České Dráhy Names New CEO

Ivan Bednárik, who has previously managed the subsidiary ČD Cargo, has become the new Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Czech Railways. He will replace Václav Nebeský, who will move to the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors. The current Deputy CEO of ČD, Patrik Horný, then ends up in the company’s management. The company’s supervisory board decided on it today, the company announced. According to the Minister of Transport, Karel Havlíček, the changes should strengthen the company in crisis and financial management.

“As a long-term chairman of the Board of Directors of ČD Cargo, Ivan Bednárik has proven that he has the key prerequisites to carry out Czech Railways in the coming challenging stage. to strengthen its financial position and continue the demanding investment program and the improvement of its services, “said the Chairman of the Supervisory Board Pavel Kysilka.

Czech Railways lost almost two billion crowns in the first half of this year due to the coronavirus crisis. For the whole of this year, the company expects to lose a fare income of more than three billion crowns.

Nebeský has been at the head of the state carrier since last September. However, he remains in the leadership and will move to the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors. “The board of directors under his leadership was able to react quickly to crisis developments and, in completely non-standard conditions, set up one of the largest companies in the country,” Kysilka said. Even before today’s council’s decision, Minister Havlíček explained its expected end by saying that Nebeský is not a typical crisis manager. As Vice-Chairman, he will be responsible for project management, subsidies and IT, and the associated digitization of services and processes. The company promises cost savings from the efficiency of these parts.

Patrik Horný, who was still responsible for the economy, ends up on the board, which will now be managed directly by the new head of Bednárik. The Supervisory Board unanimously agreed on the changes.

The current Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors, Michal Kraus, remains in the management as an ordinary member of the Board of Directors and will continue to be in charge of operations. Other members of the Board of Directors are Petr Pavelec, who is responsible for asset management, and Jiří Ješeta, who heads the sales section.

The Czech Railways group consists of passenger carriers and ČD Cargo freight. The group also includes the Railway Research Institute, a provider of ČD Telematika data services, or a provider of ČD Information Systems ICT services. The group employs around 23,500 people.