Xpat Interview: László Aczél
- 25 Jan 2007 11:00 AM

Having spent most of his childhood years in London, Laszlo entered college at Oxford Brookes University, where he received his BA First Class degree and IAA diploma in Advertising. It was during these years that he developed a love for ads by winning the IAA InterAd worldwide competition twice.
He soon decided to make practical use of this knowledge and started his career in advertising ten years ago at the same agency he now works at: Y&R Budapest. During his years at the Agency he was responsible for handling a number of key accounts including Philip Morris, Interbrew and Citibank and leading pitches for several local and international brands resulting in more than a dozen new business wins.
At Y&R he moved swiftly up the ranks, eventually becoming Client Services Director and a member of the Management Board in 2004. Laszlo is happily married, enjoys skiing and diving and collects restaurant menus from all over the world.
1. Where did you grow up?
Beijing-London-Budapest.
2. What Hungarian traditions bring back fond memories of your childhood?
2,50 FT "Puncs" ice-cream at Lake Balaton
3. What would you miss most if you moved away from Hungary?
Good looking chicks. Politics.
4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
Go to a butcher shop and have a Hurka and a Kolbász with some mustard.
Try and buy a bus/underground ticket at Moszkva tér ticket counter.
Play chess floating around the Széchenyi baths at night.
5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Everything that involves the insides of a pig. My mother's chicken paprikás.
6. What is never missing from your kitchen?
A great deal of exotic spices and loads of white wine.
7. What is your favourite place in Hungary?
Balatonfövenyes. A fröccs and lángos at the ingyenes strand. Alternatively, in the middle of the lake, on a boat.
8. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Chef. Restaurateur.
9. What’s a job you would definitely never want?
Auditor.
10. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Marbella, Spain.
11. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
At home, sleeping.
12. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Metallica. Jacob's ladder. Drinking.
13. What can’t you resist?
Eating good food.
14. Red wine or white?
Both, in large quantities. Konyári white. Takler red.
15. Kolbász or szalámi?
Anything goes. I'm the one who asks for the meat-lover pizza.
16. Book or movie?
Both, one a week.
17. Morning person or night person?
Day person. It takes a long time to get up and I fall asleep early.
18. Dog person or cat person?
Love all animals, including ants, spiders, rodents, etc.
19. Buda side or Pest side?
Buda hills snob.
20. What would you say is your personal motto?
No rush to get there.









