Editorial - British Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic
Editorial - British Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic
Editorial - British Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic
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BCC members<br />
Patrons<br />
Aviva životní pojišťovna, a.s.<br />
DIRECT Pojišťovna, a.s.<br />
GE Money Bank <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong><br />
G4S Security Services (CZ), a.s.<br />
Hogan Lovells (Prague) LLP - organizační složka<br />
HSBC Bank plc - pobočka Praha<br />
K<strong>in</strong>stellar, s.r.o., advokátní kancelář<br />
Provident F<strong>in</strong>ancial, s.r.o.<br />
Tesco Stores ČR a.s.<br />
Vodafone CR, a. s.<br />
Zátiší Cater<strong>in</strong>g Group, a.s.<br />
Full Corporate Members<br />
Ahrend s.r.o.<br />
AstraZeneca <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> s.r.o.<br />
BDO Audit s.r.o.<br />
BRUSH SEM s.r.o.<br />
Clifford Chance LLP organizační složka<br />
CMS Cameron McKenna v.o.s.<br />
CPI Hotels, a.s.<br />
Buddha-Bar Hotel Prague<br />
Clarion Hotel Prague Old Town<br />
Crown Relocations<br />
Česká spořitelna, a.s.<br />
Deloitte Advisory s. r. o.<br />
DHL Express (<strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>) s.r.o.<br />
DTZ <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>, a.s.<br />
ENVIROS, s.r.o.<br />
Ernst & Young, s.r.o.<br />
Eurest, spol. s.r.o.<br />
Fackelmann CR s.r.o.<br />
General Electric International, Inc., organizační složka<br />
GISTRANS <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> s.r.o.<br />
Grafton Recruitment, s.r.o.<br />
Hard Rock Café (<strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>), s.r.o.<br />
Hilton Hotels <strong>in</strong> Prague<br />
IMI International, s.r.o.<br />
ING BANK N.V.<br />
ING Životní pojišťovna N.V.<br />
Jones Lang LaSalle European Services Limited<br />
Jurys Inn Prague<br />
KPMG Česká republika, s. r. o.<br />
Lease Plan <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>, s.r.o.<br />
Logica <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> s.r.o.<br />
London Market a.s.<br />
MARSH, s. r. o.<br />
Mazars s.r.o.<br />
Metrostav a.s.<br />
Monster Worldwide CZ, s. r. o.<br />
Mott MacDonald Praha, spol. s r. o.<br />
Mövenpick Hotel Prague<br />
Noerr v.o.s.<br />
PENTA INVESTMENTS LIMITED,<br />
organizační složka<br />
PricewaterhouseCoopers Česká republika, s.r.o.<br />
Rexam Beverage Can <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> s.r.o.<br />
Ricardo Prague, s.r.o.,<br />
Rocco Forte & Family (<strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> ) s.r.o.-<br />
The August<strong>in</strong><br />
Sheraton Prague Charles Square Hotel<br />
Sodexo s.r.o.<br />
Syngenta <strong>Czech</strong> s.r.o.<br />
The Royal Bank <strong>of</strong> Scotland N.V.<br />
TMF <strong>Czech</strong>, a. s.<br />
Travelex<br />
TÜV SÜD <strong>Czech</strong> s.r.o.<br />
UNILEVER ČR, s.r.o.<br />
Vienna International Hotel<br />
- Diplomat Hotel Prague<br />
- Hotel Le Palais Prague<br />
- Hotel Palace Praha s.r.o.<br />
- Hotel Savoy<br />
White & Case<br />
Xerox <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> s.r.o.<br />
Small Corporate Members<br />
ACCA<br />
Ambruz & Dark, advokáti, v. o. s.<br />
Aria Hotel<br />
ASB Prague, s.r.o.<br />
Avestus Real Estate (<strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>) s.r.o.<br />
B.I.B.S., a.s.<br />
BAE Systems <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> s.r.o.<br />
Baker Tilly <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>,spol. s r.o.<br />
BCD Travel <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> s.r.o.<br />
Bird & Bird, s.r.o.<br />
bnt - pravda & partner, s.r.o.<br />
bpv Braun Partners s.r.o.<br />
BUSINESS LEASE s.r.o.<br />
CALEDONIAN SCHOOL s.r.o.<br />
Corus Central Europe, s.r.o.<br />
CTP Invest, spol. s r.o.<br />
<strong>Czech</strong> Golf Network, s.r.o.<br />
ČESKÁ INFORMAČNÍ AGENTURA,s.r.o.<br />
Direct Communication, s.r.o.<br />
DLA Piper Prague LLP, organizační složka<br />
DRILL B.S. spol. s r.o.<br />
Elok-Opava spol. s r. o.<br />
Et netera a.s.<br />
FLEISHMAN - HILLARD, s.r.o.<br />
GLEEDS ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA, s.r.o.<br />
Hogg Rob<strong>in</strong>son, s. r. o.<br />
Hotel grand majestic plaza<br />
Hotel H<strong>of</strong>fmeister<br />
International School <strong>of</strong> Prague, s.r.o.<br />
International SOS Assistance (CZ) s. r. o.<br />
International Study Programs s.r.o.<br />
Jazyková škola L<strong>in</strong>guaPlus, s.r.o.<br />
JJS Electronics s.r.o.<br />
K<strong>in</strong>narps a.s.<br />
KŠD ŠŤOVÍČEK advokátní kancelář, v.o.s.<br />
Maximillian hotel, Ploberger s.r.o.<br />
MEDIARESEARCH, a. s.<br />
MI-KING s. r. o.<br />
Moravský Peněžní Ústav<br />
OPTAGLIO s.r.o.<br />
PETERKA & PARTNERS v.o.s. advokátní kancelář<br />
Reed Personnnel <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong><br />
RENOMIA, a. s.<br />
Robert Half <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> s.r.o.<br />
Skyport a.s.<br />
Spencer Stuart Management Consult<strong>in</strong>g s.r.o.<br />
Storck Česká Republika, s.r.o.<br />
We<strong>in</strong>hold Legal, v.o.s.<br />
Reduce Rate<br />
3TS Capital Partners, s.r.o.<br />
Acorn Consult<strong>in</strong>g Ltd.<br />
ADBENTRUST s.r.o.<br />
ADC Blackfire Enterta<strong>in</strong>ment s.r.o.<br />
Ad’ore Market<strong>in</strong>g Communications,s.r.o.<br />
Advokátní kancelář Johnson Šťastný Kramařík<br />
Advokátní kancelář Polver<strong>in</strong>i, Strnad<br />
Arx Equity Partners, s.r.o.<br />
Aukett s.r.o.<br />
BarHill Real s.r.o.<br />
Best Communications<br />
<strong>British</strong> - <strong>Czech</strong> Commercial Consultancy<br />
Candole Partners (<strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>) s.r.o.<br />
CARRIAGES CZ s.r.o.<br />
CATRO s.r.o.<br />
CEAG s.r.o.<br />
CENTREPOINT s.r.o.<br />
CEPONA s.r.o.<br />
CET Capital s.r.o.<br />
CG Partners, spol. s r.o.<br />
Cook Communications s.r.o.<br />
Česká účetní kancelář, a.s.<br />
DAVCOR s.r.o.<br />
David Řehák REHAK & Co., advokátní kancelář<br />
Digital Resources a.s.<br />
Dr. Helena Křepelková Associated Consultants<br />
DSA a.s.<br />
EasyL<strong>in</strong>k Bus<strong>in</strong>essServices<br />
Employment Express<br />
ETHER Consult<strong>in</strong>g s.r.o.<br />
EUROGATE LOGISTICS spol. s r.o.<br />
Eva Drázská Pr<strong>in</strong>cipal Coach<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Evocreative s. r. o.<br />
Facility s.r.o.<br />
Factum Invenio, s.r.o.<br />
Fairway, s.r.o.<br />
FirstClients<br />
Fleet Sheet/E. S. Best s.r.o.<br />
Garlick s.r.o.<br />
Gerry Tipple, s.r.o.<br />
Giese & Partner, v.o.s.<br />
Grand Hotel Bohemia<br />
GROSSMANN JET SERVICE s.r.o.<br />
Hamble Services s.r.o.<br />
Hašek a spol. s.r.o.<br />
Haškovcová&Co.<br />
House <strong>of</strong> W<strong>in</strong>e s.r.o.<br />
Howl<strong>in</strong>gs s. r. o.<br />
Chateu Mcely s.r.o.<br />
Chemelek spol. s r.o.<br />
Ian Bryan Architects (IBA)<br />
IB Grant Thornton Consult<strong>in</strong>g s.r.o.<br />
ICT Recruitment s. r. o.<br />
<strong>in</strong>g. Pavel Brychc<strong>in</strong> MBA<br />
International School <strong>of</strong> Brno<br />
Inspiro Solutions s.r.o.<br />
ITTP spol. s r.o.<br />
Jacobs Consultancy spol . s r.o.<br />
James Cook Languages<br />
Jokl Appraisal, v.o.s.<br />
JwD.Consult<strong>in</strong>g s.r.o.<br />
Krajíček&Association s.r.o.<br />
Lansdowne International<br />
Lewis + Hickey Praha spol. s r.o.<br />
L<strong>in</strong>stram, spol. s r.o.<br />
MAI Insurance Brokers, s.r.o.<br />
Management TC<br />
Mašek advokáti s.r.o<br />
Mateřska škola Duhovka s.r.o.<br />
MEDIA TRADING CZ s.r.o.<br />
MEDIA Tribune s.r.o.<br />
Moores Rowland Levey & Jung<br />
MRC <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> s.r.o.<br />
Nachtigall Artists Management<br />
Neumann & Partners s.r.o.<br />
Open Management Int. CZ, s.r.o.<br />
ORION Realit s.r.o.<br />
Park Lane International School<br />
Pavel Kotek<br />
PNO Consultants, s. r. o.<br />
Pragoeduca, a.s.<br />
Pragoimport - Adam a.s.<br />
Prague College, s.r.o.<br />
Prague International Marathon, spol. s.r.o.<br />
Procure It Direct s.r.o.<br />
Recruit CZ<br />
Riverside o. p. s.<br />
Scott&Hagget Consultancy<br />
Seddons v.o.s.<br />
SEVEn, Stredisko pro efektivní využívání<br />
energie, o.p.s.<br />
SHArchitects s.r.o.<br />
Schoultz & Partners advokátní kancelář<br />
SN Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g Services s.r.o.<br />
Somerston Olympia CZ, s. r. o.<br />
Společnosti Onl<strong>in</strong>e s.r.o.<br />
Star Capital F<strong>in</strong>ance s. r. o.<br />
Superco, s.r.o.<br />
Target CR s.r.o.<br />
The English College<br />
The English International School <strong>of</strong> Prague<br />
The Prague <strong>British</strong> School<br />
TMM, s.r.o.-Dostihy Chuchle<br />
Travel Market<strong>in</strong>g International - TMI s.r.o.<br />
TVO Europe Hold<strong>in</strong>gs a.s<br />
UNIQUE CONSULT <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> s.r.o.<br />
University <strong>of</strong> Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School <strong>of</strong> Bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
US Bus<strong>in</strong>ess School Praha<br />
Valcon Prague s.r.o<br />
Victoria’s W<strong>in</strong>e s.r.o.<br />
Vision Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and Consult<strong>in</strong>g, s. r. o.<br />
Voerman UTS Prague spol s r.o<br />
Vrána & Pelikán, advokátní kancelář<br />
Wall Street Institute<br />
Williams & Partner<br />
WINE4YOU s.r.o.<br />
Zlatý Lihovar, a.s.<br />
Associate<br />
Australian Trade Commission<br />
<strong>British</strong> Council <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> CR<br />
Canadian Embassy<br />
Diakonie Českobratrské církve evangelické<br />
Domov Sue Ryder, o.p.s.<br />
European Renaissance BID Services<br />
Fair life, o.s.<br />
Femancipation o.s.<br />
Gender studies, o.p.s.<br />
Oxford Cambridge Alumni Society CR, o.s.<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Accredited Coach Executive<br />
Coach<strong>in</strong>g and Consult<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Program pro mládež Cena vévody z Ed<strong>in</strong>burghu<br />
Prosperita o.p.s.<br />
Scottish Development International<br />
St. Clement’s Anglican Episcopal Church<br />
Symfonický orchestr hl. m. Prahy FOK<br />
Techo, a.s.<br />
The Salvation Army - Armáda Spásy v ČR<br />
New members jo<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g up to 31 December 2010<br />
Luděk Vrána<br />
BCC Chairman / Vrána a Pelikán, advokátní kancelář<br />
It is a pleasure to write an editorial for this second new-look<br />
FOCUS magaz<strong>in</strong>e. Special thanks to James de Candole, guest<br />
editor <strong>of</strong> this issue, and to our <strong>in</strong>exhaustible editor-<strong>in</strong>-chief<br />
Silvia Bušniaková. Toge<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong>y have produced a f<strong>in</strong>e look<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g magaz<strong>in</strong>e which we are sure you shall enjoy.<br />
It has been ano<strong>the</strong>r busy year for <strong>the</strong> chamber. We believe we<br />
have adapted quickly to <strong>the</strong> difficult economic environment<br />
while we hope rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g an attractive bus<strong>in</strong>ess network<br />
organisation for you. I am happy to say that <strong>the</strong> chamber is<br />
well prepared to meet <strong>the</strong> challenges <strong>of</strong> 2011. We moved to<br />
new <strong>of</strong>fices at Malé náměstí <strong>in</strong> Prague 1 and have launched a<br />
new web site to enhance contact with our members. We have<br />
a re<strong>in</strong>vigorated Board <strong>of</strong> Directors, which has <strong>the</strong> additional<br />
virtue <strong>of</strong> hav<strong>in</strong>g a balance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sexes <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> team, nicely<br />
complement<strong>in</strong>g our <strong>in</strong>itiatives on <strong>the</strong> diversity front. We have<br />
a fantastic executive team that keeps com<strong>in</strong>g with up with<br />
ideas, projects and events.<br />
It was amaz<strong>in</strong>g to see so much talent among our members at<br />
<strong>the</strong> BCC’s Got an Idol show and I was impressed how well <strong>the</strong><br />
BCC Charity Bazaar was received. Toge<strong>the</strong>r with eight o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
chambers, we enjoyed <strong>the</strong> heady beer festival at Ž<strong>of</strong>ín, we tried<br />
our luck at <strong>the</strong> <strong>British</strong> Day at <strong>the</strong> Races <strong>in</strong> Velká Chuchle and<br />
we had a wonderful day at <strong>the</strong> BCC Golf Tournament, to name<br />
just a few <strong>of</strong> our most successful events. We will cont<strong>in</strong>ue to<br />
provide enterta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g opportunities for you to meet your friends<br />
and bus<strong>in</strong>ess contacts, and we shall not overlook important<br />
public policy issues, such as <strong>the</strong> new UK Bribery Act. You<br />
may look forward to a series <strong>of</strong> educational workshops and<br />
sem<strong>in</strong>ars and to our fourth BCC Annual Debate at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> year.<br />
Last but not least, we have adjusted Membership Categories<br />
and Subscription Rates for 2011. We believe that <strong>the</strong> overall<br />
effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> new changes will ensure a fairer allocation <strong>of</strong> costs<br />
among members as well as allow <strong>the</strong> chamber to cont<strong>in</strong>ue to<br />
deliver maximum value for your membership fee <strong>in</strong> a much<br />
more challeng<strong>in</strong>g bus<strong>in</strong>ess climate.<br />
All <strong>in</strong> all, <strong>the</strong>re is much to accomplish toge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong> 2011, which<br />
we trust will be ano<strong>the</strong>r good year for <strong>the</strong> chamber and its<br />
members.<br />
We start 2011 with a renewed executive team that I am pleased to <strong>in</strong>troduce:<br />
2 3<br />
Richard<br />
Rob<strong>in</strong>son<br />
General<br />
Director<br />
Daria<br />
Swann<br />
Office Manager<br />
Petra<br />
Janíčková<br />
Executive<br />
Director<br />
Jiří<br />
Řezníček<br />
Consultant<br />
Silvia<br />
Bušniaková<br />
Senior<br />
Manager<br />
Adam<br />
Leitmančík<br />
Assistant<br />
editorial<br />
Board <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> BCC<br />
The Board <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>British</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Commerce</strong> has been elected at Annual General<br />
Meet<strong>in</strong>gs to represent <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>terests <strong>of</strong> all<br />
<strong>Chamber</strong> members. In addition <strong>the</strong>re are two<br />
honorary members.<br />
Honorary Chairman<br />
Sian MacLeod<br />
<strong>British</strong> Ambassador to <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong><br />
Honorary Vice-Chairman<br />
Mike Moon<br />
<strong>British</strong> Embassy, Deputy<br />
Head <strong>of</strong> Mission<br />
Chairman<br />
Luděk Vrána<br />
Vrána & Pelikán,<br />
advokátní kancelář<br />
Vice-Chairman<br />
Eva Williams<br />
Tesco Stores ČR<br />
Board Director<br />
James de Candole<br />
Candole Partners<br />
Treasurer<br />
Chris Garlick<br />
Garlick s.r.o.<br />
Board Director<br />
Richard York<br />
Bird and Bird<br />
Board Director<br />
Renata Lukášová<br />
Zátiší Group<br />
Board Director<br />
Alexis George<br />
ING BANK N.V.<br />
Board Director<br />
Petr Karel<br />
London Market<br />
Board Director<br />
Jana Ryšl<strong>in</strong>ková<br />
US Bus<strong>in</strong>ess School Praha
contents<br />
06-09<br />
16-19<br />
BCC members 2<br />
<strong>Editorial</strong> 3<br />
Focus on: UK Bribery Act 2010 5<br />
Interview: John Mucha 6<br />
BCC Mentor<strong>in</strong>g Programme 2011 10<br />
Focus on: Kids In Prague 11<br />
Interview: Sanjiv Suri 12<br />
Member´s CSR 14<br />
Interview: Eliska ˇ Kaplicky ´ Fuchsová 16<br />
Interview: Jan Kraus 20<br />
Pr<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>of</strong> Wales Visit 22<br />
Interview: Sian MacLeod 24<br />
20-21Interview:<br />
Borivoj ˇ Trejbal 25<br />
Events roundup 26<br />
22-23<br />
FOCUS 1/2011<br />
The magaz<strong>in</strong>e is published by<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>British</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Commerce</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>.<br />
Should you wish to place an article, advertise or contribute<br />
<strong>in</strong> any way to <strong>the</strong> magaz<strong>in</strong>e please contact Silvia Bušniaková at<br />
silvia.busniakova@britcham.cz or call +420 224 835 164<br />
Editor <strong>in</strong> chief + Adveritis<strong>in</strong>g / Šéfredaktor + Inzerce: Silvia Bušniaková,<br />
tel.: +420 224 835 164, e-mail: senior.manager@britcham.cz, ISSN 1212-5156<br />
Guest editor: James de Candole<br />
Production / Produkce: Evocreative s.r.o., +420 222 743 195,<br />
evolve@evocreative.com, www.evocreative.com<br />
FOCUS is registered with <strong>the</strong> M<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong> Culture, MK ČR E 13335<br />
© <strong>British</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Commerce</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> 2011<br />
COVER IMAGE: Lottery <strong>of</strong> National Unity by Alphonse Mucha 1912 © Mucha Trust 2011.<br />
2011 BCC membership categories 36<br />
Future Events / Promotional Opportunities 37<br />
From <strong>the</strong> Press 38<br />
Introduc<strong>in</strong>g new members 40<br />
Companies and <strong>in</strong>dividuals that contributed articles<br />
or advertised <strong>in</strong> this issue:<br />
Best Communications<br />
Bořivoj Trejbal<br />
Candole Partners<br />
Carlo Capalbo<br />
Eliška Kaplický Fuchsová<br />
Euan Edworthy<br />
James de Candole<br />
Jan Kraus<br />
John Mucha<br />
Karen York<br />
Katie Schoultz / Schoultz & Partners, Prague<br />
Kids <strong>in</strong> Prague<br />
Modřanský Háj<br />
Parklane International School<br />
Petra Janíčková<br />
Prague International Marathon<br />
Richard Rob<strong>in</strong>son<br />
Sanjiv Suri<br />
Silvia Bušniaková<br />
The <strong>British</strong> Embassy<br />
Sian MacLeod<br />
The English College <strong>in</strong> Prague<br />
Vera M. Budway-Strobach<br />
Vrána a Pelikán, advokátní kancelář<br />
Zátiší Group<br />
C<br />
M<br />
Y<br />
CM<br />
MY<br />
CY<br />
CMY<br />
K<br />
4 5<br />
focus on<br />
BRITAIN GETS SERIOUS ABOUT BRIBERY<br />
A tough new law aga<strong>in</strong>st bribery <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> UK has <strong>the</strong> scope to reach <strong>Czech</strong> bus<strong>in</strong>esses with<br />
connections to <strong>the</strong> UK, crim<strong>in</strong>aliz<strong>in</strong>g corrupt conduct, whe<strong>the</strong>r overseas or at home, and<br />
<strong>in</strong>troduc<strong>in</strong>g a new <strong>of</strong>fence <strong>of</strong> fail<strong>in</strong>g to prevent corruption with<strong>in</strong> commercial organizations.<br />
Underly<strong>in</strong>g its <strong>in</strong>tention to step up anti-corruption <strong>in</strong>vestigations and<br />
prosecutions, <strong>the</strong> UK´s pr<strong>in</strong>cipal prosecut<strong>in</strong>g body for serious commercial<br />
crime, <strong>the</strong> Serious Fraud Office (SFO), confirmed earlier this summer<br />
that it was <strong>in</strong>vestigat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> UK publisher, Macmillan. This followed <strong>the</strong><br />
World Bank´s announcement to bar Macmillan from any <strong>of</strong> its contracts<br />
for six years, after <strong>the</strong> publisher admitted pay<strong>in</strong>g bribes <strong>in</strong> an unsuccessful<br />
attempt to secure a contract to pr<strong>in</strong>t educational textbooks <strong>in</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn<br />
Sudan.<br />
In March, three UK <strong>of</strong>ficers (<strong>the</strong> President, CFO and legal director) <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> French eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g group, Alsthom, which builds power stations<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> UK, were arrested on suspicion <strong>of</strong> pay<strong>in</strong>g bribes to w<strong>in</strong> contracts<br />
overseas. Also <strong>in</strong> March, a UK judge imposed a GBP 8.3 million f<strong>in</strong>e<br />
(approx CZK 250m) on <strong>the</strong> <strong>British</strong> arm <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational chemical<br />
firm, Innospec, for brib<strong>in</strong>g foreign <strong>of</strong>ficials <strong>in</strong> Indonesia. Comment<strong>in</strong>g on<br />
<strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>e, <strong>the</strong> judge noted it was wholly <strong>in</strong>adequate but was <strong>the</strong> highest he<br />
could give, without forc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> company <strong>in</strong>to <strong>in</strong>solvency.<br />
The UK government and <strong>the</strong> SFO is gett<strong>in</strong>g serious about corruption,<br />
target<strong>in</strong>g bribery abroad by companies with UK connections and with<br />
this new law, <strong>the</strong>ir hand is significantly streng<strong>the</strong>ned. The Bribery Act<br />
2010 received cross-party support to allow it to be passed <strong>in</strong>to law by <strong>the</strong><br />
end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>al Parliamentary session <strong>in</strong> April, prior to <strong>the</strong> general election<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> UK last May. It will come <strong>in</strong>to effect <strong>in</strong> April 2011, follow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong><br />
publication <strong>of</strong> government guidel<strong>in</strong>es on its proper <strong>in</strong>terpretation (to be<br />
published <strong>in</strong> January 2011). These guidel<strong>in</strong>es will provide advice on <strong>the</strong><br />
procedures that companies can implement to prevent bribery on <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
behalf, at home and abroad. These procedures will provide <strong>the</strong> only<br />
defence aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> – wholly new – corporate <strong>of</strong>fence <strong>of</strong> fail<strong>in</strong>g to prevent<br />
bribery.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> meantime, bus<strong>in</strong>esses operat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> which are<br />
affected – mean<strong>in</strong>g all commercial organisations that are ei<strong>the</strong>r<br />
<strong>in</strong>corporated <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> UK or carry on bus<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>the</strong>re – need to consider<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir position and assess <strong>the</strong>ir risk <strong>of</strong> fall<strong>in</strong>g foul <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> new rules.<br />
Although <strong>the</strong> law applies to large and small companies alike, irrespective<br />
<strong>of</strong> bus<strong>in</strong>ess sector, its impact will vary greatly, depend<strong>in</strong>g on size and<br />
<strong>in</strong>dustry. Multi-nationals operat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> defence, oil and gas, m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g,<br />
construction, pharmaceutical and telecoms sectors are squarely <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
frame, but any bus<strong>in</strong>ess engaged <strong>in</strong> procurement, public or private, would<br />
do well to review its <strong>in</strong>ternal anti-corruption compliance procedures.<br />
iso_ad1_pr<strong>in</strong>t.pdf 1 14.12.10 19:01<br />
ADVERTISEMENT<br />
Bus<strong>in</strong>esses should also take note that <strong>the</strong> Bribery Act goes fur<strong>the</strong>r than<br />
<strong>the</strong> similar US law (<strong>the</strong> Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA), mak<strong>in</strong>g<br />
bribery an <strong>of</strong>fence <strong>in</strong> a purely private commercial context; <strong>in</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
words, <strong>the</strong>re is no requirement for a public <strong>of</strong>ficial to be <strong>in</strong>volved. The<br />
UK law also casts a wider net than <strong>the</strong> FCPA, <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> which companies<br />
(and <strong>the</strong>ir management) can be caught and <strong>the</strong>re is no equivalent<br />
get-out clause for facilitation or grease payments. Internal compliance<br />
procedures that are tailored to meet <strong>the</strong> requirements <strong>of</strong> US legislation<br />
may not, <strong>the</strong>refore, be sufficient to meet <strong>the</strong> new UK standards. As <strong>the</strong><br />
UK government acknowledged dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> draft legislation stages, <strong>the</strong><br />
ma<strong>in</strong> focus for <strong>in</strong>vestigations will be companies (and <strong>the</strong>ir management,<br />
who can also be crim<strong>in</strong>alized and imprisoned or f<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong>dividually for<br />
tak<strong>in</strong>g part, or conniv<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong> corrupt activity) engaged <strong>in</strong> large scale, high<br />
value, overseas procurement exercises, i.e., <strong>the</strong> perceived hot beds <strong>of</strong><br />
corruption identified by organizations such as <strong>the</strong> Organization for<br />
European Economic Development (OECD) and Transparency International.<br />
In summary, <strong>Czech</strong> bus<strong>in</strong>esses and UK bus<strong>in</strong>esses operat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>, <strong>in</strong> particular those at higher risk, should take note <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
new law for three ma<strong>in</strong> reasons: <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>, lack <strong>of</strong> transparency<br />
<strong>in</strong> both public and private procurement is widespread and <strong>the</strong> nation<br />
rema<strong>in</strong>s 53nd <strong>in</strong> Transparency International´s Corruption Perception<br />
Index <strong>in</strong> 2010 (above only 7 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r 25 EU member states);<br />
<strong>the</strong> UK authorities are show<strong>in</strong>g an <strong>in</strong>creased appetite to prosecute<br />
corrupt activity overseas, regardless <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> size, importance or nationality<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> corporate organization <strong>in</strong> question; and a bus<strong>in</strong>ess that fails to<br />
prevent bribery with<strong>in</strong> its organization is automatically caught, subject<br />
only to <strong>the</strong> defence <strong>of</strong> hav<strong>in</strong>g adequate compliance procedures <strong>in</strong> place<br />
mentioned above.<br />
Katie Schoultz <strong>of</strong> Schoultz & Partners, Prague.<br />
The <strong>British</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Commerce</strong> has a full brief<strong>in</strong>g<br />
paper on <strong>the</strong> new UK Bribery Act 2010, on its website,<br />
and is plann<strong>in</strong>g a sem<strong>in</strong>ar jo<strong>in</strong>tly with <strong>the</strong> M<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong><br />
Trade and Industry <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> New Year. This article first<br />
appeared <strong>in</strong> Lidové nov<strong>in</strong>y on 8th December 2010<br />
under <strong>the</strong> title “Británie vyráží do boje s korupcí”.
<strong>in</strong>terview<br />
FAMILY MATTERS<br />
John Mucha by James de Candole<br />
Perched on <strong>the</strong> piano stool on which Paul Gaugu<strong>in</strong> was once pictured<br />
bare-legged <strong>in</strong> his shirt tails, and surrounded by <strong>the</strong> paraphernalia <strong>of</strong> a television<br />
crew, <strong>the</strong> grandson <strong>of</strong> Alphonse Mucha is at home. Beh<strong>in</strong>d him <strong>the</strong>re is an<br />
embalmed m<strong>in</strong>iature alligator, a stuffed raven and a native mask from Papua<br />
New Gu<strong>in</strong>ea. “This is all quite normal” says John Mucha <strong>in</strong> a reassur<strong>in</strong>g way, add<strong>in</strong>g<br />
that he hopes we don’t m<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> television crew film<strong>in</strong>g as we speak.<br />
S<strong>in</strong>ce retir<strong>in</strong>g from a career <strong>in</strong> bank<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> England five years ago,<br />
John Mucha has devoted himself full time to protect<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
promot<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> world’s most comprehensive collection <strong>of</strong> Mucha’s<br />
works. Roll<strong>in</strong>g his ‘R’s with Scottish relish just like his musical<br />
mo<strong>the</strong>r, John describes <strong>in</strong> a detached and deliberate manner<br />
family efforts to keep <strong>the</strong> collection toge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> face <strong>of</strong><br />
seem<strong>in</strong>gly unend<strong>in</strong>g adversity from corrupt <strong>of</strong>ficials act<strong>in</strong>g on<br />
behalf <strong>of</strong> dictatorships and democratic governments alike.<br />
John was born <strong>in</strong> London <strong>in</strong> 1948. His parents, Jiří and Gerald<strong>in</strong>e<br />
Mucha, had decided that he should be born <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> UK <strong>in</strong> order to<br />
acquire <strong>British</strong> citizenship, and at four months, he was moved to<br />
Prague, where he grew up <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Mucha family house <strong>in</strong> Bubeneč.<br />
In 1950, his fa<strong>the</strong>r was sentenced to seven years hard labour, and<br />
his mo<strong>the</strong>r and John evicted, eventually mov<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to a rented<br />
apartment <strong>in</strong> Hradčany where his mo<strong>the</strong>r still lives, surrounded<br />
by her fa<strong>the</strong>r-<strong>in</strong>-law’s own pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>gs and possessions, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>the</strong> sturdy old piano stool on which John now sits, solid enough<br />
pro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> family’s dedication to protect<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir precious<br />
<strong>in</strong>heritance from bureaucratic busybodies.<br />
“The fact that I am sitt<strong>in</strong>g here at all is a small miracle” says<br />
John. “There have been three<br />
moments when <strong>the</strong> collection came<br />
close to be<strong>in</strong>g broken up. The first<br />
moment was <strong>in</strong> 1939, when my<br />
grandfa<strong>the</strong>r died and <strong>the</strong> villa<br />
where my grandmo<strong>the</strong>r lived was<br />
taken over by a high-rank<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>of</strong>ficer <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Wehrmacht. This<br />
man chose to overlook <strong>the</strong> fact <strong>of</strong><br />
her Jewish blood. If he had been<br />
Waffen-SS or Gestapo, <strong>the</strong>n it is<br />
improbable that <strong>the</strong> collection<br />
would have survived”.<br />
“The next critical moment came <strong>in</strong><br />
1950, when we were thrown out <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> family house <strong>in</strong> Bubeneč after<br />
my fa<strong>the</strong>r was sent down <strong>the</strong><br />
uranium m<strong>in</strong>es on a trumped up<br />
charge <strong>of</strong> espionage. The <strong>of</strong>ficials<br />
sent round to confiscate our<br />
possessions were put <strong>of</strong>f by my<br />
mo<strong>the</strong>r’s threats to get <strong>the</strong> <strong>British</strong><br />
embassy <strong>in</strong>volved if <strong>the</strong>y dared to<br />
steal her, a <strong>British</strong> subject’s,<br />
possessions”.<br />
“And <strong>the</strong>n <strong>in</strong> 2007, after we had set<br />
up <strong>the</strong> Mucha Foundation <strong>in</strong> 1992 <strong>in</strong> agreement with my half-sister<br />
and despite what we thought was a f<strong>in</strong>al judgment by <strong>the</strong><br />
Constitutional Court. Everyth<strong>in</strong>g was turned upside down and it<br />
looked as if <strong>the</strong> collection would have to be split up and <strong>the</strong>refore<br />
destroyed. In <strong>the</strong> end we did manage, only just and at an enormous<br />
cost, to buy my half-sister out and to preserve <strong>the</strong> collection as a<br />
whole. In <strong>the</strong> process, two fundamental legal pr<strong>in</strong>ciples, those <strong>of</strong><br />
legal certa<strong>in</strong>ty and time limitation, were effectively abolished by<br />
<strong>the</strong> Constitutional Court – a very sad day <strong>in</strong>deed for those who<br />
seek justice <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>”.<br />
John left <strong>the</strong> Hradčany apartment when he was 18. “The apartment<br />
is meant to resemble Alphonse Mucha’s pre-First World War<br />
studio <strong>in</strong> Paris”, expla<strong>in</strong>s John. “I grew up here so it all feels quite<br />
normal to me. But because <strong>the</strong>re was no hope <strong>of</strong> my be<strong>in</strong>g given<br />
a place at a <strong>Czech</strong> university because <strong>of</strong> my background, it was<br />
time to move. I left for England to go to university and <strong>the</strong>n jo<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
Coutts <strong>the</strong> bank”.<br />
Coutts is a very traditional private English bank patronized by<br />
Queen Elizabeth II. It is known for its beautiful cheque books<br />
(<strong>the</strong> envy <strong>of</strong> us all at university, even those without any money)<br />
6<br />
7<br />
<strong>in</strong>terview
<strong>in</strong>terview<br />
and <strong>the</strong> frock coats that all employees had to wear. “I still have<br />
my frock coat”, says John: “I garden <strong>in</strong> it <strong>the</strong>se days. Real<br />
quality”.<br />
I ask John why <strong>the</strong> family is try<strong>in</strong>g to prevent <strong>the</strong> accelerated<br />
removal <strong>of</strong> The Slav Epic canvases to Prague from Moravský<br />
Krumlov where <strong>the</strong>y have been on permanent exhibition s<strong>in</strong>ce<br />
<strong>the</strong> 1960s. The dispute between Prague and <strong>the</strong> Mucha family has<br />
been widely reported, and with no end <strong>in</strong> sight, I wonder whe<strong>the</strong>r<br />
it is worth <strong>the</strong> effort.<br />
“We have been talk<strong>in</strong>g with Prague about where to house <strong>the</strong><br />
canvases for some time. Up until March 2010, <strong>the</strong> talks were<br />
constructive and turned around several possible sites <strong>in</strong> Prague.<br />
Then <strong>in</strong> March, <strong>the</strong> city suddenly decided to move <strong>the</strong> Epic to <strong>the</strong><br />
Veletržní Palác at once”. The suddenness was entirely political.<br />
“ODS was desperate to show what it had done for <strong>the</strong> city ahead<br />
<strong>of</strong> elections. Mov<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> canvases to Prague could have been<br />
<strong>of</strong>fered to voters as an ODS achievement”.<br />
The family opposes <strong>the</strong> move on <strong>the</strong> grounds that Alphonse<br />
Mucha gave <strong>the</strong> twenty massive canvases to Prague <strong>in</strong> 1928 on<br />
<strong>the</strong> condition that <strong>the</strong>y would be housed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own pavilion. “My<br />
grandfa<strong>the</strong>r was quite clear about this, <strong>in</strong> writ<strong>in</strong>g. This was <strong>the</strong><br />
condition he himself imposed upon his gift <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Epic to Prague.<br />
We very much hope that one day <strong>the</strong> city will have its own<br />
dedicated build<strong>in</strong>g to house <strong>the</strong> Epic and <strong>the</strong> preparatory<br />
materials as well. Mucha deserves a permanent home here, like<br />
<strong>the</strong> Van Gogh Museum <strong>in</strong> Amsterdam”.<br />
Listen<strong>in</strong>g to John’s all too familiar tales about <strong>the</strong> difficulties <strong>of</strong><br />
8 9<br />
ADVERTISEMENT<br />
Best <strong>of</strong> Both Worlds<br />
THE ENGLISH COLLEGE<br />
IN PRAGUE –<br />
ANGLICKÉ GYMNÁZIUM<br />
15 years <strong>of</strong> runn<strong>in</strong>g successfully <strong>the</strong> International<br />
Baccalaureate Programme. Enrolment possible<br />
all year round. We <strong>of</strong>fer scholarships<br />
and significant bursaries.<br />
honest deal<strong>in</strong>gs with municipal politicians, I am rem<strong>in</strong>ded <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
documentary film, “Oko nad Prahou”, <strong>in</strong> which Anglo-<strong>Czech</strong><br />
architect Jan Kaplický loses hope, as one after <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r, Prague’s<br />
political and cultural leaders wriggle out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir earlier<br />
commitments to <strong>the</strong> new national library project won by<br />
Kaplický’s firm Future Systems. In <strong>the</strong> year before he died,<br />
Kaplický came to understand that architectural merit is no<br />
argument for <strong>the</strong> wicked weasels that govern Prague <strong>the</strong>se days.<br />
Perhaps he gave up hope, leav<strong>in</strong>g his family and admirers to fight<br />
on for his remarkable build<strong>in</strong>g which would undoubtedly draw<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternational crowds to Prague.<br />
John Mucha is still very much <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> fight. He has now launched<br />
a legal challenge to <strong>the</strong> city’s claims <strong>of</strong> ownership to <strong>the</strong> Epic.<br />
For more details about <strong>the</strong> Mucha Foundation and its work, visit www.<br />
muchafoundation.org or contact simona@muchafoundation.org.<br />
We would like to thank John Mucha for his k<strong>in</strong>d permission to repr<strong>in</strong>t<br />
<strong>the</strong> detail from “Lottery <strong>of</strong> National Unity” on <strong>the</strong> cover <strong>of</strong> FOCUS.<br />
The 1912 poster was an advertisement for a lottery to raise funds for<br />
<strong>Czech</strong> schools. In <strong>the</strong> words <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Mucha Foundation, “In this<br />
poster Cechia, <strong>the</strong> symbolic mo<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> nation, sits <strong>in</strong> despair<br />
on a dead tree, a symbol <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ravaged condition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> nation.<br />
She rests her hand on a wooden statue <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> three faced pagan god<br />
Svantovit, protector <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> early Slavs. The young schoolgirl, carry<strong>in</strong>g<br />
books and pencils, looks accus<strong>in</strong>gly at <strong>the</strong> viewers, demand<strong>in</strong>g from<br />
<strong>the</strong>m support both for her education and for <strong>the</strong> ail<strong>in</strong>g Cechia”.<br />
We are a prestigious, selective <strong>Czech</strong>-<strong>British</strong> secondary school with an <strong>in</strong>ternational perspective <strong>of</strong>fer<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> highest<br />
quality education <strong>in</strong> English for over 15 years. Our students, aged 13 – 19, study for IGCSE and <strong>the</strong> IB Diploma and<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>ue <strong>the</strong>ir studies at universities all around <strong>the</strong> world. Over 60% <strong>of</strong> last year’s students hold <strong>of</strong>fers at UK universities.<br />
Start<strong>in</strong>g this year students may jo<strong>in</strong> us <strong>in</strong> Year 3 and complete <strong>the</strong> regular IGCSE programme<br />
<strong>in</strong> Year 4 To study for <strong>the</strong> IB diploma applicants can jo<strong>in</strong> our two year program <strong>in</strong> Year 5<br />
and sit for <strong>the</strong>ir IB exam<strong>in</strong>ation (which also can <strong>in</strong>clude <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> Maturita) <strong>in</strong> Year 6.<br />
For more <strong>in</strong>formation about enrolment, please contact<br />
Mrs. Iva Rozkošná, <strong>the</strong> Admissions Officer. +420 283 893 113,<br />
email: <strong>of</strong>fice@englishcollege.cz<br />
To follow <strong>the</strong> news at English College please go to<br />
www.englishcollege.cz or f<strong>in</strong>d us on social networks<br />
(Facebook and Twitter).<br />
Last Open Day takes place on 17 February 2011 at 2 pm.<br />
<strong>in</strong>terview
BCC Mentor<strong>in</strong>g Programme 2011<br />
We are pleased to announce <strong>the</strong> 2011<br />
BCC Mentor<strong>in</strong>g Programme for talented<br />
women <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>.<br />
The purpose <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> programme is to <strong>in</strong>crease<br />
<strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> women <strong>in</strong> board and top<br />
management roles by provid<strong>in</strong>g tailored<br />
<strong>in</strong>dividual mentor<strong>in</strong>g to a group <strong>of</strong> those<br />
women likely to fill <strong>the</strong>se positions <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
future. The chamber seeks to develop a strong pr<strong>of</strong>ile <strong>in</strong> gender<br />
diversity. This programme is a fur<strong>the</strong>r step.<br />
We believe that senior management and board positions should<br />
be filled by <strong>the</strong> best people, who need support and development<br />
to make best use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir expertise and knowledge. From an<br />
<strong>in</strong>dividual’s perspective, “each <strong>of</strong> us has <strong>the</strong> ability to move<br />
beyond <strong>the</strong> certa<strong>in</strong> circumstances that we were born <strong>in</strong>to”<br />
(Michelle Obama). The most effective boards are those that<br />
have a wide range <strong>of</strong> skills, experience and outlook so that <strong>the</strong><br />
decision mak<strong>in</strong>g process is more robust. This programme will<br />
contribute to this by widen<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> pool <strong>of</strong> potential executives<br />
and board members.<br />
We are delighted that Alexis George, CEO <strong>of</strong> ING CZ and SR and<br />
a board member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> chamber, has agreed to be part <strong>of</strong> our<br />
mentor<strong>in</strong>g programme as well as 20 potential women mentors<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> programme, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Vera B. Strobach (Programme<br />
Manager, Diversity & Inclusion, Česká Spořitelna a.s.), Eva<br />
Williams (Corporate and Legal Affairs Director, TESCO ČR<br />
a SR), Olga Girstlová (1999 Monaco World Entrepreneur) and<br />
Jana Ryšl<strong>in</strong>ková (Dean, US Bus<strong>in</strong>ess School, Prague).<br />
The programme will be launched <strong>in</strong> February <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong><br />
Parliament under <strong>the</strong> auspices <strong>of</strong> Anna Putnová MP. It will<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>ue with a series <strong>of</strong> specially designed workshops for<br />
mentors and mentored women.<br />
We expect that mentors and mentored will spend around 2<br />
hours toge<strong>the</strong>r each month throughout 2011. The progress <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> mentor<strong>in</strong>g relationship will be reviewed <strong>in</strong> August 2011. The<br />
programme will conclude with a workshop <strong>in</strong> parliament at <strong>the</strong><br />
end <strong>of</strong> 2011.<br />
Česká Spořitelna has agreed to be <strong>the</strong> general partner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
project and MF DNES <strong>the</strong> media partner.<br />
Mentors and mentored are chosen accord<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g criteria:<br />
· M<strong>in</strong>imum <strong>of</strong> 3 years experience <strong>in</strong> a board or executive<br />
position (for mentors) or <strong>in</strong> a senior position (for <strong>the</strong> mentored)<br />
· Not <strong>in</strong> competition with each o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
· Fluent <strong>in</strong> English<br />
· Enthusiastic about <strong>the</strong> programme<br />
· Happy to share knowledge and skills<br />
· Prepared to commit <strong>the</strong> time to all aspects <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> programme<br />
· Committed to one week’s work shadow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
· Content to participate <strong>in</strong> programme publicity (1 article and photo)<br />
If you would like to nom<strong>in</strong>ate yourself or a colleague, or share<br />
ideas about <strong>the</strong> programme, please write to Petra Janickova at<br />
petra.janickova@britcham.cz<br />
Women Mean Bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
“Gender equality <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> labor force<br />
could boost <strong>the</strong> gross domestic<br />
product by as much as 13% <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Eurozone. The right bus<strong>in</strong>ess and<br />
governmental policies would help to<br />
close <strong>the</strong> gap between male and female<br />
labor participation and would help to<br />
address <strong>the</strong> urgent problem <strong>of</strong> pension<br />
susta<strong>in</strong>ability”. (Goldman Sachs)<br />
In Europe, women make up 51% <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> population, 59% <strong>of</strong><br />
university graduates and are <strong>the</strong> driv<strong>in</strong>g force beh<strong>in</strong>d more<br />
than 70% <strong>of</strong> household purchases and 83% <strong>of</strong> all direct<br />
consumer spend<strong>in</strong>g, yet only 11% are represented on boards <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> largest publicly quoted companies <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> EU 27. This is no<br />
trivial matter for studies show that companies with <strong>the</strong> highest<br />
representation <strong>of</strong> women <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir top management teams<br />
experienced better f<strong>in</strong>ancial performance, higher customer<br />
satisfaction, employee motivation and improved brand image<br />
than those with <strong>the</strong> lowest female representation.<br />
One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong> reasons why many talented women hit <strong>the</strong><br />
proverbial “glass ceil<strong>in</strong>g” is that <strong>the</strong>y do not have access to<br />
mentors and/or pr<strong>of</strong>essional networks. Many women, as<br />
qualified as <strong>the</strong>y might be, lack <strong>the</strong> political savvy or <strong>in</strong>sider<br />
networks still needed to climb <strong>the</strong> corporate ladder. Many<br />
have difficulties navigat<strong>in</strong>g through <strong>the</strong> politics and <strong>in</strong>tricacies<br />
<strong>of</strong> backroom deals made on <strong>the</strong> golf course.<br />
Mentors can help high potential pr<strong>of</strong>essional women develop<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir careers, ga<strong>in</strong> access to important networks, become<br />
better versed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>tricacies <strong>of</strong> gett<strong>in</strong>g ahead and learn<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>the</strong> unwritten rules <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> game, as well as grow personally.<br />
By shar<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir experience, knowledge and wisdom, mentors<br />
open doors and unleash potential, thus pav<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> way for <strong>the</strong><br />
next generation <strong>of</strong> bus<strong>in</strong>ess leaders.<br />
Mentor<strong>in</strong>g is a relatively new phenomenon <strong>in</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>.<br />
The most recent cross bus<strong>in</strong>ess mentor<strong>in</strong>g program for women<br />
was launched <strong>in</strong> 2009 under <strong>the</strong> patronage <strong>of</strong> Vodafone’s<br />
Muriel Anton. The program, which is called Odyssey, has<br />
provided over a dozen talented women <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong><br />
with a very unique and valuable opportunity to be mentored<br />
by bus<strong>in</strong>ess leaders from a wide variety <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustries.<br />
Česká Spořitelna was fortunate enough to be able to participate<br />
<strong>in</strong> and benefit from this program and <strong>the</strong>refore welcomed <strong>the</strong><br />
opportunity to partner with <strong>the</strong> <strong>British</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Commerce</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong> support<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> launch<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> ano<strong>the</strong>r cross bus<strong>in</strong>ess mentor<strong>in</strong>g<br />
program for women. Česká Spořitelna actively supports<br />
female leadership development through its Diversitas<br />
program and was recognized <strong>in</strong> 2009 as Company <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Year<br />
<strong>in</strong> Equal Opportunity. The primary objective <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> partnership<br />
with BCC is to provide <strong>Czech</strong> women with access to <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>ess leaders, create new networks, and raise awareness <strong>of</strong><br />
women’s contribution to <strong>Czech</strong> bus<strong>in</strong>ess.<br />
Vera M. Budway-Strobach<br />
Program Manager, Diversity & Inclusion<br />
Office <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Board <strong>of</strong> Directors<br />
Mum, I’m bored!<br />
It can be hard know<strong>in</strong>g what´s go<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>in</strong> Prague, where to<br />
go with <strong>the</strong> kids on weekends, which cafes are suitable for<br />
children or simply just f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g out about nice playgrounds,<br />
swimm<strong>in</strong>g pools or parks <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> city. Here are some tips that<br />
might help from Karen York, founder <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Kids <strong>in</strong> Prague website.<br />
Educat<strong>in</strong>g children <strong>of</strong> all nationalities<br />
Attractive<br />
Central<br />
Location<br />
English<br />
National<br />
Curriculum<br />
Excellence<br />
and<br />
Enjoyment<br />
Norbertov 3, Praha 6 - Střešovice, Phone: +420 220 512 653, Mobile: +420 733 697 349<br />
<strong>in</strong>fo@parklane-is.cz, www.parklane-is.com<br />
Small<br />
and Car<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Community<br />
School<br />
10 <strong>in</strong>z_Focus_180x126-Prk10.<strong>in</strong>dd 1 13.12.10 11 14:07<br />
ADVERTISEMENT<br />
focus on<br />
“I loved Prague from <strong>the</strong> very beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g but I soon realized that it wasn’t just my<br />
husband and I who needed enterta<strong>in</strong>ment. We were search<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternet for<br />
some guide to kids activities and were unable to f<strong>in</strong>d much. Of course, <strong>the</strong>re are<br />
hundreds <strong>of</strong> portals for parents but <strong>the</strong>y are all <strong>in</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> and sometimes you simply<br />
don’t have time or <strong>the</strong> strength to learn <strong>the</strong> language. So I got toge<strong>the</strong>r with my<br />
friends and set up www.kids<strong>in</strong>prague.com to try and help foreigners with kids <strong>in</strong><br />
Prague and make <strong>the</strong>ir stay more enjoyable. And we test it on our kids”, laughs Karen.<br />
You can really f<strong>in</strong>d everyth<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong> site, from where to eat, birthday venues and<br />
ideas to babysitt<strong>in</strong>g services and all sorts <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r useful <strong>in</strong>formation. Articles are<br />
published every few days so parents can f<strong>in</strong>d someth<strong>in</strong>g new if <strong>the</strong>y visit regularly.<br />
And everybody is welcome to write <strong>the</strong>ir own comments on <strong>the</strong> site.<br />
Here are some more sites to help you fend <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> “Mum, I’m bored” compla<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>of</strong> your children.<br />
www.myczechrepublic.com | www.prague.net | www.pragueexperience.com | www.travelforkids.com | www.prague-guide.co.uk | www.expats.cz
<strong>in</strong>terview<br />
No, we don´t!<br />
Two years ago, Sanjiv Suri spent an afternoon with His Hol<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
<strong>the</strong> Dalai Lama. The encounter altered <strong>the</strong> way he thought about<br />
himself and his family, and led to his decision to devote less time<br />
to his work and more time to his children’s development. Recently<br />
he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, <strong>the</strong> highest mounta<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> Africa.<br />
“The more scared you are, <strong>the</strong> more you grow. I want to get out <strong>of</strong><br />
my comfort zone and to see life as it is lived by o<strong>the</strong>r people. Last<br />
November, I took my older kids to Cambodia to support <strong>the</strong><br />
humanitarian organization Člověk v tísni or People <strong>in</strong> Need. With<br />
UNICEF we are plann<strong>in</strong>g trips to Haiti, Mongolia and Rwanda as well”.<br />
Sanjiv has worked <strong>in</strong> India and Africa, so is able to make<br />
comparisons. He f<strong>in</strong>ds <strong>Czech</strong>s “amaz<strong>in</strong>g at learn<strong>in</strong>g and adjust<strong>in</strong>g<br />
to <strong>the</strong> unknown without fear” although <strong>the</strong>y might sometimes lack<br />
flexibility. “People <strong>in</strong> India and Africa are much more oriented<br />
to <strong>the</strong> customer. We are a services bus<strong>in</strong>ess and it doesn’t cost<br />
much more to please people and to make <strong>the</strong>m happy”. He tries to<br />
<strong>in</strong>terview everybody before hir<strong>in</strong>g and looks for attitude more than<br />
aptitude. “Apart from attitude, everyth<strong>in</strong>g can be taught. People<br />
have to observe and to be look<strong>in</strong>g for new th<strong>in</strong>gs”.<br />
OUR BID IS 500% CLEAN<br />
We move on to <strong>the</strong> subject <strong>of</strong> corruption. Suri is categorical. “No<br />
specifics but we have been asked for bribes and we have<br />
immediately walked away. There are lots <strong>of</strong> areas where we will<br />
not go because it does not fit <strong>in</strong> with our values. We barely ever go<br />
<strong>in</strong> for public tenders. Our client base is 99% private sector”.<br />
I ask Sanjiv about <strong>the</strong> bus<strong>in</strong>ess he does with <strong>the</strong> public sector. “Last<br />
year was exceptional <strong>in</strong> that we did some work for <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> EU<br />
Presidency and for <strong>the</strong> foreign affairs m<strong>in</strong>istry. And we are<br />
connected to <strong>the</strong> city to some extent because <strong>of</strong> our <strong>in</strong>volvement<br />
<strong>in</strong> Ž<strong>of</strong>ín and <strong>the</strong> Prague Congress Centre”. In 2010 <strong>the</strong> Zátiší<br />
Group, toge<strong>the</strong>r with Penta Investments, won a city-run tender to<br />
sell parts <strong>of</strong> and operate <strong>the</strong> congress centre. “We have been <strong>the</strong><br />
caterer for <strong>the</strong> last 5 – 6 years. Hav<strong>in</strong>g been <strong>the</strong>re for that time and<br />
see<strong>in</strong>g what is go<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong>re and see<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> potential, when <strong>the</strong><br />
opportunity came to run and manage <strong>the</strong> centre, we took it. At <strong>the</strong><br />
macro level, <strong>the</strong> opportunity is huge. Prague <strong>in</strong> itself is such an<br />
attraction, <strong>the</strong> hardware if you like, but it lacks <strong>the</strong> s<strong>of</strong>tware to<br />
market itself. The congress centre targets high-end conference<br />
tourists ra<strong>the</strong>r than <strong>the</strong> normal beer and girls-type tourist. We are<br />
<strong>in</strong>terview<br />
look<strong>in</strong>g at a market<br />
which, though not<br />
huge <strong>in</strong> numbers, is<br />
significant <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> value to <strong>the</strong> local<br />
economy”.<br />
I mention <strong>the</strong> fact that<br />
<strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>ance m<strong>in</strong>istry<br />
must approve <strong>the</strong> deal<br />
and that <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>ance<br />
m<strong>in</strong>ister, Miroslav<br />
Kalousek, has used<br />
very strong language<br />
to condemn <strong>the</strong> tender.<br />
Sanjiv is emphatic here.<br />
“These are big political<br />
manoeuvers and it is<br />
not my place to<br />
comment. Our bid<br />
is 500% clean. It is<br />
<strong>the</strong> best possible bid<br />
because we guarantee<br />
an <strong>in</strong>vestment <strong>of</strong> Kc300-350m <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g over <strong>the</strong> next 24<br />
years. We will be obliged to pay an annual rent <strong>of</strong> Kc50 million so<br />
we tak<strong>in</strong>g a huge risk. And yes, if we are successful, <strong>the</strong>re is an upside<br />
for us. It was not an easy decision but we were attracted by <strong>the</strong><br />
impact we could have on <strong>the</strong> city. So go<strong>in</strong>g back to your question,<br />
this bus<strong>in</strong>ess deal from our side is 500% clean and <strong>the</strong> contract is<br />
very much <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> city. I am conv<strong>in</strong>ced it would be a big<br />
shame if, for political reasons, <strong>the</strong> deal did not happen”.<br />
Time is runn<strong>in</strong>g short so I ask Sanjiv where he sees himself and <strong>the</strong><br />
bus<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>in</strong> 10 years time. “As chairman <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> board”, he replies<br />
with a laugh, “and hopefully Zátiší will be run by a board <strong>of</strong><br />
directors. We are look<strong>in</strong>g at regional expansion <strong>in</strong> Austria, we have<br />
our sales <strong>of</strong>fice <strong>in</strong> Hungary and we are look<strong>in</strong>g at partnership for<br />
jo<strong>in</strong>t ventures. We will need a new strategy at some po<strong>in</strong>t and<br />
maybe we will need a new full time CEO as I cannot be CEO and<br />
President full time. We will need to be more pr<strong>of</strong>essional, more<br />
structured and more strategic. Next year is our 20th anniversary<br />
and we call it a Year <strong>of</strong> Innovation. We are really aim<strong>in</strong>g to raise<br />
standards and permanently change <strong>the</strong> market place”.<br />
The cater<strong>in</strong>g and restaurant bus<strong>in</strong>ess, Zátiší<br />
Group, is famous for its company motto,<br />
“Yes, we can”. But as Sanjiv Suri, President<br />
& CEO tells Silvia Bušniaková, when it<br />
comes to demands for bribery, <strong>the</strong> answer<br />
is an emphatic “No, we don’t!”<br />
12 13
member´ s CSR<br />
Two BCC<br />
members<br />
help<br />
<strong>the</strong>mselves<br />
by help<strong>in</strong>g<br />
o<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />
Carlo Capalbo<br />
<strong>of</strong> Prague International Marathon<br />
As founder <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Prague International Marathon (PIM), and<br />
resident <strong>of</strong> Prague for <strong>the</strong> past 16 years, Carlo Capalbo has<br />
built up a legacy <strong>of</strong> prestigious runn<strong>in</strong>g events <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong><br />
<strong>Republic</strong>. The quality <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se races is recognized <strong>in</strong>ternationally<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> runn<strong>in</strong>g world. Two <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most popular races, <strong>the</strong><br />
Volkswagen Prague Marathon and <strong>the</strong> Hervis Prague Half<br />
Marathon, have been awarded <strong>the</strong> IAAF Road Race Gold Label,<br />
which is attributed to races that meet <strong>the</strong> highest organizational<br />
standards and quality <strong>of</strong> athletes. Along with <strong>the</strong> two Gold<br />
Label awards, PIM holds <strong>the</strong> IAAF Road Race Silver Label for<br />
<strong>the</strong> METRO Men’s Race 10 km, which is part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> TESCO<br />
Prague Grand Prix.<br />
“The marathon is not only a competition for pr<strong>of</strong>essional and amateur athletes. PIM has<br />
managed to <strong>in</strong>spire people to live healthier and more active lives” say Capalbo. “Anyone<br />
can participate <strong>in</strong> one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> PIM runn<strong>in</strong>g events, ei<strong>the</strong>r competitively or non-competitively”.<br />
A remarkable testimony to PIM’s <strong>in</strong>fluence is <strong>the</strong> fact that more than 50,000 people <strong>of</strong> all<br />
ages took part <strong>in</strong> PIM’s competitive and non-competitive races <strong>in</strong> 2010.<br />
PIM itself supports a number <strong>of</strong> charities around <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> and gives <strong>the</strong><br />
participants <strong>of</strong> its races <strong>the</strong> opportunity to do <strong>the</strong> same. Anyone can register for one <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong> races: Hervis Prague Half Marathon (April 2nd, 2011), Volkswagen Marathon<br />
Prague (May 8th, 2011), or Prague Grand Prix (September 10th, 2011).<br />
Euan Edworthy<br />
<strong>of</strong> Best Communications<br />
Euan Edworthy, <strong>the</strong> founder <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> PR agency Best Communications<br />
says that “every credible bus<strong>in</strong>ess should behave ethically and<br />
contribute to economic development while improv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong><br />
quality <strong>of</strong> life <strong>of</strong> its workforce, <strong>the</strong>ir families as well as <strong>the</strong><br />
community as a whole”. Some recent examples from Best are<br />
<strong>the</strong> establishment <strong>of</strong> Speakers’ Corner Trust to promote<br />
freedom <strong>of</strong> speech (now an <strong>in</strong>ternational charity)<br />
www.speakerscornertrust.org; <strong>the</strong> organisation <strong>of</strong> a Monkey<br />
Bus<strong>in</strong>ess concert with proceeds benefit<strong>in</strong>g Brno-based<br />
oncology charity Krtek; <strong>the</strong> promotion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> English version<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> book “If I would have been a boy, I would have been<br />
shot” written by <strong>the</strong> youngest survivor <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Lidice massacre; and <strong>the</strong> establishment <strong>of</strong><br />
Children <strong>of</strong> Courage Award <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> with Livia Klausová as patron.<br />
“We run CSR programmes for our clients as well. These <strong>in</strong>clude Starbucks, Ben & Jerry’s<br />
and ProLogis”. Starbucks works with local schools on programmes as varied as literary<br />
and draw<strong>in</strong>g competitions and made a f<strong>in</strong>ancial donation to renovate Uhelný trh’s library.<br />
“We coord<strong>in</strong>ated a student blood drive and a fun day for children at Motol Hospital on<br />
behalf <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ice cream manufactuer Ben & Jerry’s. And this Christmas, we are help<strong>in</strong>g<br />
ProLogis on its support for Plamienko, a Slovak organization that supports families whose<br />
children are suffer<strong>in</strong>g from term<strong>in</strong>ally ill diseases”.<br />
Apartments now ready to move <strong>in</strong><br />
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advert.<strong>in</strong>dd 1 12/6/2010 12:41:47 PM<br />
Vrána & Pelikán is a <strong>Czech</strong> law rm founded <strong>in</strong><br />
2008 by lawyers that have previously worked <strong>in</strong><br />
large <strong>in</strong>ternational and domestic law rms, acquir<strong>in</strong>g<br />
extensive experience <strong>in</strong> advis<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>ternational clients<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>. It <strong>of</strong>fers highly pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
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knowledge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> local environment.<br />
14 15
<strong>in</strong>terview<br />
Undoubted<br />
and Unforgotten<br />
<strong>British</strong> National Library<br />
Do you see any parallels between Col<strong>in</strong> St John Wilson, who<br />
described his successful struggle to build <strong>the</strong> new <strong>British</strong><br />
Library as his “30-year war”, and Jan Kaplický, whose National<br />
Library project has been shelved by <strong>the</strong> City <strong>of</strong> Prague?<br />
While we were develop<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> script for <strong>the</strong> film Eye over Prague,<br />
we were th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g more about projects like <strong>the</strong> Danc<strong>in</strong>g House<br />
<strong>in</strong> Prague. Jan always spoke about <strong>the</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g designed by Le<br />
Corbusier <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Soviet Union. Le Corbusier‘s ideas <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> needs<br />
<strong>of</strong> a mass society drew much attention. His high hopes were soon<br />
lost <strong>in</strong> struggles with <strong>the</strong> Soviet authorities. I could see <strong>the</strong> parallel<br />
<strong>the</strong>re. The Frank Gehry build<strong>in</strong>g had a positive end. It is <strong>the</strong> only<br />
modern build<strong>in</strong>g built after <strong>the</strong> Velvet Revolution. That was due<br />
to <strong>the</strong> big support given by Václav Havel, who was President <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> at that time.<br />
International competitions<br />
There are o<strong>the</strong>r examples <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational competition w<strong>in</strong>ners<br />
who <strong>the</strong>n failed to have <strong>the</strong>ir project completed. We are now<br />
hear<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> concerns about <strong>the</strong> Letná location and issues <strong>of</strong><br />
conservation. Do you th<strong>in</strong>k that at <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> competition’s<br />
launch, <strong>the</strong> competition committee had <strong>the</strong> authority and <strong>the</strong><br />
full back<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> City <strong>of</strong> Prague <strong>in</strong> stat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> basic parameters<br />
relat<strong>in</strong>g to site, dimensions and budget?<br />
Let’s talk about <strong>the</strong> future not <strong>the</strong> past. Many people lied to my<br />
husband on camera about <strong>the</strong> location and so on. You can see it<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> meet<strong>in</strong>g with <strong>the</strong> former Mayor <strong>of</strong> Prague. The camera<br />
captured a moment that is a real lesson for anyone wish<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
deal with politicians <strong>in</strong> this country.<br />
I am also on <strong>the</strong> board <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Foundation Pro Knihovnu and our<br />
ma<strong>in</strong> goals are rais<strong>in</strong>g money for <strong>the</strong> National Library and<br />
safeguard<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> proposed site <strong>in</strong> Letná. This is <strong>the</strong> only free<br />
place <strong>in</strong> Prague which can be used for a cultural build<strong>in</strong>g. The<br />
site is fundamental. The library is for people. They need to come<br />
<strong>the</strong>re, meet, talk and <strong>of</strong> course, read. This site for <strong>the</strong> library<br />
was chosen by <strong>the</strong> experts and <strong>the</strong>re is no way to change it. Of<br />
course, <strong>the</strong>y could use it as a park<strong>in</strong>g space and plans exist for<br />
that now. That would only go to show how cultured a nation we<br />
have become!<br />
Innovation<br />
<strong>in</strong>terview<br />
Leav<strong>in</strong>g aside <strong>the</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g’s provocative appearance, Kaplický’s<br />
design <strong>in</strong>corporated a state <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> art underground and <strong>in</strong>stantly<br />
accessible book storage and retrieval system. What else would<br />
you say was architecturally <strong>in</strong>novative?<br />
I am not an architect but a film producer. But if I may, I would say<br />
that what is most <strong>in</strong>novative is <strong>the</strong> way <strong>the</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g creates<br />
emotions. You ei<strong>the</strong>r like it or hate it. All children love it. That<br />
was most important for Jan. Children are an open book and <strong>the</strong>y<br />
are really very honest with you. If children would be drawn to<br />
this build<strong>in</strong>g, I th<strong>in</strong>k that would be a victory for all <strong>of</strong> us. We have<br />
so many ugly build<strong>in</strong>gs built by <strong>the</strong> communists which are empty.<br />
What is more important than our children? The build<strong>in</strong>g is a<br />
symbol <strong>of</strong> our time. Yes, we struggled with communism but we<br />
won! We are a free democratic country. As Frank Lloyd Wright<br />
wrote <strong>in</strong> his book, “DEMOCRACY BUILDS”.<br />
16 17
<strong>in</strong>terview<br />
Prophet <strong>in</strong> his own country<br />
I am President <strong>of</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> Cricket and occasionally get <strong>in</strong>vited to <strong>the</strong><br />
historic home <strong>of</strong> cricket, Lords cricket ground <strong>in</strong> St John’s Wood,<br />
London. On <strong>the</strong> last occasion, I was one <strong>of</strong> 80 o<strong>the</strong>rs sitt<strong>in</strong>g down to<br />
d<strong>in</strong>ner <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Lords Media Centre, which overlooks <strong>the</strong> grounds and<br />
is designed by Jan Kaplický. Do you feel that <strong>the</strong>re is some truth to <strong>the</strong><br />
axiom that “a prophet is not without honour save <strong>in</strong> his own country”?<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>. Josef Kaplický, Jan´s fa<strong>the</strong>r, struggled first aga<strong>in</strong>st fascism and<br />
<strong>the</strong>n communism. That is why Jan left <strong>the</strong> country <strong>in</strong> 1968 and I th<strong>in</strong>k<br />
that is why he achieved so much. Just <strong>the</strong><br />
thought <strong>of</strong> emigration frightens me. I would<br />
miss my family and <strong>the</strong> support I have here.<br />
Jan lost everyth<strong>in</strong>g because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
political situation. He left <strong>the</strong> country with<br />
100 USD and started aga<strong>in</strong> from noth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
at <strong>the</strong> age <strong>of</strong> 30. Like many young<br />
people, I really admire this. We need to<br />
wait until <strong>the</strong> younger generation<br />
will lead our country. They admire <strong>the</strong><br />
work that Jan’s firm, Future Systems,<br />
has carried out around <strong>the</strong> world. We<br />
need just ano<strong>the</strong>r 20 years to cure<br />
ourselves from 40 years <strong>of</strong><br />
dictatorship.<br />
Approval <strong>of</strong> projects <strong>in</strong> a democracy<br />
Eva Jiřičná, <strong>in</strong> an <strong>in</strong>terview with FOCUS, remarked on <strong>the</strong> plann<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>of</strong> new projects <strong>in</strong> conservation areas and <strong>the</strong> difference <strong>of</strong> approach<br />
between <strong>the</strong> UK and <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>: “The UK has been a<br />
democracy for much longer so this debate is carried out <strong>in</strong> a<br />
somewhat more civilised manner, if I may say so. My experience <strong>in</strong><br />
Prague is that <strong>the</strong> people who are mak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> decisions about<br />
projects <strong>of</strong>ten don’t know anyth<strong>in</strong>g about <strong>the</strong>m, are ignorant <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
field and have never tried anyth<strong>in</strong>g, which may be why <strong>the</strong>y don’t<br />
have <strong>the</strong> courage to approve projects”.<br />
Absolutely! Who <strong>the</strong>y are? What did <strong>the</strong>y create or build<br />
here? Politicians are only capable <strong>of</strong> th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g four years ahead<br />
and no more, until <strong>the</strong> next elections. I feel so sorry that<br />
President Václav Klaus, who could have achieved so much,<br />
will not have a s<strong>in</strong>gle build<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> to be<br />
remembered for. Compare that to France and<br />
Mitterand’s National Library <strong>in</strong> Paris. Maybe we<br />
expect too much from our politicians.<br />
Still on Behaviour<br />
Vlastimil Ježek, <strong>the</strong> former director <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
National Library, said that “Jan Kaplický had<br />
no need to learn ethics as he was a natural<br />
gentleman. As a visionary, he was used to<br />
argument and conflict, but it was a shock<br />
to him how his countrymen behaved”. Was that so and how<br />
did this effect Jan?<br />
He told me once that <strong>the</strong> only mistake he made was that he<br />
started to be <strong>Czech</strong> aga<strong>in</strong>. He had forgotten how people<br />
behave here. His family was bourgeois and his fa<strong>the</strong>r was<br />
someone who taught him how to be a real gentleman, a long<br />
time before he went to live <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> UK.<br />
Cont<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g Campaign<br />
I note that <strong>the</strong>re was a Happen<strong>in</strong>g on Letná <strong>in</strong> February<br />
with well known supporters from <strong>the</strong> arts such as <strong>the</strong><br />
Svěráks, Anna Geislerová and Jan Kasl. There has been <strong>the</strong><br />
film and discussions about <strong>the</strong> film and now <strong>the</strong> DVD. What<br />
may we hope for next?<br />
In January 2011, a bus stop <strong>in</strong> Brno based on <strong>the</strong> design<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> National Library will be unveiled. Eva Jiřičná has<br />
helped <strong>in</strong> carry<strong>in</strong>g this out. I love <strong>the</strong> whole idea. You can<br />
read more about it here:<br />
www.refreshyourworld.cz/zastavka/brno-brechtova<br />
I have created this beautiful and sad film, which has won<br />
prizes and is be<strong>in</strong>g shown around <strong>the</strong> world. Everybody <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> knows what <strong>the</strong> new National Library<br />
could look like even though <strong>the</strong>y would not recognise <strong>the</strong><br />
architect’s face. Jan’s moral victory <strong>in</strong> this cause is<br />
undoubted and unforgettable. His legacy lives on <strong>in</strong> his<br />
books, his exhibitions…and his two children.<br />
České Budějovice<br />
I understand that fur<strong>the</strong>r steps have been taken <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
approval process for <strong>the</strong> Antonín Dvořák Conference and<br />
Concert halls <strong>in</strong> České Budějovice. Where has this got to<br />
now?<br />
Just a little bit fur<strong>the</strong>r than with <strong>the</strong> National Library.<br />
The most important difference is that <strong>the</strong> client is a<br />
private <strong>in</strong>dividual and very open m<strong>in</strong>ded.<br />
Own film career<br />
You are a film maker. What was it that drew you to mak<strong>in</strong>g<br />
a film about Jan Kaplický <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> first place? Of course your<br />
life and possibly fur<strong>the</strong>r career changed dramatically as a<br />
consequence.<br />
I like to be constantly <strong>in</strong>spired. I love it when I can create a<br />
film with people I like work<strong>in</strong>g with. I hope I will slowly get<br />
back to my film career.<br />
Thanks to James de Candole for help<strong>in</strong>g our photographer,<br />
Sasa Dobrovodsky, with his light<strong>in</strong>g equipment –among o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
th<strong>in</strong>gs! More <strong>of</strong> Sasa´s work can be seen at www.dobrovodsky.cz<br />
If you would like to order a copy <strong>of</strong> Eye over Prague, please<br />
email films@journeyman.tv or visit www.simplyc<strong>in</strong>ema.cz<br />
18<br />
19
Interview<br />
Talk<strong>in</strong>g it up with Jan Kraus<br />
Jan Kraus loves to get you to talk. He has largely given up his film act<strong>in</strong>g (though not <strong>the</strong> stage)<br />
<strong>the</strong>se days to concentrate on his own show modelled on American late night talk shows. He has<br />
recently moved his show from public <strong>Czech</strong> Television to commercial TV Prima. He is adored for his<br />
grumpy good looks and only occasionally allows himself to break <strong>in</strong>to a smile. He is funny and not<br />
too self-centred. The chamber’s Silvia Bušniaková, sat Kraus down <strong>in</strong> Prague <strong>in</strong> December 2010.<br />
Are you really as thick-sk<strong>in</strong>ned and as self-assured as you<br />
appear on your show?<br />
Cynicism need not be <strong>in</strong>considerate or <strong>in</strong>sensitive. I am critical<br />
<strong>of</strong> reality. Black humour is a playful form <strong>of</strong> cynicism and I like<br />
black humour! As for self-assurance, this is someth<strong>in</strong>g unusual <strong>in</strong><br />
this country. Self-assurance is about self-awareness. If I were not<br />
aware <strong>of</strong> myself, I would be a doormat.<br />
And how are you affected by what <strong>the</strong> tabloids write about<br />
you?<br />
I had Anna K on my show and she described it well. Of <strong>the</strong><br />
sixty <strong>in</strong>terviews with her that were published, she only gave two<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m and even <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong>y distorted what she had actually said.<br />
You are <strong>in</strong>to talent contests <strong>the</strong>se days. This is not <strong>the</strong> Jan<br />
Kraus I know! I see you as more <strong>in</strong>tellectual.<br />
I got an <strong>of</strong>fer I could not refuse! Sure, its commercial but talent<br />
shows improve <strong>the</strong> lives <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people that appear on <strong>the</strong>m,<br />
certa<strong>in</strong>ly <strong>the</strong> lives <strong>of</strong> those that w<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
Your show has moved from <strong>Czech</strong> Television to TV Prima.<br />
Why? Had you become too outspoken? Did you want too<br />
much money?<br />
The money th<strong>in</strong>g is envious rubbish. The issue started with an<br />
<strong>in</strong>conspicuous trifle, <strong>the</strong> reschedul<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> reruns <strong>of</strong> my show. And<br />
it cont<strong>in</strong>ued with more obvious attempts to <strong>in</strong>terfere with <strong>the</strong><br />
program. Then I started to be more and more frequently told <strong>of</strong>f<br />
for <strong>the</strong> way that I dealt with my guests. They began to direct me<br />
and this was unacceptable.<br />
And is Prima <strong>of</strong>fer<strong>in</strong>g you more space?<br />
There are limits but <strong>in</strong> commercial television <strong>the</strong>se limits are<br />
clear: up rat<strong>in</strong>gs or leave. Actually <strong>the</strong>re are practically no limits<br />
<strong>in</strong> public television. No one cares about <strong>the</strong> rat<strong>in</strong>gs, no one<br />
cares about anyth<strong>in</strong>g really so th<strong>in</strong>gs may be <strong>in</strong>terpreted<br />
differently from week to week. I prefer one clear limit than such<br />
vagueness.<br />
Do you watch your American equivalents such as David Letterman<br />
and Jay Leno?<br />
Yes I do and <strong>the</strong>y are good models for me and always have been,<br />
same as Johnny Carson. There are at most five really successful,<br />
really super late night shows <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> States, and dozens more that<br />
try. Th<strong>in</strong>gs are a little different <strong>the</strong>re, talk shows have a great<br />
tradition <strong>in</strong> America, <strong>the</strong>y are broadcast 5 times a week, <strong>the</strong>y are<br />
broadcast later <strong>the</strong>n <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> because American<br />
even<strong>in</strong>g television time is slightly different and it is prestigious<br />
for good commercial televisions to have a late night show.<br />
Why aren’t late night shows, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g yours, broadcast<br />
live?<br />
None <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m are broadcast live for one simple reason. You<br />
cannot concentrate on <strong>the</strong> time, you have to concentrate, simply<br />
said, on <strong>the</strong> enterta<strong>in</strong>ment and you have a better chance <strong>of</strong> do<strong>in</strong>g<br />
so when you do this with some sort <strong>of</strong> reserve<br />
and <strong>the</strong> most bor<strong>in</strong>g pieces are removed.<br />
Did you choose <strong>the</strong> guests at<br />
<strong>Czech</strong> television and how much<br />
<strong>in</strong>fluence do you have at Prima?<br />
We choose toge<strong>the</strong>r. No one<br />
<strong>in</strong>terfered at <strong>Czech</strong> Television<br />
and when <strong>the</strong>y tried to,<br />
I left. I have <strong>the</strong><br />
experience that guests<br />
who you believe will<br />
be great, end up<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g bor<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
an <strong>in</strong>terview<br />
and guests<br />
who you<br />
don’t even<br />
know who<br />
<strong>the</strong>y are<br />
and what<br />
will<br />
happen,<br />
are<br />
excellent.<br />
If a guest<br />
makes a fool <strong>of</strong> himself, can <strong>the</strong>y edit <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
performance?<br />
No, that’s never happened to me and if it has, <strong>the</strong>y asked our<br />
production team, and <strong>the</strong>y wouldn’t dare tell me.<br />
Were you sorry for Kateř<strong>in</strong>a Jacques?<br />
No. I was not aware <strong>of</strong> what harm she would cause herself. You<br />
cannot feel sorry for someone <strong>in</strong> advance, especially when <strong>the</strong>y<br />
appear f<strong>in</strong>e.<br />
Not even later, when you knew what harm she had caused<br />
herself?<br />
She should have known what biomass is as vice-chairman <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Greens. You lie on <strong>the</strong> bed you made yourself.<br />
How do you prepare for <strong>the</strong> show?<br />
I have background research from my colleagues, who call my<br />
guests and ask <strong>the</strong>m questions about particular th<strong>in</strong>gs and <strong>the</strong>n<br />
<strong>the</strong>y call me and say, he’s like this or like this and he gave <strong>the</strong><br />
impression <strong>of</strong> be<strong>in</strong>g like that or like this and sometimes it is<br />
funny because I might even know <strong>the</strong>se people and <strong>the</strong>y are<br />
really completely different.<br />
How long do you <strong>in</strong>tend to cont<strong>in</strong>ue with <strong>the</strong> show?<br />
Johnny Carson, <strong>the</strong> Godfa<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> this type <strong>of</strong> th<strong>in</strong>g, did his show<br />
five times a week for twenty five years.<br />
ADVERTISEMENT<br />
PIM RUNNING CIRCUIT 2011<br />
BRING YOUR COMPANY<br />
TO RUN IN PRAGUE!<br />
Can Jan Kraus be hired to moderate an event?<br />
Yes he can, but he is very expensive. I know my value and I won’t<br />
go below it.<br />
Why can we no longer see you <strong>in</strong> films?<br />
I really don’t like do<strong>in</strong>g it. Film<strong>in</strong>g takes up lots <strong>of</strong> time, and is<br />
poorly paid. I would have to very <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> a specific project<br />
to go for it, like <strong>the</strong> film 3 sezóny v pekle. I enjoyed that. But now<br />
that I can make money elsewhere, film<strong>in</strong>g has been sidel<strong>in</strong>ed.<br />
20 21<br />
02<br />
april<br />
08<br />
may<br />
Hervis Corporate<br />
Half Marathon<br />
Volkswagen Corporate<br />
Marathon<br />
<strong>in</strong>terview<br />
www.praguemarathon.com<br />
1012_adv_210_148_<strong>British</strong>_Council.<strong>in</strong>dd 1 12/10/2010 9:08:27 AM
PRINCE <strong>of</strong> WALES<br />
In March 2010, Their Royal Highnesses The Pr<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>of</strong> Wales and The Duchess <strong>of</strong> Cornwall came to visit <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> for four days<br />
after visit<strong>in</strong>g Poland and Hungary. This was The Pr<strong>in</strong>ces’ first visit here for ten years and The Duchess’s first visit. Highlights <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
visit <strong>in</strong>cluded a formal d<strong>in</strong>ner with President Klaus, attend<strong>in</strong>g Don Giovanni at <strong>the</strong> Estates Theatre, a visit to <strong>the</strong> eco-village <strong>of</strong> Hostétín<br />
<strong>in</strong> Moravia and to <strong>the</strong> Masaryk University <strong>in</strong> Brno.<br />
Many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> chamber’s members were <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> visit, ei<strong>the</strong>r host<strong>in</strong>g Their Royal Highnesses or meet<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m. These pictures<br />
commemorate <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>in</strong>volvement.<br />
The Pr<strong>in</strong>ce at <strong>the</strong> <strong>British</strong> Embassy with BCC members.<br />
From <strong>the</strong> left: Jiří Krejča formerly from G4S, Karel Veselý formerly from AVIVA,<br />
Howard Chapman from Hogan Lovells, Lukáš Ševčík from K<strong>in</strong>stellar.<br />
Photo: <strong>British</strong> Embassy<br />
Attend<strong>in</strong>g St Clements‘ Anglican Chapla<strong>in</strong>cy, <strong>the</strong> Duchess be<strong>in</strong>g welcomed<br />
by <strong>the</strong> Reverend Ricky Yates.<br />
Photo: Sybille Yates/Anglican Chapla<strong>in</strong>cy<br />
Their Royal Highnesses welcomed at<br />
church by a member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sunday School<br />
Photo: Sybille Yates/Anglican Chapla<strong>in</strong>cy<br />
At <strong>the</strong> English College <strong>in</strong> Prague, His Royal<br />
Highness, <strong>the</strong> College’s Patron, with <strong>the</strong><br />
Duchess <strong>of</strong> Cornwall outside <strong>the</strong> college.<br />
Photo: Denis Shevchuk/English College<br />
The Royal Standard on <strong>the</strong> Lichtenste<strong>in</strong><br />
Palace, Kampa Island.<br />
Photo: BCC<br />
22 23
<strong>in</strong>terview<br />
Sian MacLeod<br />
is <strong>British</strong> Ambassador<br />
to <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> and Honorary Chair <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong>. A diplomat for over twenty years,<br />
who has twice served <strong>in</strong> Moscow, she arrived <strong>in</strong><br />
Prague <strong>in</strong> July 2009. When we met, she expla<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
‘it was my dream to become Ambassador <strong>in</strong> Prague<br />
and a great honour. The UK and <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong><br />
<strong>Republic</strong> enjoy a very special relationship. And<br />
for me, as a musician, Prague is a wonderful<br />
place to live.’<br />
Sian is <strong>the</strong> third successive female <strong>British</strong> ambassador to Prague<br />
(one <strong>in</strong> six <strong>British</strong> Ambassadors are currently women). “Diplomacy<br />
is a demand<strong>in</strong>g but reward<strong>in</strong>g career. You have to be ready to<br />
move wherever and whenever you are asked, and to ask your<br />
spouse or partner and children to do this too. This can mean<br />
difficult personal choices”. Married with three children, she<br />
worked part time when <strong>the</strong>y were small. She observed that “it<br />
seems less common <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> than <strong>the</strong> UK for parents<br />
<strong>of</strong> young children to work part time, allow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m to rema<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong><br />
touch with <strong>the</strong>ir employer and develop <strong>the</strong>ir skills”.<br />
She believes passionately that public service, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g diplomacy,<br />
should reflect society. ‘Recently we bought toge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Embassy women ambassadors and <strong>Czech</strong> women MPs to share<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir experiences’. Referr<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> chamber’s diversity programme,<br />
she emphasizes <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> role models <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> private<br />
sector, like Muriel Anton and Alexis George.<br />
We talked about her time <strong>in</strong> Prague and some highlights,<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> very successful visit <strong>of</strong> The Pr<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>of</strong> Wales and The<br />
Duchess <strong>of</strong> Cornwall and RAF participation <strong>in</strong> NATO Days <strong>in</strong><br />
Ostrava. Look<strong>in</strong>g ahead to 2011, she is hop<strong>in</strong>g for <strong>the</strong> global<br />
economy to pick up and <strong>the</strong> bus<strong>in</strong>ess environment to become<br />
easier for everyone <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Chamber</strong> members. Specific events<br />
on this horizon <strong>in</strong>clude <strong>the</strong> forthcom<strong>in</strong>g Royal Wedd<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> late<br />
April and <strong>the</strong> London 2012 Olympics. Sian talks with enthusiasm<br />
about <strong>the</strong> commitment to susta<strong>in</strong>ability and use <strong>of</strong> low carbon<br />
technologies for <strong>the</strong> London Games, and <strong>the</strong> opportunity to<br />
promote sport and fitness among <strong>the</strong> wider public. The Embassy<br />
will work with <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> and <strong>British</strong> Olympic Associations, Visit<br />
Brita<strong>in</strong> and <strong>the</strong> <strong>British</strong> Council to promote London 2012. With<br />
support from <strong>the</strong> chamber and chamber patron Tesco, <strong>the</strong> Embassy<br />
launched its Olympic campaign with <strong>the</strong> help <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> Table<br />
Tennis Association. “We watched an excit<strong>in</strong>g exhibition match,<br />
<strong>Czech</strong> Ambassador to London, Michael Žantovský, and I played a<br />
short game match, and <strong>the</strong> event was followed up by a p<strong>in</strong>g pong<br />
academy at a children’s home”.<br />
We moved onto <strong>the</strong> <strong>British</strong> Government’s policy priorities -<br />
prosperity, security and consular assistance for <strong>British</strong> citizens.<br />
“As Ambassador it is my responsibility to run an effective and<br />
efficient operation that delivers government objectives and<br />
provides good value for <strong>the</strong> taxpayer. We support prosperity<br />
through our excellent UKTI team who <strong>of</strong>fer services to <strong>British</strong><br />
companies <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g research and market reports on <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong><br />
<strong>Republic</strong> and Central Europe, and assist companies already active<br />
here. We also support <strong>in</strong>com<strong>in</strong>g trade missions, promotional<br />
events for companies, like a recent large event for JCB or tailored<br />
activities on a smaller scale”.<br />
UKTI works closely with <strong>the</strong> chamber. Sian sees our roles as<br />
complementary, valu<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> chamber’s potential to identify and<br />
represent <strong>the</strong> concerns <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bus<strong>in</strong>ess community We discussed<br />
one topical issue on <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> political agenda, transparency <strong>in</strong><br />
public procurement. Sian confirms she has raised this with <strong>Czech</strong><br />
M<strong>in</strong>isters, “I have made clear that <strong>the</strong> <strong>British</strong> Government<br />
strongly supports plans to <strong>in</strong>crease transparency”. She has also<br />
briefed <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> authorities on <strong>the</strong> modernization <strong>of</strong> <strong>British</strong><br />
anti-corruption legislation, with <strong>the</strong> new UK Bribery Act com<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong>to force <strong>in</strong> 2011. “It is essential that <strong>British</strong> companies and o<strong>the</strong>rs<br />
that might be affected are also aware <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Act”.<br />
We return to <strong>the</strong> Olympics. Sian looks forward to welcom<strong>in</strong>g<br />
young <strong>British</strong> athletes to Liberec <strong>in</strong> February 2011 for <strong>the</strong><br />
European Youth Olympic W<strong>in</strong>ter Festival. And London 2012?<br />
The UK wants to <strong>the</strong> world to see “an ideal bilateral partner, a<br />
prime dest<strong>in</strong>ation for tourism, trade and <strong>in</strong>vestment, an open,<br />
tolerant, modern and forward look<strong>in</strong>g society, a home for enterprise,<br />
wealth creation, opportunity and new ideas - a fantastic place to<br />
work, study or do bus<strong>in</strong>ess”.<br />
The ambassador at Ostrava NATO days <strong>in</strong> a RAF Typhoon<br />
Photo: <strong>British</strong> Embassy<br />
What have you learnt <strong>in</strong> your first few months as country<br />
manager <strong>of</strong> Emirates Airl<strong>in</strong>es?<br />
I am discover<strong>in</strong>g how many th<strong>in</strong>gs I don’t know. We are receiv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
on <strong>the</strong> job tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, with lots <strong>of</strong> support from Dubai. We recruit<br />
through <strong>the</strong> global head <strong>of</strong>fice, with <strong>the</strong> VP Europe responsible<br />
for Prague along with our country manager <strong>in</strong> Vienna and our<br />
HR colleagues <strong>in</strong> London. For <strong>in</strong>stance I applied for <strong>the</strong> position<br />
<strong>of</strong> country manager but <strong>the</strong>y told me that <strong>the</strong>y believed I would<br />
be more suited to <strong>the</strong> position <strong>of</strong> sales manager, so I said <strong>of</strong><br />
course, I’ll take it and <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong>y called me to say that <strong>the</strong>y<br />
would accept me, but <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> position <strong>of</strong> country manager. There<br />
are 26 <strong>of</strong> us <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Prague team.<br />
How are you structured?<br />
It’s kept very simple. Everyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
here is dynamic and noth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
takes very long, which is why we<br />
are develop<strong>in</strong>g so fast. And no<br />
one takes any notice <strong>of</strong> gender or,<br />
God forbid, anyth<strong>in</strong>g else. 130<br />
nationalities work for us. We are<br />
<strong>the</strong> most progressive airl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> world. People perceive it as<br />
someth<strong>in</strong>g extraord<strong>in</strong>ary. It is<br />
thanks to <strong>the</strong> fact that so many<br />
nationalities work for us and are<br />
capable <strong>of</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g toge<strong>the</strong>r so<br />
well and everyone is satisfied.<br />
Turnover is low. I know people<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> company who have been<br />
here for 25 years. We gets lost <strong>of</strong><br />
people want<strong>in</strong>g to transfer to us.<br />
Do you recruit from <strong>the</strong><br />
competition?<br />
Many people have come from<br />
<strong>the</strong> competition. We are better<br />
than <strong>the</strong> competition as far as<br />
our reputation for quality goes.<br />
The company can <strong>of</strong>fer great<br />
facilities and loyalty. When I<br />
was at Lufthansa, we dreamt <strong>of</strong><br />
work<strong>in</strong>g for Emirates.<br />
How do you manage people?<br />
Western companies generally have many levels <strong>of</strong> management<br />
and report<strong>in</strong>g is complicated. Not here. We have roughly two<br />
Europe-wide meet<strong>in</strong>gs a year. Basically if noth<strong>in</strong>g happens, I<br />
don’t report anyth<strong>in</strong>g. It is an example <strong>of</strong> how much head <strong>of</strong>fice<br />
trusts us. I have subord<strong>in</strong>ate managers <strong>of</strong> various categories,<br />
from sales, HR to Sky Cargo. I set <strong>the</strong> tone and direction more<br />
or less, but I don’t <strong>in</strong>terfere much. They are experts, which is<br />
why <strong>the</strong>y are <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir position. I am certa<strong>in</strong>ly not authoritative.<br />
What I am not capable <strong>of</strong> cop<strong>in</strong>g with are people who feel <strong>the</strong>y<br />
are irreplaceable and are not capable <strong>of</strong> delegat<strong>in</strong>g. That’s<br />
unacceptable. That’s why my Blackberry is not beep<strong>in</strong>g at me<br />
every m<strong>in</strong>ute. I don’t wish to be <strong>in</strong>formed <strong>of</strong> everyth<strong>in</strong>g. For<br />
<strong>in</strong>stance we don’t set <strong>the</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g hours or attendance. It’s<br />
about discipl<strong>in</strong>e and social <strong>in</strong>telligence. I don’t care whe<strong>the</strong>r a<br />
24 25<br />
<strong>in</strong>terview<br />
Bořivoj Trejbal leads <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice <strong>of</strong> Emirates Airl<strong>in</strong>es.<br />
Silvia Bušniaková met him recently and was struck by <strong>the</strong> simple management structure.<br />
colleague is here for five hours today and longer tomorrow and<br />
<strong>the</strong>n fewer hours ano<strong>the</strong>r day, it’s a matter based on trust and<br />
effectiveness. It’s pleasant and it works.<br />
And what about work<strong>in</strong>g from home?<br />
That’s someth<strong>in</strong>g I did for five years and it requires good<br />
organisation. It gives you a lot <strong>of</strong> freedom, but <strong>the</strong>re is also a<br />
high risk that you will be distracted. So, yes but only <strong>in</strong> some<br />
positions.<br />
What does your turnover look like?<br />
The whole group has pr<strong>of</strong>its for<br />
this half year which are identical<br />
to <strong>the</strong> whole <strong>of</strong> last year, which<br />
is a billion dollars net pr<strong>of</strong>it. I<br />
cannot tell you <strong>the</strong> sum for <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Czech</strong> market but we are<br />
surpris<strong>in</strong>gly strong and we<br />
have a very strong position<br />
with regard to sales <strong>of</strong> tickets<br />
and are very successful <strong>in</strong> cargo.<br />
I th<strong>in</strong>k I dare say we are<br />
<strong>in</strong>v<strong>in</strong>cible <strong>in</strong> this aspect.<br />
Where is Emirates go<strong>in</strong>g?<br />
We aim to be <strong>the</strong> lead<strong>in</strong>g<br />
carrier <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> world. We are<br />
<strong>the</strong> largest <strong>in</strong> this region. The<br />
way we are grow<strong>in</strong>g, acquir<strong>in</strong>g<br />
new planes, at this moment we<br />
have 150 planes on order and<br />
ano<strong>the</strong>r 150 are <strong>in</strong> operation,<br />
capacity will basically double<br />
and I assume that we will have<br />
flights to most capitals. We will<br />
not focus on <strong>the</strong> east but<br />
maybe on South America.<br />
How do you communicate?<br />
In <strong>the</strong> beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g, it was<br />
essential to establish <strong>the</strong> brand.<br />
A campaign focus<strong>in</strong>g on that<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternational value was<br />
launched and it was executed<br />
throughout <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong><br />
<strong>Republic</strong>, focus<strong>in</strong>g on Prague. At this moment we have no<br />
nationwide campaign underway. Our best market<strong>in</strong>g strategy is<br />
to have quality people on board. We also <strong>in</strong>vest additional funds<br />
<strong>in</strong>to PR and on-l<strong>in</strong>e communication.<br />
Do low low-cost airl<strong>in</strong>es have a future?<br />
Yes <strong>the</strong>y do. Some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m have established a very strong<br />
position on <strong>the</strong> market. And <strong>the</strong>y have a future because <strong>of</strong> this,<br />
because <strong>the</strong>y don’t care where <strong>the</strong>y will land. On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
hand, <strong>the</strong>y can never function with respect to long-haul flights.<br />
I see you are keen golfer.<br />
Yes. And I am certa<strong>in</strong> that bus<strong>in</strong>ess can be done on <strong>the</strong> green.<br />
I didn’t believe it but now I am conv<strong>in</strong>ced!
events roundup<br />
01<br />
03<br />
02<br />
04<br />
07<br />
05<br />
06<br />
08<br />
BCC’s Got an Idol<br />
This was our largest party <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> year. The mixer<br />
took place <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Hard Rock Café Prague. Guests<br />
who dared to karaoke and w<strong>in</strong> were Bryan Bambrick<br />
from server expats.cz operated by Howl<strong>in</strong>gs; Birger<br />
Husted, a partner with executive search firm<br />
UniqueConsult; and David James, manag<strong>in</strong>g partner<br />
at tax advisory Baker Tilly <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>. Guests<br />
could get a real rock star tattoo, puff cigars from<br />
around <strong>the</strong> world and have <strong>the</strong>ir portraits pr<strong>in</strong>ted<br />
on <strong>the</strong> cover <strong>of</strong> “Roll<strong>in</strong>g Stone”. Our charity partner<br />
was Diakonie, which aims to start an Educational<br />
Institute for Child Protection (VIOD).<br />
General Partner: GE Money Bank <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>,<br />
_______________<br />
Partner: Citizen Watch.<br />
01 Adam Ruman – Hilton Hotels <strong>in</strong> Prague<br />
02 Lukáš Ševčík – K<strong>in</strong>stellar<br />
03 Jakub Vlk – The Open University<br />
04 Birger Husted – UNIQUE CONSULT <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong><br />
05 David James – Baker Tilly <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong><br />
06 From The right: Mart<strong>in</strong> Balcar and Vendula Kodetová<br />
– Diakonie Českobratrské církve evangelické<br />
07 David Řehoř – GE Money Bank <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong><br />
08 Bryan Bambrick and Přemek Veselý<br />
with a colleague from expats.cz<br />
09 Zuzana Jokešová – Bravo and her husband,<br />
Rodrigo E. Bravo, both from Employment Express s. r. o.<br />
09<br />
Helena Liška from Mazars s.r.o.(socond left) with her colleagues<br />
BCC Charity Bazaar<br />
events roundup<br />
ur charity bazaar was organized for <strong>the</strong> benefit <strong>of</strong> sheltered women and mo<strong>the</strong>rs <strong>in</strong> Most <strong>in</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn<br />
Bohemia. BCC members could buy and sell second hand clo<strong>the</strong>s to help mo<strong>the</strong>rs less fortunate than<br />
<strong>the</strong>mselves. The event took place <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Aria Hotel Prague. Our charity partner was Diakonie.cz and Tesco<br />
donated <strong>the</strong> racks on which <strong>the</strong> clo<strong>the</strong>s were displayed.<br />
<strong>British</strong> Day<br />
at <strong>the</strong> Races<br />
he chamber held its 12th annual rac<strong>in</strong>g<br />
day at <strong>the</strong> Velká Chuchle racecourse on a<br />
lovely Sunday sunny afternoon <strong>in</strong> May. Rac<strong>in</strong>g<br />
fans could bet on <strong>the</strong> horses and study <strong>the</strong><br />
form, while o<strong>the</strong>rs enjoyed a varied programme<br />
which <strong>in</strong>cluded a pr<strong>of</strong>essional florist to help <strong>the</strong><br />
ladies arrange <strong>the</strong>ir hats, a kid’s corner and<br />
ponies. Many thanks to our sponsors Royal<br />
Can<strong>in</strong>, who provided an unforgettable dog’s<br />
corner, where our favourite friends spent an<br />
afternoon full <strong>of</strong> fun and bones.<br />
26<br />
27<br />
O<br />
01<br />
02 03<br />
04<br />
T<br />
Shopp<strong>in</strong>g fever<br />
01 Velká Chuchle<br />
02 Kids Corner provided by BCC Member - Duhovka<br />
- školka šťastných dětí<br />
03 The most beautiful hats worn by BCC members<br />
04 Dogs Corner provided by <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong> partner<br />
<strong>of</strong> BCC Day at <strong>the</strong> Races – Royal Can<strong>in</strong>
events roundup<br />
BCC<br />
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING<br />
T<br />
he chamber held its AGM <strong>in</strong> May at <strong>the</strong> Crowne Plaza Prague. The meet<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>cluded elections for 4<br />
vacancies on <strong>the</strong> board for which we had 8 candidates. Congratulations to <strong>the</strong> successful candidates<br />
who were James de Candole <strong>of</strong> Candole Partners, Renata Lukašová <strong>of</strong> Zátiší, Jana Ryšl<strong>in</strong>ková <strong>of</strong> US<br />
Bus<strong>in</strong>ess School, Praha and Eva Williams <strong>of</strong> Tesco. The rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g board members are Ludek Vrána <strong>of</strong><br />
Vrána & Pelikán, Chris Garlick <strong>of</strong> Garlick, Alexis George <strong>of</strong> ING, Petr Karel <strong>of</strong> London Market and<br />
Richard York <strong>of</strong> Bird and Bird.<br />
Cook<strong>in</strong>g Course<br />
he <strong>British</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Commerce</strong> and Hotel Kemp<strong>in</strong>ski organized<br />
Christmas Cookery Course which <strong>of</strong>fered guests <strong>the</strong> chance to improve<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir cul<strong>in</strong>ary skills <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> delightful atmosphere <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> kitchen <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Presidential<br />
Suite <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Hotel Kemp<strong>in</strong>ski under <strong>the</strong> guidance <strong>of</strong> Marek Fichtner,<br />
<strong>the</strong> Executive Chef.<br />
28 29<br />
T<br />
01<br />
02<br />
03<br />
<strong>Czech</strong><br />
Beer<br />
Festival<br />
E<br />
ight foreign chambers welcomed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spr<strong>in</strong>g<br />
with a beer festival. 400 guests had <strong>the</strong> chance<br />
to taste 16 types <strong>of</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> tap beer produced <strong>in</strong> local<br />
breweries accompanied by roast pig. Even <strong>the</strong> Good<br />
Soldier Švějk turned up and we were all served by staff<br />
<strong>in</strong> 17th-century outfits. And to round <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> day, two<br />
dozen sets <strong>of</strong> premium bottled beer were raffled.<br />
Partner: <strong>Czech</strong> Beer Festival<br />
01 Beer Festival 2010<br />
02 The organiz<strong>in</strong>g team from <strong>the</strong> chambers<br />
03 Good Soldier Švejk<br />
events roundup
events roundup<br />
The Ashes Christmas<br />
D<strong>in</strong>ner and W<strong>in</strong>e Degustation<br />
T<br />
o mark <strong>the</strong> start <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 2010-2011 Ashes test cricket series between England and Australia<br />
as well as celebrat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> onset <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Christmas season, <strong>the</strong> <strong>British</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Commerce</strong><br />
and <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> Australia New Zealand Association jo<strong>in</strong>ed forces to host a four course gourmet<br />
d<strong>in</strong>ner at <strong>the</strong> CzecHouse Grill & Rotisserie <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Hilton Hotel Prague.<br />
The menu, skillfully prepared by Chef Miroslav Hanzal, featured modern twists on classic<br />
Christmas flavours, and was accompanied by three Australian premium w<strong>in</strong>es courtesy <strong>of</strong> Club<br />
Vivanova, toge<strong>the</strong>r with a presentation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> w<strong>in</strong>es by English expatriate Australian w<strong>in</strong>e<br />
importer Brad Mitton.<br />
Guests had an opportunity to learn more about <strong>the</strong> game <strong>of</strong> cricket and <strong>the</strong> Ashes test series<br />
thanks to a presentation by <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> Cricket Union.<br />
ADVERTISEMENT<br />
events roundup<br />
Richard York – Bird and Bird<br />
Petra Janíčková BCC, Zuzana Nagyová UKTI,<br />
Igor Maťašovský with his wife London Market,<br />
Petr Karel with his wife, London Market, Mart<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Malá UKTI<br />
BCC<br />
Sue Ryder<br />
Sparta Cup<br />
BCC supported its<br />
member Domov Sue<br />
Ryder <strong>in</strong> a football tournament at<br />
Sparta Praha. BCC members had<br />
<strong>the</strong> chance to enter teams and<br />
to compete <strong>in</strong> a celebrity match.<br />
The entry fee went to Domov<br />
Sue Ryder.<br />
01 Stanislav Bartůšek – TV Sport presenter<br />
and Petra Janíčková BCC with Matěj<br />
Lejsal from Sue Ryder<br />
02 Football Players<br />
Pull your<br />
own p<strong>in</strong>t!<br />
The BCC organised a very popular<br />
pub night with The Pub. Members<br />
had <strong>the</strong> opportunity to pour <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
own beer and took part <strong>in</strong> a uniquely<br />
<strong>British</strong> phenomenon: a pub quiz.<br />
Partner: The <strong>British</strong> Council<br />
01 BCC Members<br />
02 Gwen Hardcastle <strong>British</strong> Council<br />
events roundup<br />
30 31<br />
01<br />
02<br />
01<br />
02
events roundup events roundup<br />
BCC and expats.cz<br />
Jo<strong>in</strong>t Mosaic Bus<strong>in</strong>ess Mixer<br />
The chamber jo<strong>in</strong>ed up with expats.cz to host a bus<strong>in</strong>ess mixer <strong>in</strong> November.<br />
The Mosaic Mixer took place at Mosaic House, <strong>the</strong> eco-friendly Prague 4<br />
hotel. All guests received a piece <strong>of</strong> ceramic mosaic which would later be<br />
used to create one big mosaic. Charity raffle tickets <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> form <strong>of</strong> mosaic<br />
pieces were sold to our 200 guests, rais<strong>in</strong>g over 14 000 CZK for our charity<br />
partner Loukamosaic (kids <strong>in</strong> need).<br />
Silvia Bušniaková BCC, Lucie Krokro Femancipation, Bryan Bambrick expats.cz,<br />
Richard Rob<strong>in</strong>son BCC and Mart<strong>in</strong> Howl<strong>in</strong>gs expats.cz<br />
Partner:<br />
Your Personal Chauffer<br />
and Prague College<br />
BCC Annual Debate<br />
BCC New Office Open<strong>in</strong>g<br />
In <strong>the</strong> summer, BCC moved <strong>of</strong>fices to Malé Námestí and<br />
<strong>in</strong>vited all members to <strong>the</strong> open<strong>in</strong>g by our Honorary<br />
Chair, The <strong>British</strong> Ambassador Sian MacLeod.<br />
01 BCC members<br />
02 Our <strong>of</strong>fice at Richtrův dům, Prague 1<br />
The chamber <strong>in</strong> association with Candole Partners staged its third annual debate <strong>in</strong> December. Lawyers Robert Pelikán and<br />
Robert Neruda, toge<strong>the</strong>r with <strong>the</strong>ir student partners, Matěj Cibik and Lucie Ott<strong>in</strong>gerová, debated <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> state’s record <strong>in</strong><br />
protect<strong>in</strong>g economic competition. Matěj and Lucie will jo<strong>in</strong> our 2009 student debaters, Michal Pečeňa and Kristýna Blažková,<br />
on a trip to London <strong>in</strong> February 2011, where <strong>the</strong>y will visit <strong>the</strong> Palace <strong>of</strong> Westm<strong>in</strong>ster as guests <strong>of</strong> Greg Hands, MP for Chelsea<br />
& Fulham and Chairman <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong>/Slovak All Party Group <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> House <strong>of</strong> Commons. Thanks to Candole Partners for<br />
fund<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> London trip and to Vrána & Pelikán for <strong>the</strong>ir f<strong>in</strong>ancial support <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> event.<br />
01 Lenka Zlámalová from Lidové Nov<strong>in</strong>y and Eric Best – The Fleet Sheet / 02 Robert Pelikán from Vrána a Pelikán, advokátní kancelář. / 03 Ondrej A.B. Jonas - JFC<br />
32<br />
33<br />
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01<br />
02<br />
03<br />
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events roundup<br />
BCC Golf Tournament 2010<br />
Ž<strong>of</strong>ín Garden<br />
Jana Schneiderova -<br />
Adore Market<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
Richard Rob<strong>in</strong>son - BCC<br />
Petr Remeš MAKATHERM<br />
Dita Slancová, GE Money,<br />
Patrick Mounta<strong>in</strong> Chemelek spol.s.r.o.<br />
Patrick Mounta<strong>in</strong>:<br />
Chemelek spol. s r.o.<br />
Petra Janíčková BCC<br />
Jonathan Rowley:<br />
Tra<strong>in</strong>EQ<br />
Players <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> BCC Golf Tournament<br />
2010 practic<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Michaela Holečková from<br />
Ge Money with her team<br />
Lukáš Trnka<br />
Provident F<strong>in</strong>ancial<br />
Tomáš Tesař Royal Bank <strong>of</strong> Scotland,<br />
Petra Janíčková BCC, Luděk Vrána Vrána<br />
a Pelikán, advokátní kancelář<br />
Alena Nachtigalová:<br />
Nachtigall Artists<br />
Management<br />
Volvo C30 provided for by Auto<br />
Hase and Generali<br />
Rudolf Vřeštál ASB<br />
T<br />
BCC Golf Tournament 2011<br />
Award<br />
he BCC annual golf<br />
tournament took<br />
place this year <strong>in</strong> October<br />
at <strong>the</strong> Albatross. The<br />
event raised 15 000 CZK<br />
for EDIE <strong>Czech</strong> Youth<br />
Programme / The Duke<br />
<strong>of</strong> Ed<strong>in</strong>burgh’s Award.<br />
Thanks to our sponsors<br />
Ad´ore Market<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Communications,<br />
Hilton, Chateu Mcely,<br />
Belvec, Vodafone,<br />
Mozaic House and Citizen.<br />
General Partner:<br />
The Royal Bank <strong>of</strong> Scotland.<br />
Partner: Vrána a Pelikán and Provident F<strong>in</strong>ancial<br />
‘London 2012: Two Years to Go’ campaign<br />
events roundup<br />
In August <strong>the</strong> <strong>British</strong> Embassy <strong>in</strong> Prague launched <strong>the</strong> ‘London 2012: Two Years to Go’ campaign <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> with a table<br />
tennis tournament. The open<strong>in</strong>g match between <strong>British</strong> Ambassador Sian MacLeod and <strong>Czech</strong> Ambassador to <strong>the</strong> UK, Michael<br />
Žantovský, was followed by a thrill<strong>in</strong>g exhibition match between Milan Orlowski (1974 Mens S<strong>in</strong>gles European Champion) and<br />
J<strong>in</strong>dřich Panský (1986 Mixed Doubles European Champion). The event was organised <strong>in</strong> cooperation with <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> Table Tennis<br />
Association and with <strong>the</strong> k<strong>in</strong>d support <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>British</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Commerce</strong>, <strong>British</strong> Council and Visit Brita<strong>in</strong>.<br />
The exhibition match between Milan Orlowski (1974 Mens S<strong>in</strong>gles European<br />
Champion) and J<strong>in</strong>dřich Panský (1986 Mixed Doubles European Champion<br />
Women <strong>in</strong> corporate governance<br />
The chamber <strong>in</strong> association with CG Partners organized a conference called Women <strong>in</strong> corporate governance. The goal was to allow<br />
participants to meet <strong>the</strong> people who are <strong>in</strong>spir<strong>in</strong>g, revitaliz<strong>in</strong>g and transform<strong>in</strong>g bus<strong>in</strong>ess. The conference concentrated on issues that<br />
<strong>in</strong>fluence <strong>the</strong> role <strong>of</strong> women <strong>in</strong> corporate governance and <strong>of</strong>fered <strong>the</strong> audience <strong>the</strong> opportunity to hear personal success stories and<br />
share experience associated with <strong>the</strong> advancement <strong>of</strong> women to senior positions.<br />
From <strong>the</strong> Left: J<strong>in</strong>dřich M<strong>in</strong>x, Executive Director-I2M; Magdalena Souček,<br />
CEO-Ernst&Young; Janka Vozárová, CEO-Barrandov televizní studio; Olga<br />
Girstlová, CEO-Flexibuild;<br />
An even<strong>in</strong>g with <strong>the</strong> Salvation Army<br />
The <strong>British</strong> Ambassador Sian MacLeod toge<strong>the</strong>r with support from <strong>the</strong> <strong>British</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Commerce</strong> agreed to host an even<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
support <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Salvation Army (Armáda spásy) <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>. The Salvation Army was celebrat<strong>in</strong>g its 20th year <strong>of</strong><br />
work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> and wanted to <strong>in</strong>troduce <strong>the</strong>ir work here.<br />
Cameron Pegley from TUV SUD and Mike Stannett from The Salvation Army<br />
The open<strong>in</strong>g match between <strong>British</strong> Ambassador Sian MacLeod and <strong>Czech</strong><br />
Ambassador to <strong>the</strong> UK, Michael Žantovský<br />
34<br />
35
2011 BCC membership categories<br />
BCC ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES 2011<br />
BCC NEWSLETTER THE TUBE<br />
The TUBE is <strong>the</strong> chamber’s e-newsletter is<br />
published every fortnight and sent to all<br />
members and o<strong>the</strong>rs <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> chamber’s<br />
affairs.<br />
ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES 2011<br />
FORM OF PROMOTIONS<br />
BCC NEWSLETER<br />
SPONSOR OF THE ISSUE 9000 / issue 15000 / issue 600x180<br />
BCC NEWSLETTER<br />
MIDDLE/BOTTOM BANNERS 6000 / 5000 / month 12000 / 10000 / month 365x300 330x170<br />
www.britcham.cz<br />
TOP BANNERS<br />
www.britcham.cz<br />
MIDDLE BANNERS<br />
www.britcham.cz<br />
BOTTOM BANNERS<br />
FOCUS<br />
2000 – 3000 copies distributed to<br />
members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>British</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Commerce</strong>,<br />
lead<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Czech</strong> and <strong>in</strong>ternational companies,<br />
embassies and <strong>the</strong>ir trade sections,<br />
government, f<strong>in</strong>ancial and trade <strong>in</strong>stitutions<br />
<strong>in</strong> CZ and UK, COBCOE members, regional<br />
chambers <strong>of</strong> commerce and <strong>the</strong>ir selected<br />
members.<br />
FOCUS 2011 - ADVERT Price list<br />
BCC WEBSITE<br />
Use www.britcham.cz homepage to promote your services by plac<strong>in</strong>g a banner with a<br />
direct l<strong>in</strong>k to your company.<br />
Advertise <strong>in</strong> our newsletter or on our website 4 times <strong>in</strong> one year and get <strong>the</strong> 5th<br />
advertisement for free.<br />
MEMBERS PRICE / CZK NON-MEMBERS PRICE / CZK TECHNICAL DATA pixels high/wide<br />
7000 / month 14000 / month 177x177<br />
6000 / month 12000 / month 290x250<br />
4000 / month 8000 / month 590x76<br />
FOCUS, <strong>the</strong> magaz<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>British</strong><br />
<strong>Chamber</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Commerce</strong>, is issued once a<br />
year <strong>in</strong> English. It features a host <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong>terviews with people connected to <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Czech</strong> and <strong>British</strong> scene as well as a complete<br />
list <strong>of</strong> members, descriptions <strong>of</strong> new<br />
members and photos <strong>of</strong> past chamber events.<br />
FOCUS magaz<strong>in</strong>e gives members an excellent<br />
opportunity to promote <strong>the</strong>ir company<br />
and raise <strong>the</strong>ir pr<strong>of</strong>ile through advertis<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
For more <strong>in</strong>formation, please contact <strong>the</strong> <strong>British</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Commerce</strong> CR,<br />
silvia.busniakova@britcham.cz / Tel.: + 420 224 835 164<br />
MEMBERS NON-MEMBERS MEMBERS NON-MEMBERS<br />
FULL PAGE, INSIDE FRONT/BACK COVER CZK 30 550 CZK 47 000 1/3 OF A PAGE HORIZONTAL<br />
CZK 9 500 CZK 14 000<br />
FULL PAGE, BACK COVER CZK 38 000 CZK 52 000 RUNNER 1 - QUARTER PAGE HORIZONTAL CZK 8 500 CZK 13 000<br />
FULL PAGE, INSIDE MIDDLE PAGER CZK 24 000 CZK 35 000 RUNNER 2 - 1/8 OF A PAGE<br />
CZK 5 000 CZK 9 000<br />
FULL DOUBLE INSIDE MIDDLE PAGE CZK 47 000 CZK 63 000 INSERTS<br />
CZK 10 000 CZK 15 000<br />
HALF PAGE HORIZONTAL VERTICAL CZK 14 000 CZK 18 500 INSERTS EXCLUSIVE<br />
CZK 25 000 CZK 40 000<br />
36 37<br />
FUTURE EVENTS<br />
18 January 2011 Work Life Balance<br />
27 January 2011 Bus<strong>in</strong>ess Mixer Bl<strong>in</strong>d<br />
W<strong>in</strong>e Tast<strong>in</strong>g<br />
1 February 2011 Where is My Story?<br />
4- 6 February 2011 Ski Trip Austria<br />
10 February 2011 BCC and UKTI<br />
“Taste <strong>of</strong> Brita<strong>in</strong>” Gala D<strong>in</strong>ner<br />
featur<strong>in</strong>g UK celebrity chef<br />
Alan Coxon.<br />
15 February 2011 Bribery Sem<strong>in</strong>ar<br />
future events / promotional opportunities<br />
22 February 2011 Corporate Governance<br />
<strong>in</strong> Praxis<br />
10 March 2011 Negotiations<br />
22 March 2011 Duševní vlastnictví, copyright<br />
31 March 2011 Bus<strong>in</strong>ess Mixer Beer festival<br />
with o<strong>the</strong>r chambers<br />
17 April 2011 Day at <strong>the</strong> Races<br />
April 2011 Golf Academy<br />
5 May 2011 BCC Golf Tournament 2011<br />
24 May 2011 Annual General Meet<strong>in</strong>g
from <strong>the</strong> press<br />
The chamber <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> media<br />
EURO<br />
Annual general<br />
meet<strong>in</strong>g<br />
MF Dnes<br />
Byznysmeni pili pivo<br />
pro Člověka v tísni<br />
EURO<br />
Entropa Even<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Ona Dnes<br />
Interview with Petra<br />
Janíčková<br />
E15<br />
UK Bribery Act<br />
Beer festival<br />
The Prague Post<br />
MF Dnes<br />
Interview with Petra Janíčková<br />
– BCC Executive Director<br />
CBW<br />
United chambers welcome<br />
spr<strong>in</strong>g with beer festival<br />
E15<br />
BCC´s Got an Idol<br />
<strong>Czech</strong> Bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
Weekly<br />
BCC´s Got an Idol<br />
COMPETITION CZECH´D<br />
By Nicholas Watson<br />
The <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>‘s shambolic approach to protect<strong>in</strong>g competition reached its nadir <strong>in</strong> November 2009 when European Commission anti-trust<br />
<strong>of</strong>ficials launched a series <strong>of</strong> unprecedented dawn raids on <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fices <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> country´s largest utility ČEZ – only to be met by a scrum <strong>of</strong> local<br />
press who had obviously been tipped <strong>of</strong>f by <strong>the</strong> local authorities.<br />
S<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong>n, <strong>the</strong>re´s been a grow<strong>in</strong>g debate with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> about whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> regulator, <strong>the</strong> Office for <strong>the</strong> Protection <strong>of</strong> Competition<br />
(UOHS), <strong>in</strong> its current form is capable <strong>of</strong> fulfill<strong>in</strong>g its duties <strong>of</strong>, as its website declares, “creat<strong>in</strong>g conditions that favour and protect competition,<br />
supervision over public procurement, and consultation and monitor<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> relation to <strong>the</strong> provision <strong>of</strong> state aid”.<br />
The UOHS´ shortcom<strong>in</strong>gs over <strong>the</strong> 20 years s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong> first competition law was enacted <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> country were pa<strong>in</strong>fully laid out by a recent article<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> trade publication Antitrust by <strong>the</strong> competition lawyer Robert Pelikán <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Prague-based law firm Vrána & Pelikán. In it, Pelikán stresses<br />
that it is not <strong>the</strong> laws but <strong>the</strong>ir application which is key. “The ma<strong>in</strong> po<strong>in</strong>t here is <strong>the</strong> application: if competition law is applied frequently, <strong>the</strong> area<br />
will flourish; if it is not, it will be useless to have competent experts because <strong>the</strong>ir research will rema<strong>in</strong> merely <strong>the</strong>oretical”.<br />
Look<strong>in</strong>g at <strong>the</strong> area <strong>of</strong> cartels, Pelikán shows that only three cartels have ever been found guilty <strong>of</strong> operat<strong>in</strong>g by <strong>the</strong> UOHS and two <strong>of</strong> those<br />
were uncovered by <strong>the</strong> press. “So <strong>in</strong> five years, <strong>the</strong> only secret cartel found by <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice, bid-rigg<strong>in</strong>g by construction companies, was f<strong>in</strong>ed less<br />
than CZK5m”, he says. “If you see <strong>the</strong> way bus<strong>in</strong>ess is done <strong>in</strong> this country, everybody knows <strong>the</strong>re are more than three cartels”.<br />
This performance is even more embarrass<strong>in</strong>g when set aga<strong>in</strong>st what is happen<strong>in</strong>g elsewhere <strong>in</strong> Europe; <strong>the</strong> French authorities <strong>in</strong> 2009 alone<br />
uncovered 15 cartels, which resulted <strong>in</strong> f<strong>in</strong>es <strong>of</strong> EUR206.6m (<strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong>s found none that year). And this is not just an issue <strong>of</strong> developed<br />
versus emerg<strong>in</strong>g markets - even <strong>in</strong> neighbour<strong>in</strong>g Slovakia, <strong>the</strong> authorities <strong>the</strong>re uncovered seven cartels <strong>in</strong> 2009, and ano<strong>the</strong>r 42 between 2005<br />
and 2009. “If we leave out <strong>the</strong> possibility that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> is an island <strong>of</strong> free competition <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> middle <strong>of</strong> a European economy rotten<br />
with cartels, we can only conclude that <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice has been fail<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> its most important task”, Pelikán notes.<br />
Robert Neruda, a one-time head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> economic competition section <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> UOHS, po<strong>in</strong>ted out dur<strong>in</strong>g a debate on this subject hosted by <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Chamber</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Commerce</strong> and Candole Partners <strong>in</strong> December that given France has an economy more than 10 times that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong><br />
<strong>Republic</strong>, it should come as no surprise that <strong>the</strong> authorities <strong>the</strong>re uncovered more cartels. And <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> sphere <strong>of</strong> abus<strong>in</strong>g a dom<strong>in</strong>ant market<br />
position, Neruda noted <strong>in</strong> 2009 <strong>the</strong> UK competition authorities didn‘t prove any company guilty <strong>of</strong> that, “and you‘re not try<strong>in</strong>g to tell me that <strong>the</strong><br />
UK doesn‘t protect competition”.<br />
The UOHS too <strong>in</strong> 2009 didn´t succeed <strong>in</strong> f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g any firms guilty <strong>of</strong> abus<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir dom<strong>in</strong>ant market position; <strong>in</strong> fact, between 2005 and 2010, it<br />
has only succeeded <strong>in</strong> hav<strong>in</strong>g five companies f<strong>in</strong>ed for abus<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir dom<strong>in</strong>ant positions (with f<strong>in</strong>es total<strong>in</strong>g CZK731m), and agreed with<br />
proposed commitments <strong>in</strong> four o<strong>the</strong>r cases. By comparison, France had 19 companies f<strong>in</strong>ed, while Slovakia had 11.<br />
Here <strong>the</strong> UOHS´ failure is clearer, as a company abus<strong>in</strong>g its dom<strong>in</strong>ant position is pla<strong>in</strong> for most people to see. Take Telefonica O2‘s 80-90%<br />
share <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ADSL broadband market as an example; ADSL prices <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong> are among <strong>the</strong> highest <strong>in</strong> Europe, yet <strong>the</strong> Office has<br />
not (yet) taken any action. Even if, as Neruda claims, action is likely <strong>in</strong> 2011, one person at <strong>the</strong> BCC debate wryly noted that ADSL could be<br />
obsolete by <strong>the</strong> time <strong>the</strong> competition watchdog gets around to tak<strong>in</strong>g up <strong>the</strong> issue. “A decision from <strong>the</strong> Office takes years and I‘m not sure why<br />
it takes years to do this – I´ve read <strong>the</strong> Office´s briefs and to me it looks as though this has only taken a week to put toge<strong>the</strong>r”, says Pelikán.<br />
Off with <strong>the</strong> head<br />
from <strong>the</strong> press<br />
Perhaps <strong>the</strong> biggest sign <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> UOHS´ decl<strong>in</strong>e has been <strong>the</strong> appo<strong>in</strong>tment <strong>of</strong> a politician with no experience <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> field <strong>of</strong> competition to head<br />
up <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice.<br />
The current chairman is Petr Rafaj, a former MP for <strong>the</strong> Social Democratic Party, who succeeded Mart<strong>in</strong> Pec<strong>in</strong>a <strong>in</strong> July 2009. “The <strong>of</strong>fice<br />
must be led by a strong personality with a vision, who will not be scared <strong>of</strong> party secretariats, and who will enjoy respect nationally as well as<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternationally. It must be someone long active <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> field <strong>of</strong> competition, not a m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g eng<strong>in</strong>eer or an electrician; a person who really fulfils <strong>the</strong><br />
requirement <strong>of</strong> article 1(4) <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Competition Office Statute, which sets out that membership <strong>of</strong> a political party is <strong>in</strong>compatible with <strong>the</strong> function<br />
<strong>of</strong> Office chairman”, argues Pelikán.<br />
Neruda at <strong>the</strong> BCC debate tried to shrug <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> controversy over <strong>the</strong> appo<strong>in</strong>tment <strong>of</strong> Rafaj, yet a competition lawyer at a major <strong>in</strong>ternational law<br />
firm told bne after <strong>the</strong> debate that Neruda´s true attitude toward this could be discerned from his resignation, as well as that <strong>of</strong> several o<strong>the</strong>r top<br />
<strong>of</strong>ficials, just months after Rafaj moved <strong>in</strong>to his <strong>of</strong>fice. The reported reason for Neruda´s departure was that Rafaj had vetoed his anti-corruption<br />
proposals.<br />
Critics say putt<strong>in</strong>g an <strong>in</strong>dependent pr<strong>of</strong>essional lawyer at <strong>the</strong> top <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> UOHS would go some way to reta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and attract<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> high-quality<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essionals that are needed to turn <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice <strong>in</strong>to a respected authority once aga<strong>in</strong>. “Mov<strong>in</strong>g it from Brno to Prague might also help”, <strong>the</strong><br />
lawyer added.<br />
Nicholas Watson is manag<strong>in</strong>g editor <strong>of</strong> Bus<strong>in</strong>ess New Europe and a correspondent for <strong>the</strong> F<strong>in</strong>ancial Times. FOCUS thanks<br />
Bus<strong>in</strong>ess New Europe for its permission to repr<strong>in</strong>t this article which first appeared <strong>in</strong> January 2011 on www.bne.eu.<br />
38 38<br />
39
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(FC)<br />
T: +420 222 533 333<br />
E: sodexo.fms.cz@sodexo.com<br />
W: www.sodexo.cz www.sodexo.com<br />
(RRC)<br />
OPEN DAILY FROM 15.00 to 22.00<br />
At Victoria‘s W<strong>in</strong>e we <strong>of</strong>fer a large and varied<br />
selection <strong>of</strong> w<strong>in</strong>es that we‘ve imported from<br />
around <strong>the</strong> globe. We serve many <strong>of</strong> our w<strong>in</strong>es,<br />
ports and muscats by <strong>the</strong> glass along with a<br />
selection <strong>of</strong> cheese and meat. Our daily selection<br />
constantly changes so you‘ll never get bored.<br />
Fair Life o. s.<br />
Zelený pruh 1560/99, 142 00 Praha<br />
E: <strong>in</strong>fo@fairlife.cz<br />
W: www.fairlife.cz<br />
Promotion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>ciples <strong>of</strong> fair trade at<br />
schools, promot<strong>in</strong>g healthy lifestyles, education<br />
about Fair Trade for childern, Fair meet<strong>in</strong>gs,<br />
promot<strong>in</strong>g organic food and farm<strong>in</strong>g, support to<br />
obta<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> necessary experience to understand<br />
differences <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r cultures and mutual<br />
tolerance<br />
Direct Communication, s.r.o.<br />
Revoluční 1, 110 00 Praha 1<br />
T: 5 857 512<br />
E: petr.safar@dircom.cz<br />
W: www.dircom.cz<br />
Outbound telemarket<strong>in</strong>g: Telco and f<strong>in</strong>ancial<br />
sales, Sale <strong>of</strong> advertisments, Negotiation <strong>of</strong><br />
appo<strong>in</strong>tments.<br />
Passive Telemarket<strong>in</strong>g: Product <strong>in</strong>formation,<br />
Competitions, Scor<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Satisfaction Survey / Customer care: Completation<br />
<strong>of</strong> custemer data, Provid<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>formations,<br />
Data verifikation.<br />
TÜV SÜD <strong>Czech</strong> s.r.o.<br />
Novodvorská 994, 142 21, Prague 4<br />
T: + 420 239 046 800<br />
F: + 420 239 046 805<br />
E: <strong>in</strong>fo@tuv-sud.cz<br />
W: www.tuv-sud.cz<br />
TÜV SÜD is a lead<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>ternational service<br />
organization. Our services <strong>in</strong>clude certification,<br />
<strong>in</strong>spections, tests, <strong>in</strong>dependent verification,<br />
expert op<strong>in</strong>ions and tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g. Our objectives are<br />
reliability, safety and quality as well as environmental<br />
protection, CSR and cost effectiveness.<br />
Information on <strong>the</strong>se pages has been supplied by <strong>the</strong> new members <strong>the</strong>mselves and BCC does not take responsibility for its accuracy.<br />
New members jo<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g up to 31 December 2010.<br />
(AM)<br />
(SC)<br />
(FC)<br />
Ovládejte jednoduše<br />
i ty nejsložitější systémy.<br />
www.digres.cz<br />
Chytrá řešení<br />
pro moderní fi rmu<br />
Tým špičkových odborníků<br />
společnosti Digital Resources a.s.<br />
poskytuje služby v oblasti:<br />
- implementace a podpora CRM systému<br />
Intuo – Company Intelligence,<br />
- implementace a podpora systémů Helios<br />
Green a Helios Orange,<br />
- implementace a podpora manažerských<br />
systémů,<br />
- systémová <strong>in</strong>tegrace,<br />
- IT služby: <strong>in</strong>frastruktura, sítě, operační<br />
systémy, s<strong>of</strong>tware a hardware.<br />
Smart solutions for<br />
a modern company<br />
A team <strong>of</strong> top experts <strong>in</strong> Digital<br />
Resources a.s. provides services<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g areas:<br />
- implementation and support <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Intuo – Company Intelligence CRM system,<br />
- implementation and support <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Helios<br />
Green and Helios Orange systems,<br />
- implementation and support<br />
<strong>of</strong> management systems,<br />
- system <strong>in</strong>tegration,<br />
- IT services: <strong>in</strong>frastructure, networks,<br />
operation systems, s<strong>of</strong>tware and hardware.<br />
Digital Resources a. s., Poděbradská 520/24,<br />
190 00 Praha 9, Česká republika<br />
tel.: +420 281 090 141, fax: +420 281 090 140
<strong>in</strong>troduc<strong>in</strong>g new members<br />
DHL Express (<strong>Czech</strong> <strong>Republic</strong>) s.r.o.<br />
Nám. Sv. Čecha 3, čp. 516<br />
702 00 Ostrava – Přívoz<br />
T: 840 103 000<br />
E: prg<strong>in</strong>fo@dhl.com<br />
W: www.dhl.cz<br />
DHL Express is <strong>the</strong> lead<strong>in</strong>g provider <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />
express and logistics services worldwide. With<br />
a strong global network and committed people<br />
DHL rapidly connects customers to markets <strong>in</strong><br />
220 countries and territories worldwide. DHL<br />
comb<strong>in</strong>es detailed knowledge <strong>of</strong> local markets<br />
with <strong>the</strong> advantages <strong>of</strong> a fast and reliable<br />
worldwide transport network.<br />
Nachtigall Artists Management<br />
Čerchovská 6<br />
120 00 Praha 2<br />
T: +420 602 219611<br />
E: an@nachtigallartists.cz<br />
W: ww.nachtigallartists.cz<br />
Agency Nachtigall Artists Management s.r.o.<br />
is and artistic and production agency <strong>of</strong>fer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
organiz<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> concerts and concert tours ma<strong>in</strong>ly<br />
on <strong>the</strong> field <strong>of</strong> classical music. The agency<br />
collaborates with top <strong>in</strong>terpreters around <strong>the</strong> world.<br />
Armáda spásy (The Salvation Army)<br />
Ústředí Armády spásy<br />
Petržílkova 2565/23<br />
158 00 Praha 5<br />
(FC)<br />
(RRC)<br />
(AM)<br />
T: 00420251106424<br />
E: jakub_vopelak@czh.salvationarmy.org<br />
W: www.armadaspasy.cz<br />
The Salvation Army is a Christian church which<br />
shows practical concern and care for <strong>the</strong> needs<br />
<strong>of</strong> people <strong>in</strong> 120 countries around <strong>the</strong> world.<br />
The Army’s work comb<strong>in</strong>es a spiritual and social<br />
m<strong>in</strong>istry which takes <strong>in</strong>to account <strong>the</strong> needs<br />
<strong>of</strong> each particular country. Projects are geared<br />
specifically to local requirements.<br />
St. Clement’s Anglican Episcopal Church<br />
Klimentská 5, Praha 1 or Pat’anka<br />
2614/11B, 160 00, Praha 6 - Dejvice<br />
T: +420 233 310 266<br />
M: +420 737 039 082<br />
E: chapla<strong>in</strong>@anglican.cz<br />
W: www.anglican.cz<br />
We will have to make <strong>the</strong> description shorter if<br />
longer than 50 words.<br />
We are a community united by two ma<strong>in</strong> factors.<br />
One is, <strong>of</strong> course, <strong>the</strong> Christian faith and <strong>the</strong><br />
o<strong>the</strong>r is familiarity with <strong>the</strong> English language.<br />
We meet for worship at 11 am each Sunday<br />
morn<strong>in</strong>g and <strong>of</strong>fer a wide variety <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
activities dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> week.<br />
DIRECT Pojišťovna, a.s.<br />
Jankovcova 1566/2b, Prague 7<br />
T: +420 221 221 221<br />
W: www.direct.cz<br />
E: <strong>in</strong>fo@direct.cz<br />
DIRECT Pojišťovna is a modern, <strong>in</strong>novative<br />
<strong>in</strong>surance company backed by <strong>the</strong> strong, stable<br />
<strong>British</strong> RSA Insurance Group. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Czech</strong> Insurance Association, it is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
fastest grow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>surance companies <strong>in</strong> non-life<br />
<strong>in</strong>surance. DIRECT Pojišťovna is currently<br />
number one on <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> market <strong>in</strong> direct <strong>in</strong>surance.<br />
Ad´ore Market<strong>in</strong>g Communications<br />
Malátova 17, 150 00 Praha 5<br />
T: +420 257 327 422<br />
E: <strong>in</strong>fo@adorecom.cz<br />
E: adore@adorecom.cz<br />
W: www. adorecom.cz<br />
W: darkypromanazery.cz<br />
(AM)<br />
(PA)<br />
(RRC)<br />
Ad´ore Market<strong>in</strong>g Communications is a<br />
full-service promotional and market<strong>in</strong>g agency<br />
that has been operat<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong> <strong>Czech</strong> market<br />
for 12 years. It is focused on development <strong>of</strong><br />
market<strong>in</strong>g strategies, creative solutions for<br />
promotional campaigns, web design and event<br />
market<strong>in</strong>g. Its New Era division sells bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
and managerial gifts.<br />
Femancipation,o.s.<br />
Maltézské nám. 9<br />
118 00 Praha 1<br />
Femancipation, o.s. is Civic Association / NGO<br />
/. Was established <strong>in</strong> 2005 to realize Loukamosaic<br />
/ Meadowmosaic - An Art Project aimed at<br />
Charity.<br />
Loukamosaic is <strong>the</strong> unique piece <strong>of</strong> art. The<br />
world‘s largest collective mosaic <strong>of</strong> meadow<br />
jo<strong>in</strong>s more than 4000 creators, both children<br />
and adults from all over <strong>the</strong> world.<br />
The Colors <strong>of</strong> Words is part for visually disabled.<br />
Internetová agentura Inspiro Solutions s.r.o.<br />
(Vit Horky, manag<strong>in</strong>g director)<br />
Křížová 2598/4, 150 00 Prague 5<br />
T: +420 731 162 905<br />
E: horky@<strong>in</strong>spiro-solutions.cz<br />
W: www.<strong>in</strong>spiro-solutions.cz<br />
(AM)<br />
(RR)<br />
„We design creative and effective <strong>in</strong>ternet<br />
campaigns for our clients.“<br />
Inspiro Solutions is young, dynamic and<br />
expand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>ternet agency specializd on creative<br />
webdesign and social media. We have launched<br />
more than 115 successful onl<strong>in</strong>e projects dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />
just 6 years. Our clients are Česká spořitelna,<br />
Rádio Impuls, Opel, Author among o<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />
Česká spořitelna, a.s.<br />
Olbrachtova 1929/62, 140 00 Prague 4<br />
(FC)<br />
T: +420 956 711 111<br />
Informační l<strong>in</strong>ka České spořitelny: 800207207<br />
W: www.csas.cz<br />
Česká spořitelna is a modern bank that is geared<br />
towards small-scale clients, small and medium-sized<br />
companies, towns and municipalities. Česká<br />
spořitelna is a member <strong>of</strong> Erste Group, with<br />
more than 17 million clients. The roots <strong>of</strong> Česká<br />
spořitelna reach back to 1825.<br />
PA - Patron<br />
FC - Full Corporate<br />
SC - Small Corporate<br />
RRC - Reduced Rate Corporate<br />
AM - Associate Membership<br />
42 Information on <strong>the</strong>se pages has been supplied by <strong>the</strong> new members <strong>the</strong>mselves and BCC does not take responsibility for its accuracy.<br />
New members jo<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g up to 31 December 2010.<br />
43