Dalibor Dědek
Dalibor Dědek | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 21, 1957 Czech Republic |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder of Jablotron Group |
Dalibor Dědek (born June 21, 1957) is a prominent Czech entrepreneur and one of the founders of the Jablotron Group. In 2021, Forbes ranked him as the 59th richest individual in the Czech Republic, with assets surpassing 5 billion Czech crowns.
Education and career
Dědek completed his initial training as an electrician at Sklostroj Turnov before graduating from the Secondary School of Applied Arts located in Jičín. He earned a degree in electrical engineering from the Czech Technical University in Prague in 1983. His early professional experience included working as a programmer at Liberecké Automobilové Závody in Jablonec nad Nisou. Following the Velvet Revolution, he partnered with three others to establish Jablotron. Under his guidance, Jablotron expanded into a globally acknowledged Czech producer specializing in security and communication systems, with a strong export presence especially in China. The company’s growth was driven by its focus on developing original products and technological advancements. Over twenty years, Jablotron emerged as one of the Czech Republic’s leading enterprises, also gaining recognition for its mobile phone manufacturing. To increase operational flexibility, it was restructured into the Jablotron Group holding company, during which Dědek transferred part ownership to management while maintaining active involvement in research and development.
Political involvement
In August 2017, Dědek declared his intention to run for parliament representing the STAN party, intending to head its candidate list in the Ústí nad Labem Region. He subsequently withdrew his candidacy within the same month but continued to endorse the movement.
Amid the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Dědek ceased all Jablotron sales to Russia and Belarus and deactivated data services for clients in these countries. He communicated this action through a push notification, expressing his firm opposition to the conflict and solidarity with Ukraine.
In May 2022, he initiated Gift for Putin (Darek pro Putina), a Czech fundraising effort aimed at supporting Ukraine’s military defense. In December 2022, this initiative temporarily replaced Prague’s disputed monument to Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev with an artwork portraying Russian President Vladimir Putin as a goblin turning off a gas valve. The piece was planned for auctioning, with proceeds directed toward purchasing weapons for Ukraine.
Philanthropic activities
Dalibor Dědek is noted for his commitment to socially responsible projects. Between 1990 and 2015, under his leadership, Jablotron Group financed various initiatives including establishing a winter shelter for homeless individuals in Prague, converting a former imitation jewellery shop into a modern elderly care facility in Jablonec, supporting the Neuron Endowment Fund for Science, and donating medical equipment to Jablonec Hospital. Furthermore, Jablotron oversees conservation efforts for valuable mountain meadows within the Jizera Mountains. Some undertakings receive direct personal backing from Dědek himself, such as the reopening of the Presidential Cottage in the Jizera Mountains.