For the second quarter of the “A Day in the Life of” campaign, we had the pleasure of interviewing Marek Mika, General Manager for the Asteelflash plant at the Plzeň site in the Czech Republic.

Marek is the father of two daughters and one son. He has been a sporty person since his youth. He used to play football actively, but now he prefers cycling and tennis.

After finishing his economic studies at Charles University and mandatory military service, Marek spent much of his professional life at the French company Saint-Gobain. He held various positions in the supply chain, including being in charge of central purchasing for Eastern Europe. He managed one of the production plants for the last few years.

In 2022, Marek had the opportunity to move to Asteelflash and became a General Manager of the plant in Pilsen, which was a huge challenge, not only from the point of view of the significantly different nature of production.

“The position of General Manager of the Plzeň production plant is my first contact with the electronics industry, as my previous experience was mostly in the construction. So I had to learn a lot of things very quickly and I still have a lot to learn. ” Marek said.

Marek’s job as a director is complex and involves many areas of responsibility that are complementary and overlapping. This is primarily the strategic leadership and management of the plant in accordance with the company's overall goals, responsibility for the financial results, personnel policy and direction, and communication with key stakeholders such as clients, suppliers and top management. Marek states that it is very important to be constantly up to date, whether it is about the internal situation in the company or in the field of cooperation with the customers.

Marek’s day begins from commuting to work, which takes 50 minutes. He usually has meetings with various team members, management meetings or separate reviews within individual areas of company activities, subsequent management of both operational and strategic matters related to the operation of the plant, participation in calls with clients to discuss strategic points of cooperation, and at the same time in the presentation of the company's results to the senior management of Asteelflash.

Marek’s main motivation is to see a team of people around him who have a common goal, enjoy their work and want to continue developing. A satisfied and reliable employee is the key to success.

In addition to working with a team, Marek likes solving complex problems and finding innovative solutions. The driving force is also the feeling of responsibility for leading the company, achieving its goals and overall development.

 The biggest challenge is accomplishing good results for the company, which is a must. However, the core personal challenge in his job is taking responsibility for all 156 employees. He also tries to instil the same principles in his closest team of co-workers.

Marek didn’t think long about the possibility of going to work in Pilsen. He is a big fan of local beer, which was a strong argument for his decision.

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