Komercni banka : Jan Juchelka to head Komerční banka from August

All Press Releases| Thursday, 7/13/2017

Prague, 13 July 2017 - Jan Juchelka, the head of corporate and investment banking of the last five years at Société Générale (SG), the parent of Komerční banka, will become the new Chairman of the Board and CEO of Komerční banka (KB) in early August. He will succeed in both positions Albert Le Dirac'h who has steered KB for the past four years and whose tenure expires on 2 August 2017.

'When I first sat in the CEO chair four years ago, I set the goal of promoting the values to which I myself subscribe, values that make a company lead by example. These are, in particular, equal partnerships with clients, promotion of teamwork, and simplicity and agility among the bank's employees. Looking at the rising numbers of clients on the extremely competitive market, at our solid and responsible contribution to the growth of the Czech and Slovak economies, our consistently good performances in diverse areas and the levels of employees' satisfaction and commitment, I believe to have fulfilled my pledge. I wish to thank very sincerely to my colleagues on the Board of Directors and all KB employees for the great results we have achieved together. Without their support, none of that would have been possible. I wish every success to Jan Juchelka, who will be KB's first Czech Chairman of the Board and CEO since Komerční banka became a part of the French SG Group,' noted Albert Le Dirac'h.

'I am delighted that after five years away, I am returning to KB that is stronger than ever, and a longstanding, stable part of the Czech financial sector. Komerční banka is in a very good place, with satisfied clients, thanks to the highly professional work put in by its employees with Albert Le Dirac'h - Banker of the Year 2016 - at the helm. In the coming years, Komerční banka will continue to develop throughout a period of dynamic changes in clients' behaviour, intensive digitisation, and tightening regulation. I have no doubts that our joint endeavours to benefit our clients will see Komerční banka confirm its leadership on the Czech banking market,' said Jan Juchelka.

Albert Le Dirac'h

Albert Le Dirac'h graduated from Rennes University majoring in Finance. He has worked at Société Générale Group since 1980. After seven years in SG Inspection, he became the Head of the Capital Markets Back Offices in 1987. In 1995, Mr Le Dirac'h took over as the Head of Human Resources Management in SG France. From 1999 to 2006, he served as CEO and Member of the Board of Directors for SGBT Luxembourg, an international bank with global reach in the spheres of private and corporate banking, capital markets and structured finance. From 2001 to 2007, Mr Le Dirac'h also served as the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of SG Private Banking Belgium. After his return to HR from 2006 to 2008 as a Deputy Head of Human Resources of SG Group, he held, for five years, the position of CEO and Chairman of the Board of retail and corporate banking entity SG Morocco, including its subsidiaries in leasing, stock brokerage, asset management and private equity business. In 2009, Mr Le Dirac'h became a member of French Foreign Trade Advisors organization. In 2016, he became the chairman of the French Foreign Trade Advisors' Czech Committee. Albert Le Dirac'h was appointed Komerční banka's Chairman of the Board and CEO and Country Head for Czech Republic and Slovakia on 2 August 2013.

Jan Juchelka

While still studying at the Silesian University in Opava, Jan Juchelka began working in the private sector. In 1995, he joined the National Property Fund of the Czech Republic, and acted as its Chairman of the Executive Committee from 2002 to 2005. He was a member of Komerční banka's Supervisory Board between 1999 and 2006. In February 2006, Jan Juchelka became the head of the Corporate Banking Business Division in Prague. He became a member of the Board of Directors in April 2006, holding responsibility for managing the Top Corporations and the Investment Banking Business Arms. In this position, he contributed significantly to the flourishing of Komerční banka's relationships with its corporate clients. Since August 2012, Jan Juchelka has worked at the Société Générale headquarters in Corporate and Investment Banking as the Managing Director Head of Coverage with responsibility for corporate clients in Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa. He also simultaneously acted as a Senior Banker for Central and Eastern Europe.