Lukáš Zapletal, current Legal and Security Director for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, has been named Director of Public Affairs, Communication & Sustainability. The departments are being merged.
In 2011 Zapletal founded the legal department of Coca-Cola HBC, which thanks to his proactive, innovative and business-oriented approach significantly contributed to the growth of the Czech and Slovakian business units through many initiatives, such as the acquisition of the Natura plant, the introduction of effective compliance programmes and the management of international projects which led to simplification and quickening of processes. During the corona crisis he helped with the implementation of thermal imaging cameras for increasing the health and safety of employees and provided legal support for HoReCa clients. In 2019 he completed a development programme at the Coca-Cola Company’s headquarters in Atlanta.
“Lukáš Zapletal is expanding his responsibilities and is now leading the department of external relations, communication and sustainability (PA&C), which he has closely cooperated with in addition to his everyday work for the whole period. In his new PA&C role, the Legal and Security director for Czech Republic/Slovakia will further develop cooperation between the functional teams in such a way so the newly-created department is strong and contributes to sustainable business and the good reputation of the company,” said General Manager Maria Anargyrou-Nikolič, who is Zapletal’s direct superior.
“I appreciate the trust the highest management have placed in me, for me it’s a new and very interesting impetus. After the difficult covid period we succeeding in putting together a very strong senior team in communication and I believe that with combined strength we will contribute towards meeting the firm’s strategic goals,” said Lukáš Zapletal, PA&C, Legal and Security Director of Coca-Cola HBC for the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
As a member of the special leadership team, Zapletal was co-creator of the Youth Empowered programme, one of the key initiatives of the Coca-Cola HBC group for 28 states in Europe, Asia and Africa in the field of corporate responsibility. On a local level Zapletal has over a long period supported the initiative To dáš! (You can do it!), which in cooperation with the Tereza Maxová Foundation and other partners help children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Zapletal is also a member of the board/administration of the Association of In-house Lawyers and part of the expert legislation team in the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic.
Zapletal gained the title of Doctor of Law from Masaryk University in Brno, and then completed post-graduate studies in EU competition law at King‘s College London and the executive programme at IMD in Lausanne. He is the recipient of an array of awards, including the CCHBC Legal Innovation Award and the Legal 500:General Counsel Powerlist