OKIN Facility is close to my heart

Vláďo, you are also one of our long-time colleagues. When did you actually join OKIN and in what position?

In April, it will be 16 years since I came to OKIN Facility. At that time, it was the position of operations manager. The operations manager was in charge of the complete management of the contract, as we say from A to Z. That is, from the contract documentation, to dealing with clients, solving all operational problems, managing employees and managing contractors. I was put in charge of several Prague contracts and their number grew over time.

Tell us about your journey through OKIN.

During my time as Operations Manager, one of the most important contracts was added to my portfolio, and that was the contract with the energy company ČEZ. I was in charge of the complete management of two buildings of ČEZ Headquarter, to which was subsequently added the construction of a third, administrative building. We are still partially managing this contract to this day. By the way, that period was not very easy for me, because I unfortunately suffered a motorcycle accident, which took me completely out of work and private life for several months. In retrospect, I must thank OKIN and especially my supervisor at the time for supporting me and standing in for me in contract management until I could make a full return. Which I eventually did and was able to stay in that role for the next four years. At the end of that time, I moved to the position of Contract Manager, which I held until the end of 2023. During that time, we managed to build a team of skilled people and create a portfolio of network contracts, which today has grown to 1,500 branches, such as Dr. Max pharmacies, Sportisimo stores, etc. Among the clients I have been responsible for, I would like to mention Central Group, which is the largest Czech developer.

You mentioned the role of Contract Manager. What are your responsibilities?

As I mentioned, the position of operations managers at that time was very broad and demanding. With the increasing number of clients and also the continuous growth of the company, there was a need to change the management structure. And so the position of Contract Manager was created. It is actually a bridge between the management of OKIN Facility and the people who are responsible for the contract directly at the client. And so a tender was issued for this position, for which both candidates from "outside" and existing employees applied. There was a, at that time very popular, all-day Assesment Centre, which all candidates attended together. I remember there were about 25 of us at the time. As a result of this selection process, several new Operations and Contract Managers were hired. And especially within the Contract Manager positions, several OKIN colleagues were successful, and I was one of them. The fact that I knew OKIN from the inside was, and in fact still is, a great advantage for me. Well, if I were to describe it as briefly as possible, I can basically say that a Contract Manager is primarily responsible for a department within which he or she looks after several clients. He is also involved in the running of the contract, from the tender process, through the ramp-up to the day-to-day running of the operation.

In your opinion, how has OKIN changed over the last 16 years?

A lot. From a small company, where we all knew each other personally and could hardly occupy one office, it has become a big company, with an international reach. In addition to the organisational changes in the management system and organisational structure, the company is developing especially in modern technology, robotics, digitalisation and AI.

We are constantly working on improving the internal systems we develop, such as Service Desk and Drive. On the other hand, what hasn't changed, and what I think the company stands on, is the quality of the team of people, most of whom have been with the company as long as I have. Some even longer.

We have a quality and long-term stable team of Contract Managers, which is proven by the results within FM in the Czech Republic.

Now let's take a look at your new position as Deputy Director of FM CZ. What is your role and what can we expect from you?

My role will definitely not consist only in representing the director in his absence 😊. Together with my colleagues, I will take care of the most important Czech clients, including improving the setup of internal processes not only across OKIN Facility, but in cooperation with other companies within OKIN Group. I will also be working closely with shared services such as HR, IT, Finance or Procurement. I will also be in charge of new projects. In the near future, this will mainly involve the new Energo division and the building services segment. I am gradually handing over all my current contracts, which include BMW, the already mentioned Central Group and its sites, to my colleague Simona Klepsová. And I have to say that over the years I have developed a strong bond with my colleagues and clients, so it is not easy to leave them.

New positions and new challenges are big changes. I'm sure it won't be easy. How do you relax?

Nature and sports of all kinds. I like to play football, ride my motorbike and occasionally drive my car in amateur races. I'm also a lover of good beer. Of course, I can't forget the most important thing for me and that is my family, including our dogs, with whom I like to spend my time the most.

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