Lenka Hamplová Takes Over as Chief Executive of Czech Operator České Dráhy

Lenka Hamplová has taken charge of České dráhy (ČD), the Czech national passenger operator, becoming chair of the management board and chief executive with effect from September 1. The supervisory board announced on August 26 that it had agreed with Michal Krapinec to end his tenure on August 31, thanking him for his work, and elected Hamplová to succeed him.

Hamplová joins from the Ministry of Transport, where she has led the economic and infrastructure section since 2023, having previously served as deputy minister from 2020. She has sat on ČD's audit committee since 2017 and was a member of its supervisory board from 2021 to 2024.

Transport Minister Ivan Bednárik said he expects the new chief executive to focus on cutting avoidable costs — particularly at head office — simplifying the company's organisational structure and improving competitiveness. "České dráhy operate in a competitive environment and must function accordingly," he said.

Krapinec spent fifteen years at ČD, more than four of them at the top, and leaves the operator in his words "more stable, more modern and economically stronger" than four years ago. From September 1 the management board comprises Hamplová as chair, Jiří Ješeta as deputy chair responsible for passenger transport, and Lukáš Svoboda responsible for economics and procurement.

The change comes as the state operator faces intensifying open-access competition in the liberalising Czech passenger market, and as it pursues one of the largest fleet renewal programmes in its history.