New Head of Prague Airport Brings Former Agrofert Manager Onto His Team

Radomír Lašák, the new chairman of the board of Prague Airport, who took charge of the state-owned company on 1 August, has begun reshuffling his closest circle of managers. He has appointed Soňa Bergmannová, who previously worked for the Agrofert holding, as assistant to the chairman of the board.

Airport spokeswoman Denisa Gejdošová confirmed to Novinky that the company had mutually terminated contracts with Internal Audit Director Filip Zelinger, Operations Director Jiří Kautský, and Marketing and Communications Director Eva Krejčí. Standard open competitions have been announced to fill their positions.

Who is the new assistant?

Besides Agrofert, Bergmannová previously worked at the Road and Motorway Directorate as well as at the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Notably, both she and Lašák himself previously worked at the ČEZ Group.

A controversial appointment at the top of the airport

News of the personnel changes at Prague Airport was first reported by the portal Zdopravy.cz. Lašák's appointment sparked a sharp reaction from the airport's trade unions, which declared a state of strike readiness in response to the decision. The opposition has also criticised the reshuffle.

From 2006 to 2009, Lašák headed the Czech carrier ČSA, and amid the company's dire financial situation, he was involved in selling off its assets. According to the newspaper Deník N, he was not originally among the top three candidates out of nine contenders for the airport's top job.

Shortly after Lašák's appointment was announced, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said that the state could sell a minority stake in Prague Airport on the stock exchange.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz