Simona Kijonková (born 2 June 1977) is a Czech entrepreneur and investor. She founded the parcel delivery company Zásilkovna and then became chief executive of Packeta, its parent group. She led its expansion into other European countries.
Packeta was sold in 2024 to a consortium led by CVC Capital Partners and Emma Capital. After leaving the company, Kijonková began investing through JSK Investments.
Early life and education Kijonková was born in Karlovy Vary on 2 June 1977. She studied in Ústí nad Labem before continuing at the Prague University of Economics and Business, where she graduated from the Faculty of Business Administration in 2003.
Career After university, Kijonková worked in consulting and management. In 2008, she started an advertising agency, but later closed it after running into financial difficulties during the 2008 financial crisis.
In 2010, she founded Zásilkovna. The company provided pickup points for goods ordered from online retailers. Kijonková said she came up with the idea after seeing issues with the delivery services used by Czech online retailers.
Zásilkovna expanded beyond the Czech Republic and became part of the Packeta group, with Kijonková serving as chief executive.
In 2023, Packeta's shareholders began looking for a buyer. In December, they agreed to sell the company to a consortium of CVC Capital Partners and Emma Capital, with financial support from R2G. The purchase price was not disclosed.
The transaction was completed in 2024, and Kijonková left Packeta after more than 13 years with the company.
Investment activities Kijonková co-founded the family investment company JSK Investments in 2017. After leaving Packeta, she focused more closely on the group's investment activities.
Its investments have included companies in e-commerce and healthcare.
Public activities During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kijonková served as a member of the Czech government's National Economic Council (NERV), which advised the government on measures to address the economic effects of the pandemic.
Recognition In 2024, the expert jury of the Czech Internet Awards, Křišťálová Lupa, named Kijonková Personality of the Year. The sale of Zásilkovna was separately named Project of the Year.
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