The Movers and Shakers at the Top of Czech Business in the Third Quarter of 2020
The 10 most significant managerial changes in the Czech Republic in the third quarter of 2020 included leadership change at the country’s largest company, change at the domestic branch of a giant computer manufacturer, as well as returns of Czech managers from their foreign engagements – to take the lead of a building society, the operator of the largest telecommunications network, or the new division of a globally operating glass company.
Among other notable changes, according to Bubenik Partners, was the rotation of two women in the leadership position with a mobile operator and the introduction of new faces to the management of Prague Airport, a regional think tank and an expanding online supermarket. The transfer of the Czech CFO to a regional role at one of the world’s leading confectionery producers also attracted our attention as one of the „Top 10“ managerial moves in our regular quarterly selection of „The Movers and Shakers at the Top of Czech Business „.
„As managerial shifts in the past quarter reflect decisions made during this spring and summer, it is clear that many leadership changes, as well as motivations, may have been accelerated by considerations reflecting the new economic reality amid the pandemic,“ said Jan Bubeník, founder and managing partner of Bubenik Partners.
Marek Petruš, Director of Research & Knowledge Management at Bubenik Partners, said the third quarter confirmed the trend that one generation of seasoned Czech managers had been returning from foreign engagements, usually in the world’s largest corporations. Those returns accounted for four out of the „Top 10“ managerial changes in the past quarter.
The third quarter also highlighted two other trends perceived this year: First, e-commerce – and especially the ultra-dynamic online retail industry – keep attracting top talent. The rapidly expanding online supermarket Rohlík thus gained valuable reinforcement for its top management by hiring Petr Pavlík, who had previously worked in the country’s management of the Albert chain. Secondly, companies value the contribution of women in leadership positions – a new woman, Veronika Brázdilová, will take a seat among the men in Vodafone’s top management.
Top Ten Management Changes in the Third Quarter of 2020 According to Bubenik Partners
(in alphabetical order)
Veronika Brázdilová – Director Commercial Operations at Vodafone Czech Republic (previously worked six years in the role of General Manager for the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary in Xerox)
Roman Cabálek – General Manager for the Czech Republic at Dell Technologies (returning to the executive position after a five-year engagement as an independent mentor, coach and management consultant; until 2014, he had worked 15 years for Microsoft, the last three as General Manager for the Czech subsidiary)
Pavel Čejka – Chairman of the Board at Raiffeisen Building Society (before that, held the position of COO and member of the top management for international services at Société Générale and prior to that he had been a member of the board and CFO of the Komerční banka)
Jiří Jaroš – General Manager of the new Glass for Architecture Division at Lasvit (previously spent a year in Hong Kong as Deputy Regional Executive Manager for Asian countries at consumer finance group Home Credit International)
Petr Pavlík – CEO for the Czech business of the online supermarket Rohlík (prior to joining the company worked four years in the top management of the supermarket chain Albert; before that he led distillery Stock Plzeň-Božkov)
Jakub Puchalský – Member of the Prague Airport Board responsible for aviation and non-aviation business, corporate and marketing communication departments (steps up to the Board from the position of Non-Aviation Business Department Executive Director)
Thomas Schäfer – Chairman of the Board at Škoda Auto (previously served as Chairman and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa, responsible for the development of the Group brands in the sub-Saharan Africa region)
Martin Škop – CEO at Cetin a.s. (in his last role served as the executive VP for infrastructure development for the Russian operator Beeline and also held a position of Chairman of the Board of the Russian infrastructure company NTC)
Milan Vašina – Executive Director of Aspen Institute Central Europe (takes on the role after spending most of his professional career in telecommunications; between 2011-2018 he served as CEO at T-Mobile Czech Republic)
Jan Záhumenský – CFO for Central Europe Mars (previously held the position of CFO of the Austrian branch of Mars Multisales; in the new role he will be responsible for financial management in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania)
Movers and Shakers at the Top of Czech Business in the Third Quarter of 2020
More info
The Movers and Shakers at the Top of Czech Business in the Third Quarter of 2020
The 10 most significant managerial changes in the Czech Republic in the third quarter of 2020 included leadership change at the country’s largest company, change at the domestic branch of a giant computer manufacturer, as well as returns of Czech managers from their foreign engagements – to take the lead of a building society, the operator of the largest telecommunications network, or the new division of a globally operating glass company.
Among other notable changes, according to Bubenik Partners, was the rotation of two women in the leadership position with a mobile operator and the introduction of new faces to the management of Prague Airport, a regional think tank and an expanding online supermarket. The transfer of the Czech CFO to a regional role at one of the world’s leading confectionery producers also attracted our attention as one of the „Top 10“ managerial moves in our regular quarterly selection of „The Movers and Shakers at the Top of Czech Business „.
„As managerial shifts in the past quarter reflect decisions made during this spring and summer, it is clear that many leadership changes, as well as motivations, may have been accelerated by considerations reflecting the new economic reality amid the pandemic,“ said Jan Bubeník, founder and managing partner of Bubenik Partners.
Marek Petruš, Director of Research & Knowledge Management at Bubenik Partners, said the third quarter confirmed the trend that one generation of seasoned Czech managers had been returning from foreign engagements, usually in the world’s largest corporations. Those returns accounted for four out of the „Top 10“ managerial changes in the past quarter.
The third quarter also highlighted two other trends perceived this year: First, e-commerce – and especially the ultra-dynamic online retail industry – keep attracting top talent. The rapidly expanding online supermarket Rohlík thus gained valuable reinforcement for its top management by hiring Petr Pavlík, who had previously worked in the country’s management of the Albert chain. Secondly, companies value the contribution of women in leadership positions – a new woman, Veronika Brázdilová, will take a seat among the men in Vodafone’s top management.
Top Ten Management Changes in the Third Quarter of 2020 According to Bubenik Partners
(in alphabetical order)
Veronika Brázdilová – Director Commercial Operations at Vodafone Czech Republic (previously worked six years in the role of General Manager for the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary in Xerox)
Roman Cabálek – General Manager for the Czech Republic at Dell Technologies (returning to the executive position after a five-year engagement as an independent mentor, coach and management consultant; until 2014, he had worked 15 years for Microsoft, the last three as General Manager for the Czech subsidiary)
Pavel Čejka – Chairman of the Board at Raiffeisen Building Society (before that, held the position of COO and member of the top management for international services at Société Générale and prior to that he had been a member of the board and CFO of the Komerční banka)
Jiří Jaroš – General Manager of the new Glass for Architecture Division at Lasvit (previously spent a year in Hong Kong as Deputy Regional Executive Manager for Asian countries at consumer finance group Home Credit International)
Petr Pavlík – CEO for the Czech business of the online supermarket Rohlík (prior to joining the company worked four years in the top management of the supermarket chain Albert; before that he led distillery Stock Plzeň-Božkov)
Jakub Puchalský – Member of the Prague Airport Board responsible for aviation and non-aviation business, corporate and marketing communication departments (steps up to the Board from the position of Non-Aviation Business Department Executive Director)
Thomas Schäfer – Chairman of the Board at Škoda Auto (previously served as Chairman and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa, responsible for the development of the Group brands in the sub-Saharan Africa region)
Martin Škop – CEO at Cetin a.s. (in his last role served as the executive VP for infrastructure development for the Russian operator Beeline and also held a position of Chairman of the Board of the Russian infrastructure company NTC)
Milan Vašina – Executive Director of Aspen Institute Central Europe (takes on the role after spending most of his professional career in telecommunications; between 2011-2018 he served as CEO at T-Mobile Czech Republic)
Jan Záhumenský – CFO for Central Europe Mars (previously held the position of CFO of the Austrian branch of Mars Multisales; in the new role he will be responsible for financial management in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania)