RESPECT Once Again Among the 200 Most Important Family Businesses in the Czech Republic, According to the Forbes Ranking
RESPECT has once again ranked highly in the prestigious list of the 200 most important family businesses in the Czech Republic, compiled annually by the business magazine Forbes. This achievement confirms RESPECT’s position as one of the most stable and fastest-growing purely Czech family-owned companies on the market.
Family Values as the Foundation of Success
“Being a family business is primarily about trust and responsibility—for our clients, our employees, and among ourselves. When you provide services knowing that your name and legacy stand behind them, you approach them with a different level of care and personal commitment,” says Zdeněk Reibl, founder, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of RESPECT.
It is precisely this emphasis on traditional values, combined with a progressive approach to innovation and digitalization, that contributed to the company’s record results achieved last year compared with the previous year. RESPECT also significantly strengthened its team and employed 259 professionals by the end of the year.
Generational Continuity as the Key to Sustainable Growth
The second generation of the family is also actively involved in the company’s leadership. Kateřina Oellerich, Director of Strategic Projects, represents the next generation.
“The strength of a multi-generational perspective lies in the unique combination of respect for tradition and the courage to innovate. While the first generation laid the foundations of trust and stability, my role today is to bring new perspectives and implement modern approaches that will move us forward in the digital era. It is not simply about passing the baton but about creating an active dialogue between experience and new ideas. In this way, we strive every day to develop the legacy my father founded more than thirty years ago,” explains Kateřina Oellerich.
The transfer of know-how and values across generations ensures not only continuity for RESPECT but also the ability to respond flexibly to changing market demands while maintaining the high level of personal approach that distinguishes family businesses from their competitors.
Investments in Digitalization and Social Responsibility
The year 2024 was also record-breaking for RESPECT in terms of investments in digitalization. The company launched new websites—www.respect.cz and a dedicated career portal www.jsmerespect.cz, which comprehensively presents the history and values of the brand.
RESPECT also introduced several advanced digital applications and user interfaces that significantly improve everyday work with insurance products for clients. These innovative tools allow easier policy management, faster claims processing, and clearer reporting, strengthening the company’s competitive advantage on the market.
At the same time, RESPECT expanded its activities in the area of corporate social responsibility. The company became the main ambassador of the Minorite Monastery of St. James in Prague, which has recently been opened to the public after centuries and offers a unique insight into the country’s history.
The Reibl family also stands behind a new project called RehaGym in Prague’s Krč district—an innovative club focused on healthy movement and well-being that combines modern health approaches with holistic care and Western medicine. The concept also includes a specialized CSR program for wheelchair users.
“Family businesses hold a unique position in the Czech Republic—they combine entrepreneurial flexibility with long-term vision and responsibility. At RESPECT, we never think in terms of quarterly results but in terms of generations. This allows us to invest in innovation, people, and social initiatives with the conviction that we are creating something lasting. We see the Forbes recognition as confirmation that this path makes sense even in today’s rapidly changing world,” concludes Zdeněk Reibl.