PRESS RELEASE: Aspen Institute Central Europe Appoints Jakub Landovský as the New Executive Director
Aspen Institute Central Europe (Aspen Institute CE) proudly announces the appointment of Jakub Landovský as its new Executive Director, effective as of August 2024. The decision was made unanimously this week by the Board of Directors.
Jakub Landovský, current Czech Ambassador to NATO, is a lecturer in international relations and international law at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University, has experience in the private sector, and has worked for Forum 2000 and the United Nations. In the last ten years, he served as Deputy Minister and headed the Defence Policy and Strategy Section of the Czech Ministry of Defence. Landovský has been the recipient a Fulbright Scholarship in the past and is a committed advocate of the values on which the Aspen Institute was founded.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity that Aspen Institute CE offers, but I also feel a great responsibility because politics and society on both sides of the Atlantic are going through turbulent times. I am convinced that we will overcome the current difficulties together, but we will have to find mutual understanding not only within our country and our region but also within Europe, and ultimately between Europe and America. Aspen Institute as a multidisciplinary platform can contribute to it,” said Jakub Landovský.
President of the Board of Directors Pavel Řehák and Chairman of the Supervisory Board Ivan Hodáč jointly welcomed Jakub Landovský and voiced appreciation for the work of all his predecessors who helped build Aspen Institute CE into a truly independent, professional, and multidisciplinary platform where personalities from the world of art, business, sports, science, and the public sector meet. Over the last 12 years, Aspen Institute CE has been helping shape young people from all over Central Europe through its leadership programs including the Aspen Young Leaders Program. “I am very happy to continue Aspen Institute’s successful support for young Central European leaders,” said the newly appointed Executive Director.
Pavel Řehák, President of the Board, remarked, “Jakub is an exceptional individual and leader who will contribute his skills, interests and experience to the further development of Aspen Institute in the Czech Republic and the entire Central European region. We share the same values, principles and priorities, which we will further develop to effectively promote open dialogue and leadership based on democratic values.”
Ivan Hodáč, Founder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board emphasized the importance of finding the right leader to navigate the challenges of the current era. “In selecting Jakub Landovský as our new Executive Director, we sought out an individual who not only possesses extensive experience but also shares our vision for fostering trust and values in society. His qualities and transatlantic background make him an excellent choice to lead the Institute into the future.”
Under Jakub Landovský’s leadership, the organization will uphold its commitments within the long-term program priorities of Values-based Leadership, Education, Transatlantic and EU activities, Technology & Innovation, and Quality of Governance – Effectiveness of Civil Service. The Aspen Annual Conference 2024, announced for November 14, will delve into all the above-mentioned themes through debates based on expert reports. With its programs, the Institute aims to encourage young leaders to further develop their leadership skills and also annually bestows the Aspen CE Madeleine K. Albright Leadership Award on young upcoming professionals.