Once Kellner’s Quiet Strategist, Tomáš Brzobohatý Now Advises Michal Strnad’s Rising Industrial Empire

In a move that underscores Czechoslovak Group’s (CSG) growing ambitions on the global stage, billionaire defense industrialist Michal Strnad has enlisted one of the Czech Republic’s most respected dealmakers, Tomáš Brzobohatý, as a key advisor on mergers, acquisitions, and corporate strategy.

Brzobohatý, long known as a discreet but highly influential figure in Czech business circles, was a close confidant of the late Petr Kellner, the founder of PPF Group and once the country’s richest man. After Kellner’s passing in 2021, Brzobohatý briefly returned to PPF to help stabilize leadership and guide major financial projects before stepping back from the public eye. Now, his reemergence alongside Strnad signals a new chapter for one of Central Europe’s fastest-growing industrial powerhouses.

“Tomáš Brzobohatý is working directly with the owner of CSG to help define the company’s future direction,” said Andrej Čírtek, spokesman for CSG. “Michal Strnad admired Petr Kellner and draws inspiration from his business philosophy. Brzobohatý’s experience shaping large-scale transactions at PPF brings immense value to CSG — especially in M&A, legal structuring, and strategic transformation.”

CSG, a global defense and industrial conglomerate with deep Czech roots, has grown exponentially in recent years, driven by rising defense demand across Europe and beyond. Strnad, now counted among the country’s most influential entrepreneurs, is steering the group toward a potential initial public offering (IPO) next year — a milestone that could value CSG at €30 billion, according to Bloomberg. Such a valuation would cement Strnad’s position as the Czech Republic’s wealthiest businessman and a key architect of Europe’s defense reindustrialization.

Brzobohatý’s appointment reflects Strnad’s strategy of blending Czech industrial heritage with world-class management and financial expertise. Known for his precision, discretion, and negotiation prowess, Brzobohatý helped orchestrate some of the largest deals in modern Czech corporate history during his time at PPF, including complex bank mergers and international investments.

While neither Brzobohatý nor CSG disclosed details of his advisory role, insiders describe the partnership as part of a broader effort to professionalize governance, expand international operations, and prepare for increased scrutiny from global investors.

“CSG is a global player rooted in Czech industry,” said Čírtek. “To succeed on that scale, we need advisors with both domestic insight and deep experience in international transactions and strategic leadership.”

The addition of Brzobohatý strengthens CSG’s position as it eyes new acquisitions and alliances across Europe. With the company already partnering with major defense clients and preparing to list with the support of leading investment banks — including JPMorgan, BNP Paribas, Jefferies, and UniCredit — Strnad is positioning CSG not just as a national champion, but as a central player in Europe’s evolving security and industrial landscape.

Quietly but decisively, Strnad continues to build what could soon become one of the continent’s most formidable industrial empires — guided by the strategic discipline and vision once synonymous with Kellner’s PPF.