Patrick Wigan, Director, Wigan Acquisitions

  • 28 Oct 2009 11:00 AM
Patrick Wigan, Director, Wigan Acquisitions
Born 1978, Eton-educated before studying International Agribusiness at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester and then graduating with a masters degree in Real Estate & Finance from Cass Business School, London.

Past work experience includes a Geneva-based venture capitalist company, UK media events management, international polo sponsorship, before qualifying as a real estate chartered surveyor with Knight Frank's European investment team.

For the last few years have worked with TriGranit before setting up an entrepreneurial business and helping introduce private investors to the Porto Montenegro development.

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
Arrived in October 2006 after moving from Knight Frank to work with TriGranit's finance department focused on mixed-use developments across CEE, Russia and CIS

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Briefly in Geneva and before that Washington DC, Colorado and the pampas of Argentina if you include an extended gap year

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
The language, history & the opportunities in so many areas which continue to exist

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
Weekends not to be missed include the Red Bull Air Race and Hungarian Grand Prix! Otherwise depending on the friends, I would recommend staying either at the Four Seasons, the Gerloczy or the new Brody House set up by WP Ents; walking up to the Liberation Monument, Castle District; lunch/tea on Andrassy, a visit to Hero's Square, Parliament & the Terror House for a hard-hitting historical insight. Definitely also worth checking what's on at the Opera House or Music Academy for a burst of culture before a spoiling dinner at Deryne or Café Pierrot, especially if the friends are paying!

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Zwack Unicum ice-cream - tried only once in Italy of all places

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
A bottle of Hungaria

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
'Kakas', meaning Rooster - I'm even trying to develop a brand for an aptly-named food supplement distribution venture

8. What do you miss most from home?
Healthy fast food; although Arriba & Fruccola are the best local options I've so far found

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Jet pilot or professional polo player

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
Depends on whose offering

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Porto Montenegro, a visionary marina village and yacht home port in the former Austro-Hungarian naval base within the Bay of Kotor - a UNESCO World Heritage site. Stunning scenery of mountains and sea, unspoilt Venetian architecture and the opportunity to take advantage of a limited number of berths and apartments being built for next summer. Given my passion for flying I'm even organising an air taxi service for weekend visits and an action-packed VIP itinerary. Please email by clicking here for further details!

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?
Porto Montenegro as there's even skiing in the winter

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Never really had a favourite band before arriving in Hungary and discovered the amazing opportunity to see bands including Shakira, Lenny Kravitz, Rolling Stones, Cold Play, and Faithless, in concert and at the fantastic Balaton and Sziget music festivals

14. What can't you resist?
My wife!

15. Red wine or white?
White then red

16. Book or movie?
Movie, particularly at the Puskin Art Cinema

17. Morning person or night person?
Morning person although with enough Palinka suddenly the nights get shorter!

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
The customer is king, which for those of us in the service industry should always be respected

19. Buda or Pest side?
Karolyi kert, Pest one of Hungary's best hideaways

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
Carpe diem!

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