Expat Leaders in the Czech Republic: TOP CEOs

Carmakers Škoda and Hyundai, energy company E.ON, petrochemical and refining group Orlen Unipetrol, and retail players like Lidl, Penny, and Kaufland — all of them have foreign CEOs at the helm of their Czech operations. An exclusive overview of these leaders has been compiled for e15 by the Global Minds project.

Ten out of the top fifteen companies featured at the top of the “100 Most Significant” ranking in the Czech Republic are led by elite foreign CEOs. Their expertise and international experience are essential for many of the largest companies on the market. Their influence is particularly strong in sectors such as retail, the automotive industry, and telecommunications. That’s why the Global Minds project, initiated by the Cover Story agency, has put together an exclusive overview for e15 featuring forty leaders who rank among the most influential expats in the country.

Among them are not only well-known names such as Klaus Zellmer of Škoda Auto and Vodafone CEO (and former head of Microsoft Czech Republic) Violeta Luca, but also “local newcomers.” For example, Sam Barnett, former CEO of media group MBC, took over in May as CEO of Central European Media Enterprises (CME), which operates TV Nova. “The key criteria for selection were not only the economic impact of the companies they lead but also whether they are physically present in the Czech Republic, at least to some extent. Most of the listed executives are responsible for the Czech market. However, we also included several Central European leaders who manage business for multiple countries from Prague,” explains Jaroslav Kramer, director of Cover Story, on behalf of the Global Minds project, adding that the list is not definitive and will be updated regularly.

Expat Leaders in the Czech Republic: TOP CEOs 2025

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The forty names span various sectors — from technology and food production to real estate development. Women make up just under a quarter of those included. These include Emilia Grand-Perret, CEO of Novartis; Monika Masewicz, head of L’Oréal; Anna Szymanek from Decathlon; Claudia Viohl of E.ON; and Nemika Menevse, CEO of Twisto. Also featured is Melinda Szabó, head of T-Mobile Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Four of the listed executives carry a special designation: “Honorable Mentions.” These individuals have been active in the Czech Republic for several decades — unlike most of the other featured leaders. “It wouldn’t be right to leave them out of the overview, even if they themselves may no longer consider themselves foreign managers in a foreign country. They’ve built or are leading companies whose legacies many Czechs proudly identify with today,” says Jaroslav Kramer, citing examples such as Alessandro Pasquale, owner of Mattoni 1873 and second-generation successor to the Czech-Italian heritage of founder Heinrich Mattoni. Another notable figure is Carlo Capalbo, who launched the Prague International Marathon project in 1995.

The overview was compiled by the Cover Story agency based on data from the 100 Most Significant ranking organized by CzechTop100 Group, as well as media summaries of the most influential CEOs and market recommendations. “This CEO overview will be followed in the autumn by a second summary, highlighting key foreign board members and senior executives of the most important companies. Both lists will be complemented by a special selection of inspiring Czech managers working abroad,” adds Jaroslav Kramer.