ČD Cargo has appointed Radim Ječný as Chairman of its Board of Directors, with effect from 1 February 2026. The decision was taken by the Board of České dráhy, which acts as the general meeting of its freight subsidiary.
The appointment follows a leadership gap at ČD Cargo, which had been without a board chairman since November after the resignation of Tomáš Tóth for personal reasons.
Ječný takes over at a time of continued pressure on the European rail freight sector. Falling transport volumes, rising operating costs and strong competition from road haulage have weighed on rail freight performance across multiple markets, including Central Europe.
“Freight transport across Europe is going through a difficult period, facing declining volumes, rising costs and strong competition from road transport,” said Michal Krapinec, Chairman and CEO of České dráhy. He added that the task of the new chairman would be to stabilise ČD Cargo, continue its modernisation and adapt the company to current market trends.
ČD Cargo is the largest rail freight operator in the Czech Republic and a key subsidiary of state-owned České dráhy. The company handles a broad range of commodities in domestic and international traffic and positions itself as an important player in European rail logistics.
Radim Ječný was born in 1976 and holds a degree from the Prague University of Economics and Business. He has built his career in rail freight, logistics, forwarding and intermodal transport, holding senior management roles in several companies active in the sector. Since 2010, he has led SBS Cargo Praha and is also the author of professional publications focusing on rail transport.
The new chairman is expected to focus on stabilising the company’s operations while continuing its transformation amid challenging market conditions for rail freight operators across Europe.
