Andrew owns and oversees Capital Growth Solutions Ltd which was established in 2002 after working in another offshore financial consultancy for the previous 4 years. Over the past 10 years CGS have grown from a small regional office to one with fixed advisors on the ground throughout Europe. The companies advisors specialise on life or non-life insurance lines. CGS has access to the main insurance and reinsurance companies in Europe and offshore which makes it possible to fulfil all the insurance needs for both private and corporate clients.

In his spare time Andrew is an active member of the All Nations Lions Club of Budapest and has recently been elected as its president. ANLC is a charity organisation that supports the blind as well as other people in need.
Andrew is married to Ildiko and has three children Grace, Thomas and Victoria.

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
I arrived in Hungary in 2000, I was head hunted by an investment brokerage to look after their business in Budapest.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Prior to moving to Budapest I lived in Vienna for a couple of years, it’s a great city and I often travel back there.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
The girls, growing up in the UK we were taught that Eastern European women were very large and un attractive, in Geography lessons on the European maps there was a massive red block over USSR and Eastern Europe. The phrase Russian shot putter was often mentioned to describe Eastern European women… Clearly just propaganda as I’m sure many of us would have defected East to meet these attractive women much sooner!

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
Male friends see above answer. It’s a great city you should visit Parliament, Basilica and the castle district. If it’s the second visit perhaps a bike ride to Szentendre, Turkish baths, Janos Hegyi Erzsebet kilato (look out tower).

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Hortobágyi palacsinta.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Beer

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
“Kis kapu” basically meaning “little gate” but actual meaning in English “loop hole” Hungarians are very very creative in finding loop holes.

8. What do you miss the most from home?
English food

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Oligarch, presenter on Top Gear or Jedi master.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
Traffic warden

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Balaton

12. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
Tuscany

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Eric Clapton
Film the good fellas
Hobby kick boxing

14. What can't you resist?
“One more for the road”

15. Red wine or white?
Red

16. Book or movie?
Movie

17. Morning person or night person?
Night person

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
Welfare system, the UK is too generous with its hand outs, unfortunately the needy still slip through the net whilst others play the system. In Hungary the Roma issue concerns me, there are many issues here and The Lions Club and other NGOs have a lot they can focus on for many years to come. Giving youngsters access to different sports as well as developing young academic talent is also an area I feel strongly about.

19. Buda side or Pest side?
My home is on the Buda side but I work and play in Pest.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
Reach for the stars and you might reach the top of the tree, aim for the top of the tree and you will be lucky to leave the ground.