Martin Roman has commented on this development as follows: “After nearly eight years of the most challenging part of my career, I decided to do a change and leave the office of CEZ’ Chief Executive Officer. During those eight years, CEZ has become a successful international corporation, contributed CZK 237 billion to the state in taxes and dividends, and the capital value of the government’s stake in the corporation has grown to more than CZK 230 billion. Eight years is an optimum term for a boss of a major corporation, and it is a logical step to give the reigns to my successor. Already 4 years ago, when we created the position of Executive Director and decided to adopt a model common in major corporations in Western Europe, we foresaw this natural development. Daniel Benes with his team of division directors have over the time worked so hard and well that he now has all the experience and capabilities required to successfully manage CEZ. I am looking forward to cooperating further with Daniel Benes, who has to a great extent contributed to the company’s superb performance. He will undoubtedly be a good Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO with his knowledge, commitment and drive. I am glad that I will still have a chance to participate in the corporation’s development as Chairman of the Supervisory Board and concentrate in particular on the future strategic development of the firm.”
CEZ’ new CEO then continued: “First of all, I would like to thank Martin Roman for giving me a chance to cooperate with him on making CEZ the best performing European energy corporation that enjoys a better rating and higher capitalization than RWE and generated a higher profit for the 1st half of this year than E.ON. I believe that I will not disappoint the company’s shareholders and Supervisory Board and succeed in developing the corporation further in a prosperous business that brings nice returns to the government as well as individual owners, and that reliably supplies electricity and gas to millions of customers in the Czech Republic and abroad,” said Daniel Benes.