Early Life
Daniel Kretinsky was born in Brno, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic), on July 9, 1975. His father, Mojmír Křetínský, is a professor of informatics, and his mother, Michaela Židlická, is a former justice of the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic. Kretinsky's upbringing in an intellectually rich environment cultivated his discipline and analytical thinking.
Rise to Success
Kretinsky began his career in 1999 as a lawyer at the J&T investment group, becoming a partner in 2003. In 2004, he became chairman of AC Sparta Prague. The pivotal moment in his career came in 2009 when he co-founded Energetický a průmyslový holding (EPH), focusing on energy investments. Under his leadership, EPH expanded to become one of the largest energy companies in Central and Eastern Europe.
Key Business Strategies
Kretinsky's business philosophy centers on identifying undervalued assets and investing for the long term. He has been involved in several strategic acquisitions and investments, including taking a 94% ownership of EPH and acquiring significant stakes in various European companies. He has also expanded into media, retail, and sports, diversifying his portfolio. Kretinsky's recent focus has been on financially distressed assets, as seen in his bid to take over Royal Mail.
Philanthropy
Kretinsky established the EP Corporate Group Foundation, committing to donate at least CZK 2.5 billion (approximately $112 million USD) to charity over ten years. The foundation supports bereaved families, the elderly, and Ukrainian refugees. In 2023, the foundation redistributed over CZK 232 million (approximately $10.4 million USD) to grant programs.