers and processors overlook Serbia when implementing data protection measures, leaving Serbian citizens vulnerable to having their rights infringed upon. This oversight can result in the denial of guaranteed rights to Serbian citizens, adversely affecting legal certainty and the rule of law. Non-compliant data controllers may incur penalties and fines, which, while not necessarily impacting the financial stability of large companies, can significantly harm their reputation. Consequently, all entities required to appoint a country representative for Serbia or a DPO should promptly comply with the law to ensure citizens can exercise and protect their personal data rights.

Tijana Žunić Marić’s appointment as the DPO for Lesnina S follows her previous role as a Data Representative for Serbia for eSky. As a leading law firm specializing in Data Privacy and Protection, consistently recognized and awarded by the prestigious international Who’s Who Legal ranking organization, we are looking forward to sharing further developments in this field.

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