Tomas Vozab: from Prima TV and Huawei to Home Portal CEO

Tomáš Vozáb went from a young reporter whose own parents didn't support his career choice to marketing director of Huawei in Czechia and Slovakia, and has now become CEO of Home Portal — the biggest Czech portal for selling new-build homes. His goal in the new role is ambitious: to make the company number one in the country's market.

Vozáb began his media career against his family's wishes — his brother studied law, his sister graduated with honours in international trade, while he spent months knocking on the door of the Prima newsroom until he finally landed an unpaid internship. Over time he worked his way up to staff editor, but three years later changed course: he headed the press office of the Czech Trade Inspection Authority, then moved into PR, working at the communications group Konektor and founding his own agency, Gong, where he paired celebrities such as Leoš Mareš with brand ad campaigns back before the age of influencers.

The turning point came with a job at Huawei as marketing director for Czechia and Slovakia — at a time when the Chinese tech giant was reeling from US sanctions and the loss of Google services. Vozáb shifted the company's business focus from smartphone sales to wearables, laptops and audio equipment. “Working with the Chinese is very demanding: they pay brilliantly, but they expect you to be reachable from morning till night,” admits the 40-year-old manager, adding that it was there he got one of the best business educations of his life.

After his child was born, he opted for a better work-life balance and moved to CarTec Group, the largest dealer of BMW, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin and Mini in Czechia, where he brought together marketing across its branches, and also spent time as operations director at the staffing agency Manuvia Group. After 18 years working across different industries, Vozáb finally landed what he wanted — a CEO post.

He persuaded Home Portal's owners, Radek Procházka and Pavel Frič, that the company was ready for a new stage of growth. Their service helps buyers navigate the complicated process of purchasing a home that hasn't been built yet, and it's free for clients — developers cover the cost. Now, under Vozáb's leadership, the portal intends to strengthen its position amid growing competition and shifting real-estate market regulation.