Advising owners, occupiers and financial institutions, Mike's role at Cushman & Wakefield includes business generation and project implementation across Central Europe, where he has built up market leading Valuation & Advisory teams. Working from the Baltics to the Balkans, Mike has advised on properties as diverse as airports, marinas and student accommodation as well as the bulk classes of retail, offices, industrial and land. He also contributes to other areas of the business, particularly asset management where he is involved with projects such as Arena Plaza shopping centre.

Mike is married to Nicola and has a son, Arthur, who was born in Hungary. A football fanatic, Mike co-runs BIS Old Boys football team (who play in the Budapest ex-pat League) and organises the less formal “Football for Old Men” on Wednesday evenings - whilst trying to convince any Hungarian he meets that they should follow West Ham United.

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
2004, my former company bought out their local partner and wanted some of their own people here on the ground.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Yes, I spent two years in Prague. I also spent two years in Leeds (northern England) – does that count?

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
The extent to which Hungarians just accept whatever hardships are thrown at them as inevitable is a surprise. Well, that and the amount of dead fish floating in Lake Balaton.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
We were bombarded by visitors when we first moved here so did a lot of the cultural sites to death, but I think sitting in the Szechenyi baths when there’s snow on the ground and it is -10C is a pretty unique experience.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
I’d go for a good locally made salami

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Cheese.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Can I say fostalicska?! Who on earth decided that a unique word was needed for pushing wheelbarrows full of dung?!

8. What do you miss the most from home?
When I lived in Prague, I missed a decent curry. Thankfully the abundance of paprika means Hungarians are not afraid of spices and there are some good curry houses here! Proper hand pulled English ale is the first thing I look for when I head back to the UK.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
I would love to lead West Ham United to Champions League glory as player / manager

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
Governor of the MNB

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
I was back in the UK for Easter, but I went skiing in Austria before that

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

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
I used to play hockey and was active in the scouts. Ultravox were (obviously) the band of choice in my teens, although today my colleagues complain about the shrine to 90’s Brit Pop (Oasis, Blur, Pulp etc) that my car stereo has become.

14. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?
I do enjoy a good wind up – and it’s so easy to do here!

15. Red wine or white?
A good, heavy red

16. Book or movie?
Difficult - I often read about something I’ve just watched or vice versa!

17. Morning person or night person?
Night, although my eight-year old son seems to think I should be a morning person.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
Opportunity. It’s important to enable people to achieve their goals and reach their potential – be it through education, breaking down social barriers or just helping them get themselves on their feet.

19. Buda side or Pest side?
Pest of course, I am only 41.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
Well my mug at work says “keep calm and carry on”, but on Friday nights I guess it is “One for the road?”