New CEO for battling Czech lottery company

Robert Chvata, the former md of T-Mobile Austria, has accepted appointment as CEO of the embattled Czech lottery company Sazka SA, and will take up his new responsibilities in February this year.

Sazka owner KKCG Investment Group, which took control of the company last year in a buy out of half-owner retail banking and insurance group PPF, announced the appointment this week.

A KKCG spokesman characterised the appointment as the beginning of a new era, in which extensive development and growth is planned.

Pavel Saroch, chief investment officer for KKCG said: “Robert is a seasoned manager with international experience.

“Thanks to more than 15 years working in the highly competitive environment of mobile cordless communications as well as marketing know-how he gained while serving with Proctor and Gamble and Reckitt Benckiser, he will be an exceptionally valuable asset for Sazka’s future development.

“I hold in high esteem his reputation as a manager who lays strong emphasis on teamwork as well as on communication with customers, employees and shareholders.”

Saroch revealed plans to ensure that Sazka develops the non-lottery part of its business in the future and seeks new ways of exploiting its distribution network of over 6,500 terminals. This aspect of Sazka’s growth will be the responsibility of Martin Blaha, who held various top management positions before joining KKCG.

Chvatal will join Kamil Ziegler, Saroch and Blaha on Sazka’s board of directors, Saroch said.

Chavtal commented: “Following a decade abroad, I am happy to accept this offer to serve in an important management position in the Czech Republic. An appointment to the helm of such a prestigious company as Sazka is a great challenge. Together with a credible and competent management, I want to continue to develop Sazka’s business and prepare it for further expansion.”

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