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UP&DOWN
Written by: Monika Mudranincová

PEOPLE UP

Photo: Petr Poliak		Ondřej Trojan The film Želary, which he produced and directed, won an Oscar nomination. It is already Trojan's second big success - in 2000 he produced Hřebejk's film Musíme si pomáhat, which was also nominated for an Oscar.
Photo: Petr Poliak		Terrence Valeski According to its CEO, Eurotel's net profit was CZK 7.25 billion last year, which is 16% more than the previous year and more than that of mother company Český Telecom. Revenues arose mainly from new services, single-fee, unlimited internet access, and innovative tariff programs.
Photo: archiv		Michal Basch According to a MF Dnes survey of Prague city halls (districts 1 to 10), the best officials are in Prague 2. The mayor of this district claims that they have had good relations with the citizens there for a long time. Prague 7 city hall received the worst rating.

PEOPLE DOWN

Photo: ČTK		Miloš Kužvart The ČSSD MP who was appointed Euro-commissioner in Brussels rejected the post at the last minute. Officially due to lack of government support, but according to diplomatic sources, he was not up to the position.
Photo: ČTK		Jiří Šedivý The former chief of the General Staff (headquarters) founded a company called Generals, which advises firms on how to compete for army tenders. He allegedly cooperates with some other former generals, such as the former chief of the military intelligence service Andor Šándor.
Photo: ČTK		Tomáš Pitr The owner of the food company Setuza and one of the richest Czechs is charged with illegal value-added tax cuts in the value of almost CZK 7 million. Pitr is being tried together with five other people, and if found guilty, he might end up in prison for 12 years.

Photo: Andrea Horská

Jiří Janeček: Tilting at windmills
IT HAS BEEN over six months since Jiří Janeček (47) took over the hot seat of Czech Television's general director, becoming the public station's fifth boss in the last five years. A seasoned television matador who originally worked in a chemical plant, he rose to become a regional news editor after signing on with his current employer after 1989 as a journeyman. He was later promoted to anchor the News show and then to head the news service. However, he is not in an enviable position. These days Czech public television reminds one of a corrida, where survival is the issue - for years it has been in the red to the tune of many millions of crowns, and its editors and managers are often pressured by political parties and business interests. Despite all the problems, Janeček doesn't regret taking the job. "I've never gotten anything for free; I'm used to fighting," he says convincingly. Last year he introduced a new broadcast scheme, cancelling hundred of jobs, and cutting a total of CZK 120 million from its expenditures. This year he plans to cut another 200 jobs, reduce costs further, generate additional revenues, and push through an increase in subscription fees. His goal is to turn Czech Television into something viewers like to watch, something its employees can be proud of. "Within two years ČT will be functioning perfectly!" he promises.
This completely "normal, nice" guy, as his colleagues describe him, is exerting all his strength to make the storm-tossed mammoth healthy. However, this Tábor native, father of two sons, and devotee of southern Bohemia will pay the stiff price of spending less time on his favorite activities - sports, literature, movies, and trips to the seaside.

	Photo: Andrea Horská

Aleš Vobruba: Building on loyalty
ALEŠ VOBRUBA (44) of Orco Property Group has made his way up to the number one management position in the Czech operations of this Luxembourg-based development company. Orco engages in the construction and management of office buildings, reconstruction of luxury residences, and hotel operation. Vobruba joined Orco in 1995 after working for Dopravní stavby Olomouc and the construction firm TAP/ARC. His long-term loyalty to a single firm gradually ensured his promotion, from the position of financial director to vice-president for asset management, finance, new acquisitions, and sales in the Czech Republic and abroad. This manager with a reputation as a strong negotiator is ever more frequently involved in the key strategic decisions of the firm, which is a strong player on the Czech real estate market.
At the beginning of this year he served as "frontman" in the closely observed transaction when Orco bought IPB Real, a well-known developer, from the Czech Consolidation Agency. IPB Real was originally a subsidiary of the failed Investiční a Poštovní banka. As he says, the investment of CZK 602 million was worth it. This year alone IPB Real is preparing to build 1,500 apartments and is expanding its offer portfolio. One of the three members of the new IPB Real board of directors, Vobruba will have his hands full. "It's an enormous challenge for me, and a big burden. We have to find our way around a new market segment," he says.
Vobruba says he has no ambition to rise higher within the firm, he's more interested in new projects, partners, and territories. "In my ten years with the company I've never been bored. Another advantage of working with a Francophone company is that you learn to appreciate fine food and drink," he says with a laugh. The father of two sons, he loves Baroque music and trekking, and his dream is to hike in the Andes or the Himalayas and climb to 5,000 meters above sea level.