Klára Sobotková has been with the development company Panattoni since the Czech branch was established in 2007. As the highest-ranking woman at the company, she serves as the regional director, concentrating on Western Czechia.
Due to her experience, Klára was elected Vice-Chairwoman for Foreign Investment at the Association for Foreign Investment (AFI) in 2023, representing the Czech Republic in international and domestic investment activities and forums. Forbes named her one of the Czech Republic’s most influential women for the second consecutive year, and the Czech Management Association nominated her as one of the twenty finalists in the Manager of the Year competition.
Do you have a motto or life credo that you live by?
My father, a mathematician, always taught me that nothing is difficult. He believed that any problem can be divided into smaller parts and then solved step by step, like an equation. That is how I approach life.
Women are more often found in companies focused on residential or office construction. What draws you to the field of industrial development?
I view industrial buildings as essential infrastructure necessary for functioning in the 21st century. Just like motorways, railways or electricity networks, industrial parks are crucial. Although the general public often overlooks these facilities, they produce almost everything we wear and use daily. When not directly, they contribute parts for manufacturing or serve roles in consumption, such as packaging parcels and warehousing goods for delivery to homes, restaurants or shopping centres. I notice no difference in how our business partners or suppliers treat men and women, likely because I work among professionals who have long moved beyond such concerns.
You oversee the West Bohemia region. Which recent project are you proud of, and which proved to be more challenging than the others for some reason?
I work on projects in three main regions. In the Plzeň Region, there is Panattoni Park Pilsen West; in the Karlovy Vary Region, the Cheb South and Cheb East industrial parks; and in the Ústí nad Labem Region, it is Panattoni Park Most Joseph.
I am definitely proud of the largest European logistics centre we are completing for clothing giant H&M. It has recently been hard to determine which project is more challenging. The lengthy and unpredictable permitting process in the Czech Republic and the misaligned tax budget allocations complicate our work. Unfortunately, many major European projects end up with our western or northern neighbours.
Do you have a role model? A personality who inspires you?
From our initial meeting, I was struck by the approach of our company’s founder, Carl Panattoni. Even as he transitions management to his son, he is actively involved. He believes everyone has their role and task, and ours is to develop space. Each new building and square metre has its own unique story, which we create. Every time, it is a different story.
Is this quote also behind the name of the nursery school you founded?
Absolutely. I realised that through our actions and decisions, we all create stories. I named the nursery The Neverending Story. While I cannot change the entire world, I can positively impact the lives of a few dozen children and families.
Let us go back to the projects you manage in your region. Can you name any interesting tenants from recent times?
The new Panattoni Park Karlovy Vary industrial complex is a fantastic project that brings essential jobs to the area. The tenant, WACKER, specialises in refining silicone compounds. The new facility will also feature laboratories and testing centres. The group produces cutting-edge speciality products for various rapidly growing markets, such as photovoltaics, electronics, automotive, construction, electrical engineering, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and household and personal care products.
I would also like to mention a new tenant at Panattoni Park Zdice, NOVIKO Animal Health, a member of the Covetrus group, which supplies premium food for dogs, cats and other pets under the Calibra brand.
Another tenant worth noting is HOPI, which is expanding from Chomutov into Western Europe. The new facility by Panattoni spans over 31,000 m² and will handle logistics for Vileda brand products. In June, HOPI took over space in Panattoni Park Chomutov North, managing logistics for Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions (FHCS), the maker of Vileda cleaning products.
Thank you for the interview.
