She has over 16 years experience in the airline sales and marketing, working for Malev between 1992 and 1998, Swissair/Swiss International Airlines between 1998 and 2003, KLM and the Air france-KLM Airline- Group between 2003-2008. She spent the last 6 years in various managerial positions.

Ildiko graduated at the University for International Trading as an Economist. She also completed a „Marketing in the Aviation” - IATA Diploma and various managerial, communication seminars and executive development programs.


1. Where did you grow up?
I grow up in Hungary in the country-side, near Kecskemet. This little town is known from their famous apricot brandy (barackpalinka) production, from the Kodaly Music Institute and from the marvelous Art Nouveau and Secession-style buildings like Cifrapalota.

2. What Hungarian traditions bring back fond memories of your childhood?
The first Snow-flowers in my Parents’ garden, making several summer fruits into jam at home, the Grape Harvest in September and the whole process of producing the wine till early December when we could taste it….

3. What would you miss most if you moved away from Hungary?
The whole dizzy network of friends and ex-colleagues and loves and relatives and in any-ways connected people living at various locations in Hungary, having various ages and interests. And perhaps that sarcastic and self-ironical sense of humor we have in this country.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
If I were a guide, I would take them first to the Gellert Spa for a long half day adding a massage to it as a finish, afterwards having a nice lunch or brunch somewhere to present or taste something from the Hungarian wines, sparkling wines and new gastronomy (beyond the obvious Gulyas-soup and Gundel pancake if they are not Hungarian) at the Pest side. As a recharging exercise I would take them for a walk through the Lanchid , to get on the Siklo (cable car) up to the Buda Castle for one of the best views to the whole city and for a further walking within this area. Till evening I would allow them to have some rest, but afterwards by 9:00 pm or later we shall go to check out a few places in the Budapest nightlife…my preferences are the alternative and/or so-called ruin-pubs till next early morning. After this program they definitely will not want anything else than a good coffee or two by Sunday early afternoon, so we may just contemplate of the memories and photos we made and the names and contacts of the new friends we collected… over the espresso or cappuccino or latte.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
The traditional fish soup (Halaszle)

6. What is never missing from your kitchen?
The paprika, of course……and a bottle of a good Hungarian wine.

7. What is your favourite place in Hungary?
Badacsony and Szigliget at the Northern side of Balaton.

8. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
I would be delighted to work for a premium or luxury cosmetics’ or fashion designer’s brand in any fields where promotion is the core job. Or would be also attracted to something which is in relation with the wines.

9. What’s a job you would definitely never want?
To be a surgeon or dentist.

10. Where did you spend your last vacation?
In Croatia, on the island of Hvar.

11. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
I have no plans yet, not even thoughts or dreams. I have been traveling quite a lot, so for me it is rather to find my next holiday partner(s) and so, for a good company, I can go to almost any places…

12. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
ABBA, Cabaret with Michel York and Lisa Minnelli, reading.

13. What can’t you resist?
A glass of champagne

14. Red wine or white?
It depends on the food, occasion, mood and season.

15. Kolbász or sushi?
Sushi but strictly vegetarian. I have a seafood allergy.

16. Book or movie?
Both.

17. Morning person or night person?
Daylight person: between 9:00 am and 9:00 pm.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
About the Education in terms of both the reforms for having more practical knowledge versus the current more lexical-oriented focus and how to find the ways to reach the children and youth in the undeveloped regions of Hungary like Heves and Borsod megye , especially but not wholly in the Roma families.
All in all there are a lot of unavoidable and critical social issues in Hungary and good to see all of the little changes which can now be perceivable in the public discussions in the local media and in the way of thinking, at least at the younger generation.

19. Buda side or Pest side?
Pest side, there are much more fun and events are happening.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
I like the changes, they always include in themselves the chance to get out better….the only difficulty is to find that part.