Racocha worked for six years on the CNB board as head of commercial banks' supervision. His mandate expired in February. "On one hand, I'm concerned that my holidays are coming to an end," Racocha recently told Mladá fronta Dnes. "On the other hand, one needs to do some work ... and I think that a move to the private sector is logical."

Racocha is a graduate of the University of Economics in Prague. He also studied at Columbia University in New York City.

Zdenek Brázdil takes over as chief executive officer of the Synot Tip betting chain. Brázdil replaces Darina Pechácková, who has assumed the post of sales director. Brázdil, who has been with Synot Tip since November 2003, holds a master's degree in corporate economy and management from the Czech Technical University in Brno. He is currently enrolled in an MBA Senior Executive program focusing on strategic management at Nottingham Trent University.

The Czech Republic's Union of Investment Companies (UNIS CR) has appointed Roman Pospísil, former CEO of Pioneer Investments, as first vice chairman of the union. CSOB Asset Management director Josef Benes became the second vice chairman and Investicní spolecnost Ceské sporitelny's Petr Zapletal is now head of UNIS CR.

LLP Praha, a provider of consulting and software services, has appointed Monika Behrová as marketing coordinator for the Czech Republic. She will be responsible for LLP's marketing and PR activities. Behrová comes to LLP from advertising agency Targo Promotion where as a key product manager she managed the production department and the company's production activities in Asia. Before that she held the post of senior marketing specialist for channel marketing for telecommunications firm Aliatel. She also worked for Eurotel as a marketing assistant for channel and brand marketing.