Sjögren has more than 16 years of experience in the energy business and vast international experience. He previously was general manager of Vattenfall Czech Republic, one of the largest energy companies in Europe, where he was responsible for overall business performance, new investments, local positioning and relationship building in Central and Eastern Europe.

Sony Corporation veteran Yasuhiro Shimoyama has been appointed to the top management position at Czech tractor maker Zetor. It will be his job to focus on restructuring production facilities and work to improve material and space management within the company.

"Zetor's transformation has to a certain degree been inspired by modern management methods applied in Japanese companies and Mr. Yasuhiro Shimoyama has long experience with these processes," said Zetor CEO Vojtech Pánik.

After graduating from the Saitama University in Japan, Shimoyama joined Sony Corporation and stayed with the company for 28 years in various positions worldwide.

Real estate advisory Jones Lang LaSalle has added new officials to its Prague office. Libor Závodny´ has been appointed an agent of the industrial department. He will be responsible for maintaining business relations with clients and potential clients wishing to lease industrial space in this country or Slovakia.

Závodny´ graduated from Silesian University in Opava — Faculty of Commerce and Business. Most recently, he worked for Austrian property developer Europolis Real Estate Asset Management.

Eduard Forejt was appointed senior negotiator within the office outlets department. Forejt has worked in real estate for the past three years. He plans to finish his studies in finance and management in June 2006.

RWE Transgas, the dominant natural gas importer in this country, has appointed three new executives to its seven-member board of directors.