The ITI Group was established in 1984 by Jan Wejchert and Mariusz Walter. Bruno Valsangiacomo joined the company in 1991.They are the ITI Group's creators and founding shareholders.
Jan Wejchert (05.01.1950 - 31.10.2009) was one of Poland's first private entrepreneurs. Together with his business partners and close friends, Mariusz Walter and Bruno Valsangiacomo, Jan Wejchert created, led and developed the ITI Group into Poland's and Central and Eastern Europe's premier media group. Jan Wejchert's vision and belief that each of the ITI Group's business activities should be a market leader and best in class operation has come to life and through TVN, Onet, 'n' Multikino and Legia are known to every Pole. Jan Wejchert pioneered Polish private entrepreneurship by having founded the Polish Business Roundtable in 1992 one of the most important organizations of private enterprises in Poland. He was awarded by the Polish President the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta for his outstanding achievement for the development of the Polish economy. Through ITI Group Jan Wejchert has been a driving force for the establishment of independent news and information in the young Polish democracy. The ITI Group lost a wonderful friend and a great personality.
Jan Wejchert was succeeded by his son Lukasz Wejchert, who has become a member of the ITI Group Executive Committee, joining Mariusz Walter acting as Executive Chairman, Bruno Valsangiacomo, Deputy Executive Chairman, and Wojciech Kostrzewa, who joined the ITI Group in 2005 as the fourth shareholder and CEO of the ITI Group.
When the ITI Group's operations began in 1984, it became one of Poland's first privately-owned companies. At the start, the businesses consisted of an import and trading operation for consumer electronics goods (Hitachi), an advertising agency, and a theatrical and home video distribution operation.
In 1985, the ITI Group diversified into the food sector, primarily in snack foods, and marketed its products under the brand name "Lilly Chips". In 1991, this business was integrated into a joint venture with Intersnack Knabber-Gebaeck GmbH & Co. KG (IKG), a leading German snack food producer (Chio Chips).
In 1992, following the introduction of significantly higher import duties, the consumer electronics distribution business was discontinued. Between 1995 and 2002, the ITI Group focused strategically on its media and entertainment activities. In 1997 ITI Group launched its flag-ship, the free-to-air television channel TVN. In 1999, the ITI Group sold its interest in the McCann Erickson advertising agency to Interpublic Group.
At the end of 2000, the ITI Group sold its interests in the food sector in order to focus entirely on its media and entertainment business. Since then, the ITI Group has developed a strong position in three main segments of the Polish multi-media market - television broadcasting and production, entertainment and new media. The historical developments in these segments are highlighted below.