UP&DOWN



PEOPLE UP

Marek Potysz
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Marek Potysz
According to the CEO of Euromednet, all of the eight indebted hospitals it took over in the past three years are “in the black” today. The firm has currently 3,700 employees and provides 1,900 beds.
Pavel Kafka
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Pavel Kafka
The director of Czech branch of Siemens announced that the “Rail vehicles” division will invest over CZK 2 billion into modernization and plans to increase the number of employees from 1,000 up to 1,300. Siemens is also executing investments worth hundreds of millions in Frenštát pod Radhoštěm and Mohelnice.
Martin Sýkora
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Martin Sýkora
Under Sýkora’s management, Kerio Technologies became The Best Czech Employer of 2005, based on employees’ opinions, the firm’s HR policy, and top management’s assessment. This Plzeň-based company employs 74 people, and beat out companies like Hewlett-Packard and GSK.

PEOPLE DOWN

Josef Mikuta
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Josef Mikuta
This ČSSD MP is regarded as a champion in exploiting the advantages that his position offers. In the parliament canteen, he feeds both his wife (as an “assistant”) and his daughter (as a “student observing work of the parliament”). He also receives CZK 17 000 monthly allowance for a regional office, which he established in his flat.
Jiří Janeček
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Jiří Janeček
The Czech TV director sent letters to all ČT fee-dodgers, asking them to pay their debt within 30 days. However, even proper payers were contacted, and the only route for protest is an expensive hot line, which charges while waiting for a connection.
Martin Petrášek
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Martin Petrášek
The general director of Stock Plzeň-Božkov faces a decrease in liquor consumption in this country, as a result of higher consumer taxes. Last year the company’s gross profit fell by half compared to 2003 (to CZK 267 million). Stock expects further drops in profit this year.

 

Jan Bárta
Photo: luminum

Karel Vavruška: A model for young entrepreneurs
LONG-TIME Hewlett-Packard corporate communication manager Karel Vavruška (60) is one of the most active volunteers on the Junior Achievement project. This organization’s goal is to provide children with education in economics, and to develop their knowledge in business so they can later succeed on the job market. He regularly visits several Prague middle school classes, where he serves the students as a model from the field. For this activity he received the Křesadlo (Flint and Steel) prize in 2004 from the Hestia-National Volunteer Center association. “It’s mutually enriching,” admits the new Křesadlo holder. “Students are completely different from customers. They sit on the ground in jeans and t-shirts and aren’t afraid to ask questions. It brings me back to reality,” smiles this manager who has made his mark in the world of big business. “I try to explain to the kids how HP does business in order to be successful, and how they should behave in their virtual firms to enjoy similar success. Or how to learn from their mistakes,” Vavruška says.
This former college professor joined HP in Czechoslovakia in 1979, during a period of deep socialism. He climbed the corporate ladder from sales representative through marketing and on to public affairs, his current domain. This man, who enjoys great respect at HP from his colleagues is now in charge of not only presenting HP to the public and classic PR, but also training employees. Vavruška intends to continue with his volunteer work, even though he has less and less time. He spends half the month in Russia, where he helps set up new HP branches. Additionally, he’s a passionate philologist – he already speaks five languages and wants to add Chinese. “It interests me because a language reflects a people’s thinking,” he says.

 

 

Štěpán Halada & Cornelie Haladová
Photo: luminum

Petr Šmíd: Czechs roll over Europe
FIFTH-YEAR School of Economics student Petr Šmíd (23) has reason to celebrate. He led three classmates, who democratically elected him team leader, all the way to victory in the April managerial abilities competition “KPMG European Case Com-petition,” which is organized by KPMG in Prague. This was the first time Czechs had taken part in the European finals, featuring the winners of national rounds from ten countries, and they won right away. “We had three hours to elaborate a case study and subsequently present strategic development plans for Toyota, McDonald’s, and Vodafone,” Šmíd says. What was decisive for their victory? “Our team comprised strong personalities who hardly needed any leadership. We played well delegated roles, plus we had experience with presentations and solving problems in English,” explains the leader, whose team won its spurs in the prestigious Canadian “Case Competition” at the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario, where they came in second this year. Last year they made the finals, and the year before they even won. “True, winning competitions like that doesn’t bring a person any immediate advantages at selection proceedings, but it certainly opens doors,” claims Petr, who appreciates that he tested not only his skills, but also working in a team, and learned that he enjoys it immensely. When he finishes school he wants to join McKinsey consulting firm, with which he has already signed a contract. “I like their corporate culture and the way they communicate with each other.” This pleasant young man, who speaks English, German, and a little French, is the prototype of the promising expert – he combines self-confidence and success with humility and a desire to learn new things. His favorite way to relax is sports – squash, swimming, skiing, and cycling, but also taking walks with his girlfriend..


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