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His life story reads like a novel. He arrived in Prague in 1993 as a student from Belgrade’s French-American University, planning to finish his studies at Anglo-American University and gain a year of professional experience. That single year stretched into three decades. “Prague cast its spell on me. I fell in love with its architecture and its untapped potential,” he recalls, eyes gleaming. He cut his teeth at the prestigious German real estate consulting firm Müller International before becoming a director at Jones Lang LaSalle, the world’s largest commercial real estate company. “I knew even then that development was my calling. I was captivated by the idea of breathing new life into entire neighborhoods.”
His career shifted into high gear in 2000 when he joined Karlín Group. “With visionary Serge Borenstein and the company’s principal investor Marc Rich, we shared a common dream — to revitalize this unique part of Prague,” he explains. Under his guidance, Karlín transformed from an industrial zone into a vibrant district that seamlessly connects with the city center. “Few realize that a century ago, Karlín was among Prague’s most prestigious residential areas. We simply restored its former glory.”
Part of this achievement came from bringing world-class architects to Prague when few developers were doing so. “We experimented, we pushed boundaries,” he recalls enthusiastically. He takes particular pride in his collaborations with Ricardo Bofill, one of Spain’s leading architects, and Claudio Silvestrin, Giorgio Armani’s personal architect who designed the Kotelna building for Karlín Group. “It wasn’t that we didn’t believe in Czech architects — they simply hadn’t yet gained experience with projects of this magnitude.”
In 2013, however, his life took a dramatic turn with a devastating diagnosis: cancer. Less than two years later, he faced the disease again. “Strangely enough, that illness made me stronger. I realized life is too short to shy away from big challenges,” says the man who defeated cancer twice. But he didn’t stop there — he founded his own company, Karlin Port Real Estate, and launched even more ambitious ventures. “After my illness, I became more comfortable with risk and made decisions faster, not just in business. When I spot an opportunity now, I jump in with both feet. As a result, my life has become richer and more vibrant.” His Balkan temperament infuses everything he does. He’s known for his emotional and personal investment in his projects. “People often mistake pride for arrogance,” he observes. “But I’m simply proud of what we’ve accomplished.”
Milorad isn’t only focused on development — he’s also an enthusiastic art collector, with a particular fondness for black and white photography. “I buy on instinct. If something speaks to me, I don’t care if it costs a dollar or a million,” he says. What matters is the emotional response the work triggers. He also takes photographs himself and recently began painting. “I’ve got this blend of fiery southern temperament mixed with a cooler, Central European sensibility. It creates some interesting results,” he notes.
Art isn’t his only pursuit outside development — through the Pink Crocodile organization, he supports disadvantaged children, and as a board member of the Foundation for Proton Therapy, he helps provide treatment for children whose families can’t afford the expensive procedure. As a patron, he also supports promising young athletes, including rising Czech tennis star Jakub Menšík.
Today, his company stands among the key players in Prague’s real estate market. Beyond the upcoming Vyšehrad Railway Station project, where he’ll pioneer the sale of micro-apartments in the Czech Republic, he’s actively involved in rejuvenating other neighborhoods like Vinohrady, Modřany, Smíchov, and Stodůlky. “Prague deserves bold architecture. We need to honor its history while still being forward-thinking,” he explains. To further this vision, he established the Opportunity Real Estate Fund SICAV in 2022, while simultaneously expanding into Montenegro, where he’s finalizing a major acquisition with his partner PSP Farman, a leading Serbian developer. In his hometown of Belgrade, he has several major projects in the pipeline, including plans to transform a former industrial site into a new district with over three thousand apartments.
The Karlín success story might soon repeat itself in Belgrade – only this time, he brings with him invaluable experience. His life philosophy remains refreshingly simple: “In business and in life, you need the courage to do things differently,” he says before rushing off to his next meeting. “I feel young and energetic. I’ve got at least another twenty-five years ahead of me,” he adds confidently. And when he says it, you can’t help but believe him.