CzechInvest management
CzechInvest's employees deal with potential investors and strategic partners on a daily basis. Their everyday work consists in negotiating with high-level representatives of the state administration, representatives of regions, cities and municipalities and local entrepreneurs. The objective is to create the best conditions for the state, municipalities, local entrepreneurs and investors.
Therefore, strong emphasis is placed on the level of expertise, negotiation skills and management skills, particularly among the agency’s top management. CzechInvest’s managers are professionals with extensive experience in business, international trade, research and development, law and marketing. The agency’s strategy is to fill key positions with high-quality managers who can help CzechInvest achieve its ambitious goals.
Mgr. Ing. Jan Michal
In charge of the CzechInvest agency
Jan Michal graduated from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Economics and International Relations at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University in Prague. He joins CzechInvest from the European Commission, where he is Deputy Director of the Communications Directorate General and since 2017 has been Head of the Political and Economic Intelligence Department. During the Czech presidency in 2022, he served as Deputy Sherpa at the Office of the Government, where he focused on the response to the energy crisis. From 2010-16, he headed the EC Representation in the Czech Republic and during his mission, he was involved in, among other things, the Czech Republic's involvement in the InvestEU programme and cooperation with the EIB. In 2016, the President of the Chamber of Commerce awarded him the Gold Merkur Medal for his active support of the business environment in the Czech Republic. Prior to that, he worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including postings abroad.
Bc. Vojtěch Rajtr
Deputy for Strategy
Vojtěch Rajtr is a graduate of the Faculty of Economics at the University of Economics in Prague. Prior to joining CzechInvest in 2005, he worked in marketing and advertising agencies. At the beginning of his career at CzechInvest, he was involved in the development of Czech subcontractors. He gradually gained experience in the area of overall support for companies, from start-ups to major foreign investors. From November 2014, he served as the head of the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Regions Division. In 2020, he became the deputy for strategy, determining CzechInvest’s direction according to Strategy 2019+. Vojtěch is fluent in English. In his free time, he focuses primarily on his family. He enjoys skiing and cycling.
Mgr. Michal Urban
Head of the Business Environment Division
Michal Urban is a graduate of the Charles University Faculty of Physical Education and Sport with a degree in Physical Education – Geography and has devoted most of his professional life to the field of education. He first taught in Great Britain and then headed an agency administering a European programme to support informal education and volunteer activities. He later worked at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, where he was responsible for the area of youth and support for gifted students. He joined CzechInvest just prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic as director of the agency’s regional offices and has headed the Business Environment Division since November 2021. Michal most enjoys spending his free time with his family, doing a lot sports and travelling.
Ing. Petr Križan
Director of Internal Services Division
Petr Križan graduated in management and economics from the Faculty of Operations and Economics at Mendel University. After his studies, he worked for 10 years at the Office for the Protection of Competition, where he became Director of the Public Support Division and Deputy 1st Deputy Chairman. Between 2011 and 2021 he worked at the Czech Export Bank, where he held the positions of Deputy General Director, Director of the CEB Representative Office in the Russian Federation and Director of the International Relations and Communications Department. He joined CzechInvest in 2022 as Director of the Internal Services Division. In his spare time, he travels the world, enjoys sports, especially martial arts, and is an admirer of modern gastronomy.
Ing. Tereza Kubicová
Deputy for Technological Development
Tereza Kubicová studied tourism management at the University of Hradec Králové and regional project management at the Czech Technical University. She worked at CzechInvest as a project manager, worked on cluster issues on both the Czech and international scene, and was at the birth of the ESA BIC Prague space incubation centre (today's ESA BIC Czech Republic), which she subsequently led from the position of Director of the Internal Projects Department. Today, she is the Deputy for Technology Development, responsible, among other things, for managing the Technology Incubation project and is the founder of the Czech Space Week festival. In her free time, she enjoys travelling, reading and spending time with her dog and husband in the countryside.
Bc. Ivo Denemark
Director of Startups and Innovative SMEs Division
Ivo Denemark, a macroeconomic historian and educator by training, has been involved in helping innovative ventures and their financing since selling his own educational company. He joined CzechInvest in 2020 as Business Development Manager of the ESA BIC incubator. He subsequently used his knowledge of the incubation process to set up specialized support programs (incubators) for AI, Mobility, Creative Industries and other sectors. He has been involved in social projects for many years, especially in Prague's Žižkov district, and co-founded the charity festival ŽižCon. He plays curling competitively and is a volunteer firefighter. His hobbies include board games, boating and raising his daughter.