The PPF Foundation was established in the autumn of 2019 with the aim of helping those who dedicate their talent and efforts to the development of Czech society, who strive to create the environment and conditions for greater openness, and who work on their projects in an international context.
About the Foundation
Our values
The Foundation aims to develop Czech civil society with an emphasis on conservative values and freedom, projects focused on multiple opinions and respect for others, equal opportunities and establishing the Czech footprint across the world. In addition to science and education, arts and social issues, the supported areas will include community development, sports activities for children and young people, and caring for Czech cultural heritage.
Our purpose
Everyone should accept their share of responsibility for the world around them. A small country like the Czech Republic needs every talent willing to work hard for their dream, to grow up and step out into the world. Their journey needs to be helped, because with their dreams and hard work, many others grow and become stronger.
Our mission
We make good projects even better. We support Czech projects that cross Czech borders with their ideas, activities and impact, bringing value and opportunities to others. We support those who export Czech talent abroad and those who bring inspiration from the world and international context to the Czech Republic. We seek out exceptional personalities so that, with PPF’s support, they can realise their visions and set an example for others.
Our roots
We are PPF. A Czech and international company. A large company and, in its own way, a small one too. Traditional but innovative. Professional and open-minded. Humble and confident. We have expanded across the world, but always come back home. We have seen highs, expansions and also downfalls. But the journey itself taught us the most. And our experience and journey can help others. There are still things that can be improved, but we would like to continue building on the fundamental principles.
People in the PPF Foundation
The statutory body of the foundation is a three-member board of directors, who administer the assets of the foundation, control the activity of the foundation and decide on all matters of the foundation in compliance with its Statute and with the Civil Code.
Chair of the Management Board
Kateřina Jirásková
Katka was born in 1974 and since then she has been guided by the well-known motto “what does not kill you will make you stronger”. She hates waste – talent, work, time, finances, words or the trust of others – and appreciates hard work, integrity, energy and “out of the box” ideas. For a long time, she has been trying to combine her intuition and femininity with the executive business, which is sometimes difficult, other times it gives her the opportunity for new, original views and sensitive decisions.
The biggest loss is wasting one single talent that could help others many times over.
She graduated from the University of Economics in Prague and followed her life dream when choosing her first job. She chose a purely male profession and joined Conseq as a securities trader. In 2000, she accepted the invitation from the PPF Group, where she began working as a portfolio manager. She found the right energy here, which she has remained faithful to to this day. For eight years, she managed Generali PPF Asset Management and was in charge of the investment portfolio, which is one of the largest in Central and Eastern Europe. In January 2013, she was appointed CFO of the PPF Group, she is also Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of PPF a.s. and is a board member at PPF Financial Holdings B.V.
Katka is a mother to two sons, thanks to whom she learns how to easily alternate between two roles every day: providing loving support to three boys at home and being in charge of many boys at work.
She believes in the mission of the PPF Foundation because she always says that if you don’t take care of your home port, you will have nowhere to return to after your voyages.
PPF Foundation co-ordinator
Sabina Petrová
Sabina was born in 1970 and she has felt a strong desire for justice and embracing the unknown all her life. She believes that everything happens for a reason and that every problem we overcome actually propels us towards a happier life.
You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.
During her career, she has had the opportunity to travel the world and is grateful for the experience. In her professional life, she has explored many fields to find what fulfills her and that is meaningful, action-packed and varied work. At the PPF Foundation, where she joined right after its formation, she has managed to bring it all together.
She devotes her free time to her two sons and her husband, who are her greatest supporters in life.
Member of the Board of Directors
Jana Sedláčková
Jana was born in 1979 and what has been a driving force for her ever since she was a child was empathy and the interest in other people. She believes that a common interest exists regardless of a different life, political or social box.
When you believe in something, you have to lead by example.
She graduated from the University of Economics in Prague and the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.
After her studies, she worked in film production, which allowed her to get to know various environments and mainly many people. She entered business through marketing, as the Head of Communications at ČEZ Prodej. In 2008, she joined PPF where she was in charge of marketing, after that she co-led the weekly magazine Euro. In the past 7 years, she has been in charge of the subsidiary PPF Public Picture and Marketing a.s., she is a member of the board of supervisors at PPF Art and is responsible for the non-profit activities of the PPF Group.
She tirelessly devotes her energy to connecting worlds, people and interests. Jana has a loving generous husband with whom she has two small children. She likes to spend her free time in the company of her friends.
The PPF Foundation is fulfilling to her because she shares the same belief in a common interest and sticks by the principle that the world is never black and white.