Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency

The Budapest Business Journal, Hungary’s leading business biweekly publication, founded the Expat CEO of the Year Award in 2015 to recognize the efforts of expat CEOs in Hungary, both for their companies and the country. The title is awarded to the person living and working in Hungary who has done the most for this country’s development and international recognition through their professionalism and outstanding achievements last year. 

Every time there is a list of strong nominees, and the winner is picked from among the three shortlisted candidates. In 2023 the following professionals reached the final round of selection: Veronika Spanarova, managing director and country officer for Hungary of Citi; Andreas Szakácsi, managing director and speaker of the board of Claas Hungária; and Matt Zeller, country president of Novartis Hungary.

Watch the nominees’ promotion videos now:

In line with tradition, the winner was selected by the jury directly before the gala that drew a 200+ strong audience of high-ranking corporate executives, senior diplomats and decision makers. One of the jury members was HIPA CEO István Joó who praised in his welcoming remarks why it is significant to share foreign corporate management expertise in our country and what impact executives from abroad can have on FDI.

Mr. Joó addressed the audience.

The award went to Veronika Spanarova.

said Veronika Spanarova.

The main objective of HIPA, official partner and co-organizer of the event, is to attract investors to Hungary, hand in hand with its genuine efforts to recommend high-quality Hungarian suppliers for those who are already present as investors in the country.