CEO · Commercial Leader

David Novák

I build commercial organisations that grow: a premium sports distributor taken tenfold to €40 million, and global sales for an Austrian ski brand on four continents.

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Prague · Available from January 2027

David Novák, portrait in a jacket and white shirt

At a glance

18
years leading LEVELSPORTKONCEPT
10×
revenue growth in ten years, organic
7
markets in Central and Eastern Europe
4
continents of new Kästle distribution

The story

Two companies, one direction

In 2014 two Czech sports distributors, Sport Koncept and Level, merged into one company. I built the financial plan and the business case for the merger, and then I delivered it: people, IT systems, sales and a new company culture.

That kind of work is easy to underestimate. Two teams, two systems and two ways of selling don’t become one company by signing a contract.

What followed was ten years of organic growth, without buying other companies: from €3.12 million in 2015 to €40 million in 2025. In 2023 I took on a second role, Chief Sales Officer of Kästle, and brought the same approach to global sales.

Career

Where I made the numbers

2009–2026 · Prague

LEVELSPORTKONCEPT

Commercial Director → CEO & Managing Director

Premium sports brand distributor for Central and Eastern Europe: Kästle, LEKI, POC, Mizuno, Maloja, Kjus, 100% and more.

  • Delivered the merger of Sport Koncept and Level (2014/15): business case, people, IT, sales and culture
  • Took over distribution of Superior, Rock Machine and further bike brands
  • Took part in the acquisition of Harfa sport a.s.
  • Negotiated with brands' European headquarters and major retail chains: Intersport, Sportisimo, Hervis, Sport 2000
David Novák walking through the LEVELSPORTKONCEPT warehouse, a rack of skis behind him
LEVELSPORTKONCEPT warehouse, Prague
10×
revenue in ten years (2015–2025)
€40M
revenue in 2025
7
markets: CZ, SK, PL, HU, LT, LV, EE
50
people in Ski, Outdoor and Bike

Brands I grew

  • Mizunocontract won 2015 → CZK 320M today

    I won the distribution rights

  • LEKICZK 16M (2009) → CZK 90M+ (2026)

    Clear market leader

  • POC~CZK 20M (2015) → CZK 80M+ (2026)

    Grew several times over after the merger

2023–2026 · Hohenems, Austria · managed from Prague

Kästle

Chief Sales Officer

Global sales for the Austrian ski brand founded in 1924.

  • Founded Kästle Norge AS, replacing an independent distributor with our own distribution
  • Co-developed the new sales strategy for the DACH region
  • Hired and built sales teams, set the pricing strategy
David Novák holding two Kästle skis in the brand showroom
Kästle showroom, Prague, 2026
8+
new distributors: ES, DK, SE, PL, JP, NZ, AU, CL
4
continents
3
markets restructured: USA, Canada, Italy
1
new subsidiary: Kästle Norge AS

Sales grew by a double-digit percentage every year.

2024–2026

Harfa sport a.s.

Chairman of the Board

Specialised sporting goods retailer acquired by the LSK group. I kicked off its integration.

Earlier

2001–2008 · Hořák Trading: Brand and Retail Manager for O'Neill and the Walk Shop chain (12 stores). Then NetComp and IMPRA 2000.

Education

MSc. and MBA, Nottingham Trent University

Success is a team sport.

One of my five values

Roles

What I can take on next

From January 2027 I’m available for a leadership role with an international brand in sport, outdoor or lifestyle.

  1. 01

    CEO / Managing Director

    Full P&L, strategy and people. A subsidiary of an international group, a distributor or a mid-sized company.

  2. 02

    CCO / CSO / Commercial Director

    The whole commercial side: wholesale, retail, e-commerce, distributors and pricing.

  3. 03

    General Manager CEE

    Entering or running the region for an international brand, building the team and the partner network.

  4. 04

    Advisor to sports brands

    Distribution strategy, market entry in CEE, mergers and integration, sales restructuring.

Values

How I work

  1. Responsibility

    What I promise, I deliver. And when I make a mistake, I own it.

    My word counts.

  2. Fairness

    I act openly and don’t base my decisions on what is convenient or fashionable at the moment.

    Fair play beyond sport.

  3. Respect

    For colleagues and partners. I tell people things openly, clearly and in time.

    People should know where they stand.

  4. Humility

    Results come from the people around me, and there is always more to learn.

    Success is a team sport.

  5. Loyalty

    I stand by the people and companies I believe in, for the long run. 18 years at LSK speak for themselves.

    I stand by my people.

In the media

E15 · 17 November 2025

Miliardář Němec chce svými lyžemi Kästle dobýt USA. Továrna na Vysočině je k expanzi připravená

Business daily E15 on Kästle's plans in the US market, quoting David (in Czech).

Read on e15.cz ↗

David Novák on skis at the top of a slope, the Alps behind him

Outside work

I ski, cycle and play tennis. It is also why I understand the brands I work with.

Contact

Let’s talk.

Email
divad.kavon@seznam.cz
LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/davidnovakcz
CV (PDF)
ENCZ
Based in Prague
Available from 1 January 2027