Zdenek Bakala

Over the past year focused on consolidating Poland's mining market into his New World Resources, regarded as the biggest player on the coal market in Central Europe. Lost bid for Poland's Bogdanka mine in November. Now looking to buy Polish firm JSW, as well as mines in Ukraine. Heads effort to build first presidential library for former Czech president Vaclav Havel. Heavily invested in last Czech election in May 2010, supporting three center-right parties. Bought stake in Belgian professional cycling team Quick Step, which is expected to compete in Tour de France in 2013. Last summer married long-term partner and Miss Czechoslovakia from 1991, Michaela Malacova. Bakala graduated from Tuck in 1989 and began his career in investment banking in New York at Drexel Burnham Lambert and Bank of America, later joining Credit Suisse First Boston in London. In 1994 he founded Patria Finance, a private investment banking group in the Czech Republic. In 2004 Bakala was one of several founders of BXR Group, an international private investment group with a global portfolio of assets.