CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD BOSSES? MUST BE ABLE TO ADMIT MISTAKE, LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND BE FAIR

You can read the entire article at respekt.cz (in Czech)

INTERVIEW WITH JAN BUBENÍK FOR NEWSTREAM CLUB 2023

Jan Bubeník’s interview can be found in newstream CLUB magazine. (in Czech)

THE MOST REMARKABLE MANAGERIAL CHANGES ACCORDING TO BUBENIK PARTNERS – THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2022

In the nine most interesting managerial changes and transfers of the last quarter, Bubenik Partners included Czech and Slovak leaders and members of top management from various fields. The previous quarter’s onboarding to the top managerial roles of significant companies based in the Czech Republic reflects recruitment trends from the first half of the year. Businesses are increasingly hungry to strengthen senior management teams. They mainly emphasize innovation, digitization, and strategy to ensure competitiveness at a time when the skill to adapt to sudden changes is critical.

„Movers and Shakers at the Top of Czech Business“ is a prestigious quarterly selection that presents a comprehensive view of what is happening on the market through the eyes of Bubenik Partners, a renowned consulting company. It is a representative overview of the most important events at the highest levels of Czech business in the given period.

New hires and transfers in the third quarter resulted from recruitment activities in the first half of this year. The number of reported changes in the top management of companies in the Czech Republic has been increasing since the pandemic. It proves that the appetite to strengthen management teams and adapt to the new challenges of the current geopolitical and economic situation is growing.

„In the previous, more conservative months, companies filled positions primarily with internal candidates. The degree of external changes and the need to adapt was manifested in an increase in courage, but also in the need to recruit managers externally,“ says Jan Bubeník, founder and managing partner of Bubenik Partners. „At the same time, the number of Czech top managers returning from foreign posts also decreased, as well as the arrival of experienced expats to manage the Czech branches of their parent companies.“

This quarter also confirms the trend that we have been observing since the pandemic – the most active in changes in the top management teams are innovative companies whose sectors are doing well, such as digital, technology, and e-commerce companies, followed by those that are modernizing their business and transforming it towards digitalization, such as traditional banks and retail chains.

In recent months, companies have often recruited managers for functions covering marketing, digitization, strategy, technology, and innovation. This confirms the desire of companies to keep up with the rapid market development and to be ready for sudden changes.

Selection of the most remarkable „Movers and Shakers“ at the top of Czech business in the third quarter of 2022

(in alphabetical order)

Jan Hanuš

CEO, Woltair

Heat pump and photovoltaic expert Woltair has a new leader. In August, the management of the company was handed over to Jan Hanuš by the company’s founder, Daniel Helcl.

The company, founded in 2018, is aiming for one billion crowns in concluded contracts this year. „Woltair has grown, and after opening a branch in Warsaw, we are also preparing to expand to Italy and Germany. The company needs an experienced and internationally seasoned leader who will make Woltair a world player in the field of energy and decarbonization of buildings,“ says Daniel Helcl.

Jan Hanuš joins the company from the position of CEO of the Czech Mall Group. Before that, he led international companies such as Kostelecké uzeniny and Telenor Hungary, the third largest mobile operator in Hungary.

Petr Jonák

Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Director, SAZKA

In July, the lottery company Sazka from the KKCG group named an experienced manager in the field, Petr Jonák, as director of the newly established external relations and sustainability division.

His competence includes the realm of public affairs, external communication, sponsorship, social responsibility, and, newly, sustainability. The latter two mentioned areas are among Sazka’s priorities; the director’s main tasks, therefore, include strengthening them, creating strategies, and deciding on the direction of the company.

Petr Jonák is also a member of the board of the Association of Industry and Transport, where he oversees sustainability and the EU internal market and covers the Association’s communications. He comes to Sazka from T-Mobile, where he worked in a similar role. Before that, he worked for Škoda, BXR, and Coca-Cola.

Lenka Madliaková

Czech Republic Country Managing Director, Accenture

In September, Lenka Madliaková became the new Country Managing Director of the Czech branch of the consulting company Accenture. She replaced Roberto Libonati in the position.

Lenka Madliaková started her career in the Slovak branch of Accenture and moved to the Czech Republic in 2008. In addition to Czech and Slovak clients, she also worked with international companies operating in Bulgaria or Japan.

Since 2018, she has been responsible for technological projects in the fields of pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, sales of consumer goods, and the automotive industry. In addition to her new role in the management of the Czech branch, Lenka Madliaková also retains her current position.

Miloš Mastník

CEO, České Radiokomunikace

České Radiokomunikace, the operator of a network of television and radio transmitters, has had a new CEO since July. Miloš Mastník has worked at České Radiokomunikace since 2016 as a Sales Director.

Last year, České Radiokomunikace was bought from Macquarie Asset Management by Cordiant Digital Infrastructure, which is traded on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.

Miloš Mastník has extensive experience in the field of telecommunications. He started at Český Telecom, and for many years held leading positions in GTS Czech and GTS Central Europe. He also worked at T-Mobile CR and was director of sales and marketing at ČD – Telematika.

Aleš Struminský

President Europe Region, Board Member, Imperial Brands

In October, Aleš Struminský was appointed president for the European region and a member of the board of directors of Imperial Brands, a producer and distributor of nicotine products. He thus became one of the few Czechs to hold this position in a global company traded on public markets.

„Aleš brings to the board of Imperial Brands indisputable knowledge of our business, rich experience from individual markets and a great management style, based on cooperation and excellent results,“ says Stefan Bomhard, Chief Executive Officer of Imperial Brands.

Aleš Struminský has been working at Imperial Brands for over 20 years. In 2002, he started as a Key Account Manager in Prague and gradually worked his way up to the position of General Manager in various Imperial Brands regions.

Jakub Střeštík

Managing Director, Mall Group

At the end of July, Jakub Střeštík took over the leadership of Mall Group, the largest e-commerce platform in Central and Eastern Europe, from Jan Hanuš. For the past two years, he worked in the company in the role of Chief Commercial Officer.

The main task in his new role is to complete the integration with the Allegro shopping platform and help the entire group consolidate its position as the e-commerce champion of Central and Eastern Europe. At the same time, he focuses on the development of Mall’s strengths, which historically are not only the marketplace model but also the sale of goods from its own warehouses.

Before coming to the Mall, Jakub Střeštík worked in business roles in major international companies such as Kika, Starbucks, and KFC.

Miroslav Svoboda

Country Leader, Deloitte Czech Republic

Miroslav Svoboda, a senior partner in the tax and legal department, assumed the position of Country Leader of Deloitte Czech Republic in June. He thus replaced Diana Rádl Rogerová, who had held this role since 2016.

„My vision is Deloitte as an ‘accelerator’ of knowledge and innovation, manifested in all areas where we are involved – audit, tax, law and financial, technological and risk management consulting,“ said Svoboda.

Miroslav Svoboda joined Deloitte in 2003 as a Senior Consultant and gradually worked his way up to the level of partner. Before working at Deloitte, he began his career as a tax advisor at a Brno law firm.

Martin Šlégl

General Director, STADA Czech Republic

The Czech branch of the leading European pharmaceuticals supplier STADA welcomed a new general manager in September, who will build on its success in the local market following the acquisition of the Czech company Walmark two years ago.

Martin Šlégl takes over the management of STADA’s domestic representation at a time when the company continues to grow in the local market thanks to newly emerging opportunities.

He joins STADA from IQVIA, a provider of healthcare solutions and services. There, he was first in charge of, and developed consulting in, the Central and Eastern Europe region, and in the last four years, was General Director of the Czechoslovak branch, with more than 350 employees. He started his career at Roland Berger.

Martin Vašek

CEO, Hypoteční banka and ČSOB Stavební spořitelna

In November, Martin Vašek became the CEO of Hypoteční banka and ČSOB Stavební spořitelna. Personnel changes were approved by the Czech National Bank.

Within the ČSOB group, Martin Vašek is moving from the position of CEO of ČSOB Penzijní společnost and KBC Asset Management, a branch of ČSOB, which he has held since 2019. Marcela Suchánková will replace him in these positions.

Martin Vašek has been working in the ČSOB group for more than 17 years. He joined ČSOB in 2005 as director of the Financial Markets Support department. After four years, he transferred to Hypoteční banka, where he held the position of Financial Director. In February 2013, he returned to ČSOB as the Head of the Operations Processing and Purchasing Department, then the Products and Integration Department, and subsequently became the Executive Director of the Retail Branch Network.

The most remarkable managerial changes of the first quarter of 2022, according to Bubenik Partners

According to Bubenik Partners, an overview of the ten most interesting managerial changes of the past quarter includes the appointment of new members of management in major financial institutions and their subsidiaries.

The quarterly prestigious selection „Movers and Shakers at the Top of Czech Business“ furthermore includes the entry of new leaders into top management positions in retail, e-commerce, IT, the Big Four and a non-woven manufacturer. The selection of the most remarkable changes also features reinforcements of commercial teams of companies in the field of healthcare and the Czech representation of an international stock exchange organization.

The selection presents a comprehensive view of what is happening on the market through the eyes of Bubenik Partners, a renowned consulting company with more than twenty years of daily experience with top managers in the Czech Republic. It is a representative overview of the most important events at the highest levels of Czech business in the given period.

More than two years after the pandemic outbreak, it is possible to observe the return of companies to their original recruitment activities. After the more conservative months, when companies often filled positions with internal candidates, the number of external transfers increased again in the first quarter of 2022.

“We have observed the most significant movement so far this year in companies in sectors that have been significantly successful in recent months. These include e-commerce, technology and healthcare,” said Jan Bubeník, founder and Managing Partner of Bubenik Partners. “Many changes are also taking place in companies that are modernizing their business and transforming them towards digitization, such as finance and retail.”

In recent months, companies have most often hired new managers in an effort to „keep up“ in three main areas: 

• In technologies and their use in business 

• Taking into account changes in consumer habits during a pandemic 
• The need to optimize input costs and supplier networks in response to rising commodity and energy prices and other disruptions to trade and supply chains caused by a number of political and economic events, including Russia’s February invasion of Ukraine. 

Companies, therefore, often look for leaders in operational and transformation roles, purchasing, technology development or business and marketing. 

„Movers and Shakers at the Top of Czech Business“ in the first quarter of 2022

(in alphabetical order)

The most remarkable managerial changes of the fourth quarter of 2021 according to Bubenik Partners

According to Bubenik Partners, the most interesting managerial changes in the fourth quarter of 2021 included the arrival of new board members to two of the largest Czech banks and two additions to the top management of a globally operating Czech technology and intelligence firm. A major insurance company received a new CEO for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and new heads took over the financial management of an expanding logistics and technology company and a leading investment group. The nine changes listed in Bubenik Partners’ regular, prestigious quarterly selection „“ also include the appointment of new additions to the top management of an American technology company and the arrival of a new member on the Board of Directors of the largest Czech private foundation.

The selection for the fourth quarter of 2021 represents an aggregate view of market events through the eyes of Bubenik Partners, a renowned consulting company with 20 years of experience working daily amongst top managers in the Czech Republic. It is a representative overview of the most important events that occurred at the highest levels of Czech business in the given period.

There has been a lot of activity at the top of the corporate pyramids since spring 2021. In the second quarter, the number of changes in top positions in major Czech companies and domestic branches of international corporations doubled compared to the first three months of the year – and in the third quarter it increased even further, to forty recorded management changes. In the fourth quarter, managerial changes took place significantly less as companies and candidates traditionally postpone changes until the beginning of the new year.

„Movers and Shakers at the Top of Czech Business“ in the fourth quarter of 2021

(in alphabetical order)

The most remarkable managerial changes of the third quarter of 2021 according to Bubenik Partners

The most interesting managerial changes in the third quarter of 2021, according to Bubenik Partners, include the arrival of new heads to the management of the Czech branches of the world leader in digital payments and the world’s leading manufacturer of rolling stock. New managers were also appointed to the largest digitization project of the Czech banking sector, the largest Czech private foundation, the leading media house, home divisions of Europe’s largest price comparator, and an ambitious online supermarket expanding in Europe. The ten changes listed in Bubenik Partners’ regular, prestigious quarterly selection „Movers and shakers at the forefront of Czech business” include the acceptance of new reinforcements to the management of a leading telecommunications operator and the appointment of a new IT manager at the largest Czech bank.

The selection for the third quarter of 2021 represents an aggregate view of market events through the eyes of Bubenik Partners, a renowned consulting company with 20 years of experience working daily amongst top managers in the Czech Republic. It is a representative overview of the most important events that occurred at the highest levels of Czech business in the given period.

Activity at the top of the corporate pyramids has been quite busy since this spring. Changes in top positions in major Czech companies and domestic branches of international corporations increased again in the third quarter compared to the previous trimester. Already in the second quarter, the number of recorded changes doubled compared to the first – and in the third quarter it increased even further, to four dozen recorded top management changes.

„Since the spring easing of coronavirus restrictions, we have seen a gradual recovery in management recruitment. We’ve observed a growing appetite in our clients to supplement or strengthen the competencies of management teams, whether in an effort to expand business, or diversify their production and sales portfolio. The opening and development of new, usually digital, sales channels and overall technologization are also constantly continuing and accelerating,“ said Jan Bubeník, founder and managing partner of Bubenik Partners.

„However, uncertainty about the economic outlook – due not only to the deteriorating epidemiological situation, but also the sharp increase in energy prices, a number of raw materials, and other production inputs – has led a good few companies to be quite conservative when filling key leadership positions and to proceed rather cautiously. At the same time, this naturally increases the need for many clients to strengthen supply chain and purchasing management – and to transform this originally internal service into a truly strategic role,“ he added.  

Economic uncertainty is reflected in the fact that firms tend to give preference to internal candidates, whom they know and are in some way a „safe bet“, to external candidates, who may enrich the company with new impetus and experience, but whose integration can bring some risks. There is most likely pressure to save in an environment of general growth in consumer and producer prices, if companies try to avoid the additional costs associated with incentivizing and „onboarding“ external candidates.

In the third quarter, among the managerial changes recorded by Bubenik Partners, the share of transfers and promotions within a single company increased significantly, to the detriment of transfers between companies. The preference for internal candidates is also shown by the fact that more top management positions in local branches of multinational companies were filled in the third quarter by foreign managers moving within the global structure of the corporation.

„Movers and Shakers at the Top of Czech Business“ in the third quarter of 2021

(in alphabetical order)

Petr Brunclík – In September, he became the new Vice President for Information Technology at one of the major players in the field of telecommunications, the Vodafone Group (he joins the company from the banking sector, where he worked at the Slovenian NLB Group as Chief Operations Officer. He has previous work experience with companies such as Home Credit and GE Money).

Lenka Černá – In September, she became the new CEO of the leading publishing house Economia (she has been with Economia since October 2019, when she took up the position of non-executive vice chairman of the board of directors; she previously headed the advertising publishing house Annonce, managing the process of its digitization and subsequent integration into the media house Vltava Labe Media).

Zbyněk Kovář – In September, he became the new CEO of the branch of the international concern, The Coca-Cola Company Czech &Slovakia (during his almost twenty years of experience he worked primarily at Pivovary Staropramen, where during his 16-year tenure he held a number of managerial positions, including the position of Managing Director for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which he held for eight years).

Dan Kurucz – In September, he became General Manager for the Czech and Slovak Republics of the major engineering company Alstom (during his more than twenty years of experience, he worked, among other roles, as Chairman of the Board for KOVOSVIT MAS, as CEO of Vítkovice Heavy Machinery and as director of Czech Railways).

Jan Mayer – In September, he became the new CEO of the comparator Heureka in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and was formerly CEO of Dataweps (this change is part of the process of integrating Dataweps, which he founded, into Heureka’s portfolio after the acquisition in March 2021).

Olin Novák – In September, he became the new CEO of the leading Czech online food importer Rohlík. In Rohlík, he held the position of Group Chief Commercial Officer, from which he also participated in the development of the Hungarian (Kifli.hu), Austrian (Gurkerl.at) and German team (Knuspr.de); he previously worked for seven years at Tesco, where he managed marketing for the whole of Central Europe.

Ivana Plechatá – In September, she became director of the Vlčková Family Foundation building, a children’s hospice and palliative care centre in the Cibulka homestead in Prague (in the 1990s she held a parliamentary position; she later headed the Sue Ryder Home and Sue Ryder International, where she worked on projects in Europe and Africa).

Petr Polák – In September, he became the new Country Manager for the Czech Republic of the leading international company VISA (he brings more than ten years of experience in financial services and banking; in his previous work he was involved in the management of the company’s major business transformations at the international level).

Marek Růžička – In September he became the new CEO of Bankovní identita (for the past three years, he has been developing the Czech technology company Datasys in his role as CEO. He also worked as a consultant at Accenture, a global consulting firm, and the consulting division of Hewlett-Packard; he led the O2 Business division and subsequently the Network and IT division as chief operating officer).

Denisa Škantová – In August, she became the new Information Technology Director at the leading financial institution ČSOB (she has been working for 18 years in senior positions in banking and insurance, including as Executive Director of Operations and Purchasing at ČSOB and in the field of operations processing and digitization at Generali/Česká pojišťovna).

The most notable management changes of the second quarter of 2021 according to Bubenik Partners

According to Bubenik Partners, among the most interesting managerial changes in the second quarter of 2021 are the arrival of new general managers at the head of the largest beer producer, a Central European industrial automation group, a Czech bus manufacturer, a popular auction portal and local representations of a global stock market infrastructure provider and retail chain. The regular, prestigious quarterly selection „Movers and Shakers at the Top of Czech Business“ includes the addition of reinforcements to the global management of a leading manufacturer of nonwovens, as well as changes in top positions at the largest banking group and an ambitious online supermarket.

The selection for the second quarter of 2021 represents an aggregate view of what is happening on the market through the eyes of Bubenik Partners, a renowned consulting company, based on twenty years of experience with day-to-day operation among the top managers in the Czech Republic. It is a representative overview of the most important developments in the highest levels of Czech business during the given period.

“In the second quarter, the top of the corporate pyramids was busy once again, with an increase of changes in top positions compared to the previous three months.”

In the second quarter, the top of the corporate pyramids was busy once again, with an increase of changes in top positions compared to the previous three months – indicating that negotiations to add and strengthen management teams continued to take place during the „lockdowns“ caused by the global coronavirus pandemic. (Managerial changes announced in a given quarter traditionally reflect decisions made by companies and candidates three to six months ago). The revival of managerial recruitment is illustrated by the fact that this selection of „Movers and Shakers“ counts 10 names, while in the previous two quarters we selected only the eight most significant changes from a smaller number of managerial shifts.

Top managers are attracted to industries for which the pandemic has been a boost, or pointed out their resilience to economic cycle fluctuations.

The selection “ Movers and Shakers at the Top of Czech Business “ for the second quarter confirms that top managers are attracted to industries for which the pandemic has been a boost, or pointed out their resilience to economic cycle fluctuations, whether it’s online supermarket Rohlík, auction portal Aukro, stock exchange group Deutsche Börse or PFNonwovens, a manufacturer of nonwovens used in hygiene and healthcare. Traditional, brick-and-mortar, institutions also continue to reshape their leadership teams to support digital transformation and give women space to breathe new life into the roles that used to be more men-dominated – as evidenced by the change in ČSOB’s Board of Directors.

“Traditional, brick-and-mortar, institutions also continue to reshape their leadership teams to support digital transformation and give space to women.”

„Movers and Shakers at the Top of Czech Business“ in the second quarter of 2021

(in alphabetical order)

WEBINAR: The Brave New World of Top Executives

Bubenik Partners on the movers and shakers at the top of Czech business

01 June 2021|16:00 CET

Bubenik Partners in cooperation with Canadian Chamber of Commerce takes this opportunity to invite you to join our online event focused on the ups and downs of the executive search market and the challenges faced by corporate leaders over the past year.

• How do the latest phenomena sweeping Czech business shape the composition of C-level teams and the must-haves demanded of their members?
• Where do Czech-owned, up-and-coming global champions look for top executive talent?
• How do locally grown entrepreneurs turned successful industrialists go about succession planning, and how do they attract C-suite executives?
• How eagerly does Czech business welcome home seasoned Czech executives looking to return from their international assignments?

Presenters:
Jan Bubenik, Managing Partner, Bubenik Partners
Pavel Lhotka, Consulting Partner, Bubenik Partners
Marek Petruš, Client Partner, Bubenik Partners

Please register through email to Veronika Možišová, Executive Director of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, latest by 31 May 2021. On the day of the event, you will receive the link to join us in the virtual lobby.

Send Email to Register

We are looking forward to see you!

The Movers and Shakers at the Top of Czech Business in the First Quarter of 2021

According to Bubenik Partners, the 10 most interesting managerial changes in the first quarter of 2021 included the advancement of CEOs into the head of the leading Central European e-commerce platform, the largest lottery company and ambitious technology and consulting company. Our prestigious regular quarterly selection „The Movers and Shakers at the Top of Czech Business“ encompassed among other the return of the Czech manager to the Board of Directors of the largest domestic car manufacturer and changes in the top positions at the largest regional betting operator as well as the local branch of a giant software corporation. The largest Czech bank and a globally operating producer of nonwovens with the European management based in the Czech Republic hired experienced managers for the newly created positions. 

The selection for the first quarter of 2021 represents an aggregated view of the market changes through the lenses of Bubenik Partners, a renowned consulting company, built on twenty years of experience with day-to-day operation among top managers in the Czech Republic. This is meant as a representative overview of the most essential developments on the highest levels of the Czech business within the past period.

„Many of our clients have used the situation to fill or relatively strengthen top management teams,“ said Jan Bubeník, founder and managing partner of Bubenik Partners. „Like any crisis, the current one is an opportunity for those who have the courage and self-confidence when others hesitate.“

Like last year, in the selection „The Movers and Shakers at the Top of Czech Business“ appear remarkable comebacks of successful Czech leaders from abroad: Martin Jahn returned to the Škoda Auto Board of Directors from his international engagements within the Volkswagen Group and Jan Hanuš returned from the Hungarian Telenor, the largest e-commerce group in Central and Eastern Europe. 

Another eye-catching change took place in Česká spořitelna, which became the first domestic bank to establish a new position of Chief Sustainability Officer. 

Eight top management changes in the first quarter of 2021 according to Bubenik Partners

(in alphabetical order) 

Mariann Forsström – in March, she took on the newly created position of Commercial Director EMEA of the leading Czech nonwovens manufacturer PFNonwovens ((for many years, she worked at the competing Finnish company Suominen, most recently as Vice President for global trade).

Jan Hanuš – since the beginning of the year, he has been heading the MALL Group, the largest e-commerce platform in Central and Eastern Europe (he came from Telenor, the third-largest mobile operator in Hungary).

Martin Jahn – in March, he joined the Board of Directors of Škoda Auto as its member responsible for sales and marketing; his predecessor Alain Favey was entrusted with other tasks in the Volkswagen Group (Martin Jahn has been with the Volkswagen Group for the last 12 years and served in Germany, Russia and China).

Vladimír Klein – in March, he took on the role of Group Chief Technology Officer of Central Europe’s largest betting operator, Fortuna Entertainment Group (he previously managed IT at CETIN, and in the past was involved in the agile transformation of Moneta Money Bank).

Miloš Nitran – Since February, he has held the position of Chief Financial Officer of Microsoft Czech Republic and Slovakia (he joined the company back in 2008 and has held a number of roles since then; most recently he served as Chief Financial Officer in Central and Eastern Europe).

Matúš Púll – Starting March, he has moved to the newly created position of Chief Sustainability Officer at Česká spořitelna. In the position directly reporting to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Tomáš Salomon, his task will be to manage and coordinate both the bank’s internal and external activities, so that the institution becomes a key player in shaping sustainable development in the Czech Republic (Matúš Púll has been with Spořitelna since 2007, before which he went through a number of large banks such as Citibank and GE Money Bank).

Pavel Riegger – At the beginning of this year, he became Executive Director of the technology and consulting company Trask. He replaced his predecessor Filip Tománek, who moved to the position of Operations Director and will take care of the internal operation of the company and its preparation for the planned growth and expansion (Pavel Riegger took up the baton for Trask after sixteen years spent in the consulting company EY).

Aleš Veselý – Since February, he has been the CEO of the lottery company Sazka a.s. He replaced Robert Chvátal, who became Chairman of the Board of Sazka and is fully involved in the management of the international lottery group Sazka Group (Aleš Veselý has been with the company since 2013 as Marketing Director, the last three years also as Deputy CEO).

Bubenik Partners helps finding a CEO and COO for Vlček Family Foundation

Vlček Family Foundation is looking for a strategically-minded person as CEO and, as a natural partner in the leading tandem, also a capable COO. At Bubeník Partners, we are proud to be helping Ondřej Vlček find these experts.

The CEO will co-determine the priorities for the further development of the foundation and participate in co-creating a system that helps change the fate of many families. This will involve negotiations at many levels, from professional ones related to reimbursement for medical and social care, through business to political.

In addition to the operational management of the foundation, the COO will daily supervise the work of architects, builders and officials in the restoration of the historic Cibulka homestead in Košíře, Prague – and also work with various communities and the general public.

DOWNLOAD THE JOB DESCRIPTION

• Do you have many years of experience in big business or from a top role in a private, public or non-profit institution?
• Are you motivated by more than just making money? Do you want to spend your time working towards meaningful and tangible results?
• Do you have the desire and energy to co-create a unique project and contribute to purposeful things with a concrete and visible impact on the fate of many families?

Are you attracted to one of these „dream jobs“? Send your CV and cover letter to jobs@nrv.org 

We guarantee that you will wake up every morning with the feeling that you are doing work that really matters and that helps change the lives of real people every day.

Webinar by She Loves Data

2020 was an unprecedented year. Despite its challenges, it has taught us a lot about the importance of adaptability.

Three speakers including the founding partner of Bubenik Partners, Jan Bubenik, help us reflect on our learnings and optimize for a new year. They share their expert analysis of the effects of the global pandemic -and what that means for our labor market.
We invite you to watch the recording of the online webinar, where you will gain a unique insight into overcoming modern challenges and identifying emerging trends so you can thrive in our new normal.

In this webinar, the experts will discuss topics such as:
– How the pandemic has affected the Czech & Slovak labor markets
– What market trends have emerged due to Covid 19 & how we can optimize our approach
– Which job profiles have emerged due to this pandemic -and which have become obsolete
– How has diversity in the IT sector been affected
– How the interview process has evolved; face to face vs. all digital

Please note: This webinar is in Czech language.

WATCH HERE

Speakers

Jan Bubeník

Managing partner @Bubenik Partners

In 2001, Jan Bubeník founded Bubenik Partners, an executive search firm that focuses on the Central & Eastern European region and today serves as its managing partner. Bubenik Partner’s client base spans early-stage regional companies to global Fortune 500s. Jan was Chairman of the Corporate Council of Forum 2000–Vaclav Havel´s foundation.  Jan has also been serving on the Executive Committee of Young President Organization (YPO). Jan was one of the principal student leaders of the dissident movement and later served as the youngest Member of Parliament in the first post-Communist government. He has served as an advisor to several human rights and pro-Democracy organizations in Bulgaria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Cuba, and, as a result of his efforts to support Cuban dissidents in 2001 during a visit to Cuba; Bubeník was detained and jailed by Castro’s regime. He studied pediatrics at Prague’s Charles University Medical School, economics at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Renata Mrázová

Chief People Officer @Home Credit International

Renata Mrazova studied at the University of Economics, Prague, specializing in Economics and Commerce. Renata began her career in 1995 in the Swedish pharmaceutical company Astra where she had gone through several positions within Finance and HR. In June 2000 Renata joined ING Group as CFO CZ&SK (currently NN Group). In 2005 Renata decided to accept the offer to establish Direct Insurance Company at a “Greenfield”, where she, in the position of CEO and Chairman of the Board operated until July 2007. In the next period, she devoted herself to her family and family business. In September of 2009, she returned to the ING Group and worked as CFO again. At the end of 2010, she has become CEO NN Group for Czech and Slovak republics. As of August 2015, she moved to The Netherlands at the position of Global Head of HR of NN Group in The Hague. In 2019 she moved back to Czechia where she joined Home Credit International, a.s., as Chief People Officer. Renata is a proud mother of 2 daughters and is married.

Tereza Müllerová

COO @StartupJobs.cz

Tereza Müllerová has a great overview of what is happening in the startup world, thanks to which she can help companies to find the best candidates. Tereza is Chief Operations Officer in the StartupJobs and is the right hand of the founder and CEO Filip Mikschik. She is also fully responsible for the fulfillment of the business plan. At the same time, she takes care of employees and daily operations. She also spends a lot of time with customers, whom she can help to create the best job offers and can advise how to hire the best employees. She receives loads of advertisements every day, thanks to which she has a unique opportunity to follow current HR trends. Tereza graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Personnel Management in Industrial Enterprises at the Czech Technical University. Subsequently, she completed a master’s degree in Project Management of Regional Projects.

The Movers and Shakers at the Top of Czech Business in the Fourth Quarter of 2020

According to Bubenik Partners, the most significant managerial changes in the fourth quarter of 2020 included changes of CEOs at one of the major firearms manufacturers, in the Czech branches of an elevator supplier, a global security solutions agency, and a cash management company. 

Among other attention-catching changes were returns of managers from their foreign engagements – to the operator of a leading online comparison platform and an innovative technology company. Our prestigious quarterly selection „Movers and shakers at the forefront of the Czech business“ also comprised the accedence of a woman as a head of the banking association and shifts in the top management of the global leader in digital security. 

The „Top 8“ selection for the fourth quarter of 2020 represents an aggregated view of the developments on the market through the lens of Bubenik Partners, a renowned consulting company, which is building on twenty years of day-to-day operation experience with top managers in the Czech Republic. It is a comprehensive and representative selection of the most important occurrences at the forefront of the Czech business over the past period. 

While the top ten most significant changes were announced for every quarter of the last year, selection of the fourth quarter was narrowed down to „Top 8“. 

„In the past three months, there were demonstrably fewer changes in the top management compared to previous quarters. In our view, this is due to a combination of two factors: seasonal downturn as appointments agreed before the end of the year are traditionally postponed to January and increased uncertainty in the business sphere,“ said Jan Bubeník, founder and managing partner of Bubenik Partners, 

The movers and shakers at the forefront of the Czech business in the fourth quarter 2020 

(in alphabetical order) 

Pavel Adamovský – General Manager of the security agency SECURITAS Czech Republic (he took up the baton for the agency as its Country Executive Officer in November, after having previously spent 14 years at UPS, where he managed branches in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Russia, and Belarus). 

Branislav Baláž – Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Schindler CZ, a.s. – a Czech branch of the world leading elevator supplier (he joined the company back in 2018 as Business Area Director for New installations in the South and Eastern Europe after both national and international engagements at companies such as Hilti, GoodYear and KONE). 

Jaroslav Gaisler – General Manager of the online comparison platform Srovnejto.cz (he took over the firm owned by Bauer Media Group in November, after years spent abroad. Most recently he served as Chief Executive Officer of Home Credit International in Indonesia).  

Olivier Maurice – Country President for the Czech and Slovak Republics at Loomis (he joined the company specializing in cash management in November after over 20 years spent in the manufacturing sector in the Czech Republic and Asia). 

Lukáš Raška – In October, he assumed a newly created role of the Chief Commercial Officer at technology company Livesport (he spent nearly seven years as Chief Operating Officer for the Asia-Pacific markets at anti-virus company ESET; previously, he had also worked for AVG Technology and Dell). 

Miroslav Umlauf – Starting October is a Chief Data Officer at Avast, the world leader in digital security and privacy protection (he has been with Avast, resp. with AVG Technologies, which Avast took over back in 2016, for more than 10 years). 

Monika Zahálková – In November she became Executive Director of the Czech Banking Association, which associates banks and building societies operating on the Czech market (in her new role, she will apply more than twenty years of experience in the Corporate Governance area; from 2001 she served as Executive Director of Czech Institute of Directors). 

Jan Zajíc – Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Česká zbrojovka, a. s., one of the major European firearms manufacturers (he served in the firm since 2019 as Chief Financial Officer; previously he worked in various managerial roles at industrial companies both in the Czech Republic and internationally). 

For a Good Boss, People Will Go to Hell

“There are big changes happening in the market. Successful projects like Rohlík are speedily hiring. Decimated companies are waiting for a decision on who to get rid of. They’re postponing it for now. ‚If they don’t start now, they will lose,‘ says headhunter Jan Bubeník.“

Read more and watch the interview (in Czech) at Seznam Zprávy.

Guide on Where to Find a Mentor

No one has it all figured out. No matter our occupation or status, sometimes all of us could use a little guidance and inspiration from another person. One way to do that is through the concept of mentoring. Having a mentor offers to enhance your personal development for little or no cost at all. Let’s explore English-speaking programs and platforms where a working adult can find a mentor.

Check with Your Employer

„Mentoring programs are very popular now. I feel that mentoring is really the resource that could be tapped into by every company. It doesn’t cost much money and it helps people. It creates a better company atmosphere and people feel cared about.“ – Kristin LaRonca Parpel, Executive Coach and Consultant

If you work for a successful, established company, the chances are that they provide some type of mentoring program for their employees. Ask your boss or the HR department how you can get involved.

Examples of companies in Czechia with internal mentoring programs: Avast; Coca Cola; Česká spořitelna; ČEZ; Heineken; IBM; Innogy; Net4Gas… and many others.

Mentoring Programs in Prague

Prague English speaking mentoring programs are targeting specific business areas or genders. To be precise, one program in our selection is focused on start-up owners and the other three only accept women as mentees. If that doesn’t apply to you, feel free to skip to the next section.

1.Ment2Grow

Ment2Grow is a mentoring program for B2B start-ups organized by the British Chamber of Commerce. “The ideal applicant for the program is a B2B start-up in an advanced stage of development – a company with a high level of motivation and ambition to take its business to the next stage.” This program is free of charge.

2.Equilibrium

Another mentoring program under the auspices of BCC, and free of charge. Equilibrium is focused on supporting women in business. “The main goal is to encourage women in business and management positions, and also to provide support for those women returning to work after an extended period of time, or for those who just want to restart their career.”

3.Femme Palette

Femme Palette offers various mentoring programs for women. You can explore your career options, get advice on how to grow your business or sign up for a program focused on developing specific skills for Marketing, IT, HR or Design. Price of the program: 6,000 CZK.

4.My Odyssey

Odyssey is “the first CEE cross-company mentoring program, where top executives volunteer their time to help talented women in business, non-profit organizations or the public sector, grow personally and professionally. The objective of the program is to help these women reach their true potential.” Price of the program: 6,000 CZK.

Online Mentoring Platforms

Another option to look for a mentor is the numerous platforms that offer to connect you with a person you can bounce your ideas off of. No matter what your professional goals are, there is a program out there that promises to provide you with some inspiration. Check out these 5 mentoring platforms that we selected for you:

1.Find a Mentor

This free self-service tool matches mentees with mentors. When you join, you can build a profile and search the database to find a mentor who has common interests. In addition to one-on-one mentorships, members can also build a group to brainstorm and learn from peers.

2.MENTEE

Mentoring, Networking and Training for European Entrepreneurs is an EU co-funded project under the Erasmus + Programme of the European Commission. It’s addressing firstly new entrepreneurs who participated in the European Commission’s Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs program, but also other aspiring entrepreneurs.

3.Mentor Makers

Mentor Makers is a movement to inspire successful business leaders from traditional and non-traditional backgrounds to offer their time and expertise as mentors in support of entrepreneurs of all backgrounds.

4.MentorCity

This cloud-based mentor-matching service provides mentors for businesses, students, nonprofit organizations, and any individuals who are interested in finding a mentor. Mentees can use a free online registry to find the perfect mentor to meet their needs based on skills, industry, job function, experience, gender, location, and language.

5.SCORE

SCORE specializes in helping small businesses, providing a variety of tools. One of its biggest benefits is its mentor network, which attracts a large number of highly-qualified volunteers. Mentors are available in dozens of different industries, ensuring mentees can find the partners they need to succeed.

Reach out yourself

Haven’t found a program that matches your needs? Then defining what you want in a mentor and reaching out by yourself is another way to find a mentor in someone you truly admire. Some good places to have in mind when considering your potential mentor are:

1.Your existing professional circle

„First, it’s critical to know that, to find great mentors, you don’t want to reach out to strangers. That’s not how you’ll find them.“ – Kathy Caprino, Senior Contributor, Forbes

Try to look for a mentor among people who you already know and, most importantly, who already know you professionally, trust you and believe in your potential. What to do if there isn’t such a person in your circle? Reach out and build the connection first.

“Don’t ask for mentorship, but follow their work, and be helpful and supportive. Give, and give more.” – Kathy Caprino, Senior Contributor, Forbes

2.Networking events

3.Industry meet-ups and conferences

4.LinkedIn key-word-search

5….or search any other Social Media

If you feel that this is the way you wanna go but aren’t sure how to do it, there are some great articles that lead you through the process. Try: How to Find (and Keep) a Mentor in 10 Not-So-Easy Steps

Here’s to a Successful Search!

This list surely isn’t an exhaustive catalog of English-speaking mentoring opportunities for a working adult. Hopefully, though, it provides enough inspiration to get you started in your search for a mentor. Let us know if you miss some programs or platforms that you find worth mentioning and exploring. We would be happy to add them to the list – you can contact our Research & Knowledge Associate and author of this article Tereza Vichová.

Originally published November 4th, 2020: Prague-Expat-Friendly Guide on Where to Find a Mentor.

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)

Global CEO Search by Bubenik Partners Profiled at Leading Industry News Site

Hunt Scanlon Media — the most widely referenced, single source for information in the human capital sector — carried the news on our placement of Cedric Ballay as the new Group Chief Executive Officer at the Prague-headquartered PFNonwovens Group, the global hygiene nonwovens textile producer owned by the R2G family office.

Read more on Hunt Scanlon Media’s website.

Czech Republic’s Top Management Moves in the Second Quarter of 2020

The „Top 10“ management changes in the second quarter, in our view, included strengthening the group management of a leading online grocery store operator, the first-ever appointment of a woman to the Board of Directors at a major bank and a generational change at the helm of one of the main private equity players in Central Europe. Among other highlights were the placement of a partner of the consulting firm McKinsey & Company to a key role at lender Česká spořitelna, or the arrival of a new sales director to the e-commerce platform MALL Group.

Marek Petruš, Director of Research & Knowledge Management at Bubenik Partners, said the second quarter was marked by two ongoing trends: First, the traditional, brick-and-mortar financial and business sectors are no longer as attractive to management talent as the online business – four out of the top 10 were leadership changes at two companies running online platforms – Rohlík and MALL. Second, women increasingly receive greater opportunities within top management ranks – five out of the top 10 management shifts concerned female managers.

„In past years, classic ‚brick-and-mortar‘ corporate institutions, such as banks and retailers with a number of branches, have faced disruption in their traditional business models, and we now see that it is increasingly attractive for leaders and innovators to join, and offer their skills to, fast-growing technology platforms,“ said Jan Bubeník, founder and managing partner of the Bubenik Partners.

„We are also glad to note that companies of different sizes and from different business sectors select women for top positions more commonly and naturally than before. More and more companies realize that gender, age, or cultural diversity contributes significantly to enhancing companies’ innovation, competitiveness as well as employee retention.“

Top 10 management changes in the second quarter of 2020 according to Bubenik Partners

(in alphabetical order) 

„We have selected our 10 management changes of the first quarter of 2020 out of dozens of publicly announced changes that we have registered within our ongoing market monitoring,“ said Marek Petruš, Director of Research & Knowledge Management.

„The main criteria for shortlisting included the size of the managed company, the extent of responsibility entrusted to the manager, the complexity of the industry and entitlement to manage the company – as well as the global context, ie how Czech managerial talent succeeded in the regional or global environment,“ he added.

Weekly Ekonom: Online Business Draws Management Talent While Women Receive Promotions

Bubenik Partner’s top 10 picks published by the leading economic weekly magazine Ekonom (in Czech).

Bubenik Partners Recruits New Global Chief Executive Officer for PFNonwovens Holding

Central European executive search firm Bubenik Partners has assisted the owners of PFNonwovens Holding s.r.o. (“PFN”) in the recruitment of Mr. Cedric Ballay as the new Group Chief Executive Officer. The leadership change is the result of a long-planned succession at the helm of the Prague-headquartered PFN Group, the global hygiene nonwovens textile producer owned by the R2G family office. Mr. Ballay brings a wealth of industry experience to the role, having served in senior leadership capacities in Berry Global Group and General Electric.

The Prague-based Bubenik Partners team systematically identified and evaluated dozens of initial prospects from a range of relevant industries across the globe, before narrowing the field to a handful of shortlisted candidates who interviewed with PFN’s owners.

“What we particularly appreciated was a thorough, systematic approach of the Bubenik Partners team. Their dedication and attention to detail, in the end, made all the difference,” said Mr. Michal Smrek, Chief Executive Officer at R2G, which represents PFN’s owners.

“We highly valued the rigorous preparatory phase. That allowed us to efficiently arrive at a strong, well-researched shortlist. After verifying the best cultural fit, we were able to quickly pick the most suitable candidate. And it all went very smoothly, with the search completed within three months,” said Mr. Smrek.

Mr. Ballay will assume the CEO position from September 1, 2020. He will take over from Mr. Allen Bodford, who has led the PFN Group since its June 2018 acquisition of the nonwovens business belonging to the US-based First Quality Enterprises.

“Transparent ownership by accomplished entrepreneurs, great industry reputation, and world-class technological prowess of PFN Group made for an attractive career proposition to lure a global management talent,” said Jan Bubeník, founder and Managing Partner of Bubenik Partners.

“We are proud to have supported yet another Czech-based, globally-operating company in the recruitment of a top executive. It would not be possible without the trust and very effective cooperation of the R2G management and owners during the entire search process,” said Mr. Bubeník.

Mr. Cedric Ballay joins PFN from Berry Global Group, Inc. (NYSE:BERY) where he served as Executive Vice President and General Manager for the Health, Hygiene & Specialties Division in Europe, Middle East, Africa and India (EMEIA) regions. Before Berry, Mr. Ballay spent 16 years with General Electric. He is a board member of the European Disposables and Nonwovens Association (EDANA).

When Searching for Top Managers, It Is Not About Their Heads, but Rather Their Hearts

„‚It may seem that there are dozens of Executive Search firms on the market, but the quality ones can be counted on the fingers of one hand,‘ thinks Jan Bubeník, founder of Bubenik Partners, one of the most prominent, albeit smaller, Czech headhunting companies.“ Read more in the story on Ekonom:

When Searching for Top Managers, It Is Not About Their Heads, but Rather Their Hearts | Read more (a story in the Ekonom weekly, in Czech)

Czech Republic’s Top Management Moves in the First Quarter of 2020

The most important management moves in the first quarter of 2020 in the Czech Republic included a leadership change in one of the world’s leading consumer finance providers and the advancement of Czechs into the management of a top luxury hotel as well as the domestic unit of a global industrial corporation. Among other eye-catching moves were an appointment of a Czech executive at one of the largest paper mills in the region and top management changes at a leading brewer and at banking, IT, and e-commerce companies. At Bubenik Partners, we leveraged our research to compile the list of 10 changes that we consider worth noticing (see the full list below).

The global outbreak of the novel coronavirus confronted newly assigned managers with unexpected and unprecedented decisions and shifted their focus, at least in the short run, from strategy and business development to crisis management and health protection.

„Management changes of the past quarter reflect decisions made 3-6 months ago, long before the onset of the pandemic in Europe, when companies were mostly planning further development or expansion in domestic and foreign markets,“ said Jan Bubeník, founder and managing partner of Bubenik Partners.

„Managers who have taken on new roles in recent months suddenly faced an entirely different economic situation and business outlook compared to what they had initially expected their mission to be.“

Marek Petruš, Director of Research & Knowledge Management at Bubenik Partners, said that the end of last year and the beginning of this year was marked by a general interest in assigning new managers to take digital transformation and related roles across a wide range of industries.

„Many companies have been seeking managerial reinforcement in their IT teams with a special emphasis on IT risks and cybersecurity. Sales directors experienced in international expansion have also been in demand. We have also spotted a number of successful returns from abroad and the advancement of Czech managers to the top management ranks of local units of global companies,“ he added.

Ten most interesting management moves in the first quarter of 2020

(in alphabetical order)

• • Martin Dell – CEO of the Four Seasons Hotel Prague (previously Resort Manager at Four Seasons Maui, Hawaii; he comes back to the Czech Republic after almost two decades spent in running hotel businesses across the globe)

• • Petr Domin – CEO of the Slovenian paper mill Vipap Videm Krško (previously worked for 30 years in the food packaging company Huhtamaki Oy)

• • Jean-Pascal Duvieusart – CEO of Home Credit International (since 2010 is a shareholder in the parent PPF Group; previously worked for 18 years at McKinsey and Company)

• • Klára Escobar – HR Director at MONETA Money Bank (previously held a similar position in Hello bank! Czech Republic)

• • Zdenek Havlena – Director of Pivovary Staropramen for the Czech Republic and Slovakia (in January 2017 he returned to the company from an international assignment to take the CFO position; since the second half of 2020 he worked as Commercial Director)

• • Tomáš Jelínek – Member of the Board of Directors in Raiffeisenbank, responsible for Markets & Investment Banking (working at the bank since 2005, from 2013 to 2020 as CFO)

• • Vítězslav Lukáš – CEO of ABB Czech Republic (working in the group since 1998, most recently in the position of Director of Robotics and Automation, which he is still holding)

• • Magda Pokorná – Director of Corporate Affairs at the real estate developer Crestyl (previously with the law firm Allen & Overy)

• • Vladek Šlezingr – CEO in the Czech unit of Atos IT Solutions and Services (previously CEO of the Czech branch of IBM and subsequently a member of the leadership of IBM Global Business Services for the entire CEE region)

• • Ladislav Veselý – CEO of Slevomat (between 2018 and 2019 he managed the company’s operations, previously he worked at the Economia publishing house and internet company Seznam)

„We selected our ‚Top 10‘ of the first quarter of 2020 out of dozens of publicly announced management changes that we registered as part of our ongoing market monitoring,“ said Marek Petruš, Director of Research & Knowledge Management.

„The main criteria for selection were the size of the managed company, the schope of responsibility of the given executive, the complexity of the given company’s industry and business, and also, of course, the global context, i.e., how Czech managerial talent succeeded in a regional or the global environment,“ he added.

Marshall Goldsmith, the world’s leading executive coach, is visiting Prague to share his insights in a one-day Leadership program on April 22, 2020. At Bubenik Partners, we have become a proud partner of the event.

Dr. Marshall Goldsmith is the world authority in helping successful leaders achieve positive, lasting change in behavior for themselves and their teams. He has been recognized as the #1 Executive Coach in the world every year for the past decade. Marshall is the # 1 New York Times bestselling author or editor of 40 books, which have been translated into 32 languages. Two of these books, Triggers and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, have been recognized by Amazon in their listing of the Top 100 Leadership and Success Books ever written.

For more information and registration, visit the event’s website.

Please use this unique discount code BUBENIKPARTNERS to get our reduced price 9 900 CZK plus VAT.

Our Top 10 Picks for Interesting Shifts in Czech Management Landscape in 2019

The most interesting shifts in the management landscape in the Czech Republic included changes at the helm of the largest insurance company, one of the leading banks, a global technology company, and also the advancement of Czech executives to critical positions in the multinational corporations’ home markets. At Bubenik Partners, we leveraged our research to compile the list of 10 changes that we consider worth noticing (see the full list below).

„Among changes that drew our attention last year were returns of Czech top managers from abroad and transfers within the top-level corporate management locally. Furthermore, important to mention were decisions of global corporations to entrust managers, who grew up here, with overseeing large markets at their home base,“ said Jan Bubeník, founder and managing partner of Bubenik Partners.

Ten most interesting shifts in Czech management landscape in 2019

(in alphabetical order)

• Jakub Dusílek – General Manager of UniCredit Bank Czech Republic and Slovakia (from 2016 to 2018 at UniCredit Bank Romania)
• Roman Juráš – General Manager of Česká pojišťovna (before CEO at Slovak insurance company Generali)
• Petr Kováč – Partner for Corporate Finance at consulting company EY (before Managing Director at C Corporate Finance)
• Miroslav Lukeš – Senior Vice President of Mastercard, New York (before General Manager at the same company for Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria)
• Renata Mrázová – Chief People Officer at Home Credit International (before Global Head of HR at NN Group)
• Marek Skysľak – Sales Director at Coca Cola HBC Czech Republic and Slovakia (before Managing Director at Procter & Gamble Czech Republic and Slovakia)
• Aleš Struminský – General Manager of Imperial Tobacco for Great Britain and Ireland (previous position: General Manager of Imperial Tobacco for the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland)
• Juraj Šedivý – CEO CETIN (during 2006-2009 CEO of Telefónica O2 Slovakia)
• Vít Vážan – General Manager of České radiokomunikace (before CFO at the same company)
• Ondřej Vlček – CEO Avast (before President of Consumer Division at the same company)

„We selected our ‚Top 10‘ managerial shifts in 2019 from the dozens of publicly announced changes that we have encountered during our ongoing market monitoring. The main criteria for selection were the size of the managed company, the extent of managerial responsibilities, the complexity of the industry and company governance, and, of course, the global context, i.e., how Czech managerial talent succeeded in the regional or global field,“ said Marek Petruš, Director of Research & Knowledge Management at Bubenik Partners.

A big theme: Family businesses look for new leaders to succeed founders

„Despite signs of a slowdown in some sectors, interest in recruiting managers for further business development and expansion prevailed last year. The market mood was also reflected in the interest in beefing up the leadership of M&A teams at the Big Four consulting firms and banks. Many companies in the so-called ‚old economy‘ continued to build up digital skills or to hire managers with the ability and experience to automate manufacturing, warehouse, and other processes,“ said Jan Bubeník.

A big theme has become the quest to find professional management to run family businesses built from the 1990s, whose founders have no heirs apparent to succeed them in their leadership positions.

„Successor positions offer a great opportunity for seasoned managers from global corporations. In originally family businesses, they can get enough space and freedom, be strongly interested in the outcome, and have the prospect of eventually becoming co-owners of managed companies,“ noted Jan Bubeník.

An example of a leadership succession story, with Bubenik Partners consultants engaged in the selection of the new CEO, is the Olomouc-based company Mapro, a supplier of technologies for plastic injection and production automation.

„At first, going through a costly and time-consuming selection process with an executive search company did not seem like the best idea. However, in the end, it turned out to be the right thing to do. We managed to find a skillful person from the region, whom we probably would not have the courage to approach. Thanks to cooperation with Bubenik Partners, we were able to attract a manager who has the appropriate professional background and is mature enough to take over the company as a new CEO,“ said Boris Lucký, co-founder of Mapro.

3 Conclusions on the Choice of Internal vs External Candidates

Which way to go when selecting an executive for a critical leadership role: Pick an internal or hire an external candidate? Many clients tend to ask this question, both themselves and ourselves. In this article, Marek Petruš, our Research Director, summarizes three conclusions informed both by established practice and selected research papers.

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It Makes Sense to Have an Opinion on People but It’s Good Not to Judge Them | Read more (in Czech)

Banks Want “Team Conductors” as Their Leaders | Read more (in Czech)

The Right Person to the Right Place | Read more (in Czech)

People Who Go Together Well | Read more (in Czech)

More Women in Leadership Means Greater Profit for the Company | Read more (in Czech)

Leader’s Authenticity and the Ability to Inspire are the Key Attributes for the Success of a Company | Watch more (in Czech)

Happy Times? Lonely at the Top | Read more (in Czech)

We Must Learn to Punish Mischief | Read more (in Czech)

What Has Been a Failure in the Last 25 Years? To Establish Politics | Read more (in Czech)

Interview For Czech Studio Zet Station | Watch more (in Czech)

Headhunting Anecdotes… | Watch more (in Czech)

Quotas – Let the Loafers Go Bust! | Read more (in Czech)

Interview For Czech Television’s Hyde Park | Watch more (in Czech)

Interview For Czech Television’s Krásný Ztráty | Watch more (in Czech)