Graduated from the VUT Technical University in Brno and Katz School of Business University of Pittsburgh. After his first university studies he worked in a machine-building company, progressing from a mechanics' foreman to the position of Deputy General Manager and taking part personally in production, exports and installation of a number of turn-key projects. After his studies of strategy planning and corporate finance in the USA he worked since 1993 in worldwide consultancy firms McKinsey & Co., Egon Zehnder International and Deloitte & Touche as manager of various projects in banking, financial restructuring of companies and competitiveness enhancement of national economies in a number of countries. In 1998 he was appointed general manager of Unex Uničov, later to join - upon requirement of the IFC and the creditor banks consortium - the newly formed Board of Directors Nová Huť Ostrava as financial director, responsible for the process of rescue and financial stabilization, resulting in a successful privatisation of this metallurgical plant. Later he co-operated with London-based Deutsche Bank, N.M.Rotschild and HSBC. He has joined the CEB's Board of Directors after coming from Raiffeisen International from the position of Deputy Chairman of the Board of Raiffeisen Bank Aval, Kiev, one of the leading banks in Ukraine. Mr. Pokorný was President of the Alumni Club and Board member of CMC Business School for several years, where he participated in the transformation of this institution and in the start of its co-operation with University of Chicago and Thunderbird University in introduction of exclusive international OBA programmes for top managers.