Stupka is a keen golfer with a handicap of 20. While he is confident as a business manager, he admits that he is unlikely to further improve his golfing skills.

Swedish media group MTG, a co-owner of Prima TV, has appointed Lithuanian Aleksandras Cesnavicius as chief executive officer in the second biggest Czech commercial TV station. Cesnavicius replaced Martin Dvořák, who had been at the helm of the company since 2000. Dvořák still keeps his post as the board of directors' vice chairman.

At the same time, Martin Valkovič replaced Chief Financial Officer Andreas Walker.

Cesnavicius joined Prima TV as its director of operations last April, following MTG's partial purchase of Prima last year. MTG owns half of the TV station. Cesnavicius has worked for MTG since 2000.

Hubert Thurner has been appointed general manager and retail manager for gas station chain OMV in the Czech Republic. The native Austrian has been with OMV since 2000. He replaced Karel Slepička.

Thurner has a long career in the oil industry. His previous positions within OMV included retail manager in Austria, head of international asset management and retail manager for the Avanti brand in Austria. Before joining OMV, Thurner worked for international oil companies in Austria, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia for more than 12 years.

Apart from heading OMV's Czech office, Thurner also manages the company's Slovak branch.

Jana Němečková has been named chairwoman of the board of directors at factoring company Transfinance. Němečková, who has worked at Transfinance since 1998, most recently as vice chairwoman of the board, replacing Jiří Matula.

Lawyer Matěj Vácha has moved from the international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges to Prague-based law firm Pelikán Krofta Kohoutek, where he became a new partner. In his legal practice, Vácha focuses primarily on business law and public procurement. He has published many articles and regularly gives lectures on these topics. Vácha has extensive experience representing both domestic and foreign clients from various industrial and trade areas.

Another law firm in Prague, Chase Pullman, has appointed Jana Korábová its new executive director. She will be responsible for managing the company, guiding communications and market expansion in the Czech Republic. Korábová previously worked as a branch manager at Komerční banka.