Supporting smart projects in the region

BUSINESS Kamil Čermák Supporting smart projects in the region Mr Kamil Čermák – chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer graduated from the University of Economics in Prague and continued his studies at Erasmus University Rotterdam (Master of Business Communication). During his studies he worked as a reporter and presenter of the prime time Czech Television news programme. He subsequently worked as a spokesman of and adviser to the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic. He continued developing his managerial skills in international and Czech companies. In 2006 he joined ČEZ Group, working in a range of top managerial positions. After a short stint in the media as the manager of Economia publishing house, he was yet again attracted to smart energies, joined ČEZ ESCO in 2016, and was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of ČEZ ESCO, a.s. Mr Čermák is the President of the Czech Institute of Directors, Vice Chairman of Small and Medium Enterprises Union of Czech Republic (SME Union CZ), and a member of the Board of Czech Smart City Cluster. As a former journalist, how do you perceive the popularization of electric vehicles in the media? First I want to mention that I do enjoy the memories of my years in journalism. It is an interesting and entertaining job. Automotive specials in magazines have always been powerful articles: they attract readers as well as significant advertisers. Electric vehicles are a topic that turns the world of automotive industries, closely related to the transition towards clean transport and ecologization of the society as well as very strict target EU regulation of limits to emissions produced by new cars. Emissions will be calculated as an average of the portfolio of the producer, and electric vehicles will considerably lower the final number. Do you drive an electric car ? Where did you take your longest drive? Yes, of course I do. ČEZ is the greatest Czech energy producer, very agile in preparations for electric mobility. We have built 120 charging stations so far, winning thus the greatest share in the Czech Republic, corresponding with a number of petrol stations operated by a medium-sized provider. ČEZ ESCO own a few electric vehicles. I drive an electric car when going to conferences. They are ideal vehicles when driving in a city: comfortable, emissionfree ATs with a perfect centre of gravity thanks to the battery on the floor level. The standard range of the new models is 250 kilometers, so the driver need not worry when setting out on a long trip. I mean, POSITIV ǀ 3/2018 31