New Team and New Strategy for Colliers International Czech Republic

Prague, Czech Republic, September 27, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Colliers International Czech Republic has announced a dramatic array of new hires, transforming its team, and an exciting new strategy for its Prague office.

The changes were announced by the Managing Director for Colliers International Czech Republic, Thomas Ridout, former Vice President of Corporate Services for Colliers in Canada, who himself took over at the beginning of the year.

Sporting legend and Czech hero Otto Jelinek, a former world champion figure skater who was a business and political leader in Canada, and successfully organized the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, is now Chairman of Colliers International Central and Eastern Europe. A former Chairman of Deloitte Central Europe, he will serve as a key advisor for Colliers International.

Luke Dawson arrives from Vancouver to take on the role of Regional Director of Operations for Colliers International Central and Eastern Europe with a mandate to direct regional growth and expansion. Colliers International Central and Eastern Europe currently has offices in Prague, Warsaw, Bratislava, Budapest and Bucharest, and is working extremely closely with Colliers offices in Southeast Europe.

Carlo Gradl, a highly-respected veteran of commercial real estate in Prague, is the new Director of Office Listings and Retail Services. Although a native of Germany, he has lived in Prague for the last 14 years.

Martin Sobisek joins from Apple IMC, where he was Director of Finance for the Czech Republic. Martin has been appointed to the role of Regional Director of Finance, where he will play a key role in the new regional strategy for the company, which will see the Prague office becoming the hub for Central and Eastern Europe, and a range of new ground-breaking services being offered.

In total eleven new hires have been made, with a staff growth of 30%, and key divisions have been revamped and new ones established.

Thomas Ridout, Managing Director of Colliers Czech Republic, said, “I am confident that these new hires and our new strategy will put us on the right track to becoming the leading force in the market. We know that it will take some time but our focus is long-term and we won’t be satisfied until Colliers International is number one not only in this market but in every market in the region.”

Otto Jelinek, Chairman of Colliers International Central and Eastern Europe said, “This is a wonderful opportunity for me to share my expertise and experience with a very dynamic and impressive company. Our goal is to be the market leader in the Czech Republic and the only question now is how long it will take us to get there.”

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