Jaroslav Strnad

Jaroslav Strnad founded Czechoslovak Group in 1995 as Excalibur Army with fewer than 20 employees and initial capital of CZK 100,000 ($3,700). He is a business economics and management graduate at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Mines and Technology in Ostrava, and worked as Chief Economic Officer of ZKL, a.s. where he financially managed a group of eight companies and three foreign affiliates. His early career experience positioned him to build an industrial empire from the post-Cold War military surplus market.

Career History

• Founder and Owner, Czechoslovak Group (1995-2018) – built the company from scrap dealing into refurbishment of military surplus equipment, eventually acquiring businesses in rail, radar, and truck manufacturing
• 2013: Acquired majority stake in Tatra Trucks alongside co-shareholder René Matera
• 2016: Oversaw purchase of military repair facility in Šternberk from the Czech government
• 2018: Transferred full ownership of CSG to his son Michal and began building CE Industries
• Founder and Active Owner, CE Industries (2018-present) – manages strategy, key businesses, investments, and acquisitions across energy, recycling, railway, and FMCG sectors
• 2022: Expanded CE Industries into the Balkans with acquisition of Duro Dakovic wagon factory in Croatia

Under Jaroslav's leadership during his time as CSG owner, the company focused on expansion primarily in the Czech Republic and from 2008 also in Slovakia, with bulk operations eventually expanding to multiple countries. After transferring ownership to his son, Jaroslav stated he would "not interfere with the management of the holding or its companies" and instead pursued new strategic investment opportunities through CE Industries.

What Jaroslav Strnad could bring to a leadership role at a major industrial conglomerate: His proven track record of building a multi-billion-euro defense and industrial holding from post-Cold War military surplus, expertise in complex turnarounds and restructuring (as evidenced by restoring Tatra and multiple acquisitions), cross-sector operational experience spanning defense, automotive, rail, and industrial manufacturing, and a demonstrated ability to identify and execute strategic expansions, particularly through crisis acquisitions of distressed assets that he successfully rehabilitates into profitable operations.

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