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Ondrej Novak

20+ years leading people, I step in when you need experience and results.

A leadership gap. A difficult restructuring. An acquisition. Growth that has outpaced the organisation. A management team that is no longer working well.

That is where I help.

I am a People & Transformation executive with more than 20 years of international experience across Europe and multiple industries.

Based between Prague and Vienna, I work with organisations an individuals when an important change needs leadership, clear decisions and practical execution.


People side of the business is becoming complicated? I have probably seen a version of it before:

The Mandate

When something important needs an experienced leader to take ownership. Assess. Decide. Deliver. Time bound. 

The Second Chair

When an individual needs  a confidential experienced point of view beside them. Perhaps before important decision or during a major change.

Perspectives

Practical observations on people, leadership and business change.

The Mandate

Sometimes you do not need another adviser, you need someone to step in and execute. 

That is The Mandate.

I step in, when organization is:

- growing faster than its structure, leaders or HR team can keep up
- integrating an acquisition or changing the way it operates
- restructuring the workforce or reducing cost
- dealing with difficult labour-relations issues
- building leadership and HR capability across several countries
- facing a senior HR leadership transition.

The Mandate is defined and time bound.

We agree at the outset what needs to be achieved, what I will own and how progress will be measured.

I can work alongside the existing leadership team or take direct HR leadership responsibility.

No unnecessary infrastructure. No long term commitment by default. Just focus on the situation that needs to be solved.

The Second Chair


Senior leaders sometimes need someone outside the organisation to think with.


That is The Second Chair


Someone experienced enough to challenge assumptions, ask the uncomfortable question and bring another perspective, without taking the decision away from them.

The Second Chair is a confidential one to one relationship for leaders facing:

a difficult decision
a leadership transition
a complex people situation
an uncertain next step

The conversations are practical and direct.

We clarify the situation, test assumptions, explore options and identify what deserves attention first.

The goal is simple:

Greater clarity, stronger options and a practical next step.

Three ways to work together:

Short Sprint
3 focused sessions around one decision or situation.

Deep Journey
7 to 12 sessions over several months.

Ongoing Sounding Board
Ad hoc conversations for trusted clients when an important issue arises.

We start with a free introductory conversation to see whether there is a genuine fit.

Perspectives


As a curious person and life long learner, I write on Linkedin about practical questions somehow related to people in organizations.

Occassionally, I also bring together small groups of senior leaders from across Europe for confidential conversations about issues they are dealing with.

Experience

DS Smith Packaging
Regional HR Director, Eastern Europe
18 countries and 8,000 employees. 27 unionised manufacturing sites. Led the regional HR agenda through operating model change, acquisitions, greenfield operations, closure preparations, succession planning and labour relations.

FedEx Express
HR Managing Director
23 countries and 9,000 employees. Led the HR side of the FedEx–TNT integration, including new ways of working, workforce change, people processes and the Flying Cargo acquisition in Israel.

TNT Express
HR Director
10 countries and 5,000 employees. Led restructuring, supported operational improvement, established the Ukrainian operation and built regional leadership and high-potential programmes.

NOKIA
HR Manager
Czechia, Slovakia and Poland. Led HR across the three countries and managed the people side of major organisational change.

MAFRA
HR Manager

KNO Worldwide
Country Manager

Let's talk


Have an orgnizational or leadership issue? You do not need to have it perfectly defined before getting in touch. Let's talk!

Prague and Vienna

Email
info@novaon.eu

Phone
Prague: +420 606 623 047
Vienna: +43 664 8814 0875