Speakers & Special Guests

Robert Kiml

Vice President, Automotive Industry Association of the Czech republic & Production Vice President, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Czech Republic

Speaker

BIO:
Experienced General Manager with 18 years history of working in many manufacturing and administrative positions within Toyota Corporation. Skilled in Engineering, Quality, Project, Manufacturing and Administration management.

Alexander Matušek

President, Automotive Industry Association of the Slovak republic

Speaker

BIO:
He heads the External Relations / Environment / Social Services department at Volkswagen Slovakia, a.s. In the past, he was responsible for the management of the entire logistics at Volkswagen Slovakia and also held several management positions within the Volkswagen Group in Portugal and the USA. Since 2018, he is the President of the Automotive Industry Association of the Slovak Republic (second term). In 2018, he was elected Vice President of the Federation of Slovak Industrial and Transport Associations.

Marián Mikulec

Suppliers Performance Management, Senior manager Procurement, Volvo Cars

Speaker

LECTURE:
Volvo Car Košice, our sustainable growth in the future

Transformation from traditional OEM to future mobility provider with clear purpose and commitments. Why we see the need for transformation and how we as a company want to achieved it. Our future presence in Slovakia will help to boost our ambitions and goals. Beside of Quality and Costs we put on the same level also Sustanability. Future collaboration and cooperations with our suppliers and partners should be based on common goals to make sure that our industrial operations or products will not harm our enviroment. Working to gether on sustainable business and growth in the future.

BIO:
Studied at Slovak Technical University. Faculty of Material science and technologies. Working in automotive industry since 2001 when he started career in Valeo Climate Control Czech Republic where he worked in area of process engineering and supplier quality assurance. Before Volvo Cars he worked for Hewlett Packard Procurement and Supply Chain. Since 2009 he is working for Volvo Cars. Main area is Suppliers Quality, Supplier development and performance management. In 2019 he moved to Sweden and was appointed as Senior manager for Interior Procurement.

Erik Ivaničko

Director Slovakia, Panattoni

Speaker

LECTURE:
Sustainability through the lens of the new reality - What is the role of industrial real estate?

BIO:
Erik Ivaničko has been in business since 2008 and has experience in several areas of real estate, such as the office, retail, residential and especially industrial segments. In 2019, he became the first and founding employee of Panattoni Slovakia Development in Slovakia. With this step, he started the operation of Panattoni in the new market and represents the person responsible for the Slovak branch. Erik came to Panattoni with experience in development and construction. He graduated from the Technical University and previously worked as a sales director and member of the board of directors of a Slovak construction company.

Pavel Juříček

Chairman of the Board and CEO of BRANO GROUP

Speaker

BIO:
Pavel Juříček is a Czech businessman and politician, chairman of the board and general manager of the company BRANO GROUP. The company represents the largest purely Czech manufacturer of auto parts (door systems and locks, engine and transmission parts, jacks and closers). In February 2007, he received the Entrepreneur of the Year 2006 award. From 2011 to 2017, he served as a member of the board of directors and vice president of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic. He has also been involved since 2004 as vice president of the Association of the Automotive Industry of the Czech republic. From 2017 to 2021, member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, since 2018 representative of the city of Opava, former vice-president of the Confereration of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic.

Zdeněk Tůma

Chairman of the Supervisory Board, ČSOB bank & former guvernor of Czech National Bank

Speaker

BIO:
Zdeněk was the governor of the Czech National Bank in the period 2000 - 2010. In the following  a decade he was a partner at KPMG. Since 2019, he has been the chairman of the ČSOB Supervisory Board and a member of thePresidium of the Czech Banking Association.

Petr Knap

Leading partner for automotive sector in CEE Europe, EY Czech Republic

Speaker

BIO:
Petr Knap is the leading partner for the automotive industry at EY for CEE and is also responsible for supply chain and manufacturing solutions. He gains professional experience mainly from work in the automotive and manufacturing industry sectors, in the past he also worked for clients in the telecommunications, pharmaceutical and public sectors. Over the years, he has led senior management consulting projects focused on preparation strategy, organizational change management, process improvement and cost optimization. His clients included and include, for example, Asahi Breweries, Budvar, BMW, Johnson&Johnson, Porsche CEE, Porsche CR, SKANSKA, ŠKODA AUTO, T-Mobile, Toyota or OrlenUNIPETROL. Petr actively participates in initiatives focused on the innovative future production trends and on the automotive industry such as digitalization, automation, electromobility, shared mobility and autonomous vehicles. He is also a founding member of the Czech Chamber PMI (Project Management Institute) and a member of the Scientific Council Faculty of Business Administration at the University of Economics in Prague.

Stefan Hoffmann

Head of Department, Powertrain System Development, Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center

Speaker

LECTURE:
Strategy changes of Hyundai Motor Group with the view of powertrain transition

After giving some general background about influencing factors and challenges to be overcome in terms of the worldwide powertrain strategy of the Hyundai Motor Group, the current powertrain strategy is explained in detail. It’s foundation rests on the diversification of propulsion systems and includes electrified, fuel cell electric and also battery electric line-ups. This enables to react easily to the needs of the different global markets. Finally, a short outlook will be given on alternative powertrain system approaches such as the use of low carbon fuels and hydrogen combustion engine before the presentation ends with the overall conclusion.

BIO:
Studied Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University in Kaiserslautern. Began career in 1999 working in different positions in Diesel Engine development @ ISUZU Motor Company & Opel. In 2004 moved to Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center as Senior Engineer in Advanced Diesel Development before taking over the lead of the team as a Manager in 2010. In 2020 promoted to lead the Powertrain System Development Department. This department deals with combustion engine development and 48V Mild Hybrid pre-development also taking care of powertrain control functions.

Ivan Hodáč

Founder & President, Aspen Institute Central Europe
Former ACEA Secretary-General

Special Guest & Event Host

BIO:
Ivan Hodač is a Founder and President of the Aspen Institute Prague. He was Secretary-General of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) from 2001 until October 2013. He is the Chairman of the Board at cabinet DN. The Financial Times listed him among the most influential personalities in Brussels politics. Before joining ACEA, he was Senior Vice-President and Head of the Time Warner Corporate office for Europe. Previously he was Secretary-General of the trade organization IFMA/IMACE, Senior Economist at Didier & Associates, and Assistant Professor at the College of Europe, Bruges. He was born in Prague, where he studied mechanical engineering. He completed his education in economics and political science at the University of Copenhagen and the College of Europe in Bruges (European studies).

Philip Smitka

Partner, Squire Patton Boggs

Speaker

LECTURE: 
Increasing ESG requirements and practical challenges for companies in the automotive supply chain

The lecture will be about the increasing importance of ESG and the growing ESG-related regulation and its practical impact on companies in the automotive supply chain. We will namely have a look at the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, the European Supply Chain Act, the EU´s Fit for 55 legislative package and evaluate its implications for the supply chain.

BIO:
Philip Smitka is a litigation partner at Squire Patton Boggs. He is dual-qualified and admitted as an attorney in both Germany and the Czech Republic. His litigation practice ranges from commercial disputes over to product liability disputes and to investment disputes under bilateral investment treaties. He has a broad commercial practice with an international focus and advises clients namely on commercial contracts, compliance related issues and internal investigations. He has acted for clients in the automotive industry for many years.