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'Terrible CEO': Piotr Szczerek’s Drogbruk faces review bombing as Polish millionaire slammed over US Open cap row

A viral US Open clip led to review bombing of Polish firm Drogbruk after co-founder Piotr Szczerek took a signed cap meant for a child.

Published on: Sep 1, 2025, 15:51:43 IST
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A viral video from the US Open has put Polish businessman Piotr Szczerek and his company, Drogbruk, at the centre of controversy. The clip shows Szczerek taking a signed cap from Polish tennis player Kamil Majchrzak that was meant for a young fan. The incident sparked widespread criticism online, with many accusing Szczerek of snatching away a child’s special moment.

Polish CEO Piotr Szczerek was caught swiping an autographed hat from a child at the US Open.
Polish CEO Piotr Szczerek was caught swiping an autographed hat from a child at the US Open.

(Also read: Polish CEO Piotr Szczerek blasted for stealing signed cap from kid at US Open)

Review-bombing hits Drogbruk

The backlash soon moved beyond the tennis court and into Szczerek’s professional world. Drogbruk, the paving and landscaping company he co-founded, became the target of an online campaign. Its listings on platforms such as GoWork and Trustpilot were suddenly flooded with one-star reviews.

Many of these reviews were openly written by people who admitted they had never used the company’s services but wanted to register their disapproval of Szczerek’s behaviour. Within hours, Drogbruk’s ratings dropped sharply.

Some of the reviews read: “Terrible CEO,” “Bad person,” “Never again,” and other similar remarks.

Piotr Szczerek, his wife and the company

Szczerek launched Drogbruk in 1999 with his wife, Anna. The company has carved a niche in paving, fencing, and landscaping, while also sponsoring sports initiatives and supporting young athletes. Despite its prominence in Poland’s construction sector, little is publicly known about the couple themselves.

(Also read: Who is Piotr Szczerek? All about the Polish CEO, his wife Anna, and company Drogbruk)

Drogbruk is recognised for handling patios, driveways, sidewalks, and fence installations. Its products range from paving stones and concrete slabs to decorative garden stones available in varied colours and designs. The company also provides Plast-Met front, panel, and concrete fences.

Player steps in to make amends

As criticism of Szczerek mounted, Kamil Majchrzak took matters into his own hands. The player went online to track down the young fan, identified as Brock, who had missed out on the signed cap. Majchrzak later presented the boy with a replacement signed cap along with additional memorabilia, a gesture that was widely applauded.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mahipal Singh Chouhan

Mahipal Singh Chouhan is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times Digital, with nearly five years of experience in digital journalism and content production. He primarily covers offbeat, trending and human-interest stories, with a focus on emerging social media trends, online conversations and real-world incidents that capture public attention. At Hindustan Times, Mahipal works on identifying and developing fast-moving digital stories, adding context and journalistic perspective to viral moments while maintaining accuracy, clarity and readability for online audiences. Before joining Hindustan Times Digital, he was associated with DNA India, where he gained experience in newsroom workflows and digital storytelling. He holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, Delhi. Beyond journalism, he has a keen interest in history and sports and enjoys expanding his general knowledge.

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