He serves as the Vice President of AmCham Hungary since December 2024.

He teaches "Project Management in the Digital World" at Corvinus University, with a strong focus on AI, and mentors in the Corvinus Executive MBA program.

In 2024, he won 2nd place in the CEO of the Year competition in Hungary in the larger corporate category. He is a strong believer in lifelong learning and conscious career development.

1. When did you arrive in Hungary, and what brought you here? 

I was born in Romania, spent my childhood in Satu Mare and completed university studies at Cluj-Napoca. I moved to Hungary in 1996 for a job opportunity at the research institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (SZTAKI). Since then, I've lived here. As Hungarian is my mother tongue, moving here always felt like coming home, though I still had to learn a lot of new things. 

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere? 

Hungary has been my home base since I moved here, but for two years, I was responsible for the Romanian and Bulgarian subsidiaries of T-Systems International. This meant I spent nearly every week in one of these countries. While Romania was already familiar to me, I learned a lot about Bulgarian culture, their cuisine, and the people, which fascinated me. 

3. Friends are visiting Budapest for the weekend - what should they absolutely see and do? 

From the very first day, I was captivated by the richness of this city. My wife and I go out every week for at least one date night.

If friends visit and want to try something unique, I’d recommend an escape room—Budapest has become known for them. Each one offers a mental challenge and, in some cases, an intense emotional experience. 

4. What is your favorite Hungarian food? 

To be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of traditional Hungarian cuisine, as it tends to be quite heavy. But I do have some favorites - one that I can never resist is fried fish, or as it's called here, „haltepertő”. 

5. What is never missing from your refrigerator? 

Hummus! :) 

6. What is your favorite Hungarian word? 

I probably shouldn't share my most frequently used words - some of them are swear words! :) But I still find it fascinating how rich the Hungarian language is (from this aspect as well 😊 ) .

7. What’s your hobby? How do you spend your free time? 

Whenever I can, I go for a run. Running has been part of my life for the past 8–10 years and has become a daily habit. Last year, I ran two marathons and 19 half-marathons, which is about my usual annual rhythm. 

Besides running, I love riding my motorbike. My wife and I are also big movie fans—we watch every major release at the cinema, and if we miss one, we stream it later. 

8. What do you miss most from home? 

The mountains. We love hiking, and while there are beautiful places to hike in Hungary, we always schedule hikes when traveling abroad. Since I have a fear of heights, it’s often a challenge, but I enjoy pushing myself out of my comfort zone. The views always make it worth it. 

9. If you could choose another career, what would it be? 

I love public speaking and have already given quite a few keynote speeches. If I were ever to change careers, I would likely pursue that path. I find it incredibly energizing when I see the audience connect with my story and their eyes light up. 

10. What’s a job you would never want? 

As I mentioned, I’m not a fan of heights, so working as a high-rise window cleaner would be an absolute no-go for me! :) 

11. Where did you spend your last vacation? 

We spent the New Year in Madeira with my wife. This time, we didn’t bring the kids - they stayed with their grandmother, which gave us the chance to go hiking and partying, something they’re not too fond of.  The whole island was fascinating, portuguese food is amazing and people were very friendly.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday? 

We've already planned our next holiday - we're taking the kids to Sicily. My wife and I visited 10 years ago, and now we're excited to go back as a family. We all love Italy—the food, the people, the atmosphere. Plus, thanks to my Romanian background, I can understand a bit of Italian, which helps. And, of course, the gelato is unbeatable! 

13. Apart from temptation, what can’t you resist? 

Anything with dill! :) It’s widely used in my home country, and I love it in almost any dish. I can’t imagine stuffed cabbage rolls without it, I use it in fish soup, and recently, I tried a hamburger with dill sauce - now that’s my new go-to! 

14. What was your favorite band, film, or hobby as a teen? 

As a kid, my favorite hobby was reading, and it’s still with me today - though I don’t have as much time for it. If a book really interests me, I’ll finish it in 2–3 days. When we go on holiday, one of my main preparations is deciding which books to bring to the beach. :) 

15. Red or white wine? 

Both! Red in winter, white in summer. I’m not a big beer drinker, but after doing my MBA in the UK, I developed a taste for Irish stout beer. 

16. Books or films? 

That’s a tough one! I watch more films these days, but when I have time, I still prefer reading. Lately, I’ve gotten into audiobooks - I’ve listened to dozens while running, which adds a whole new dimension to the experience. 

17. Are you a morning or night person? 

I lean more towards being a morning person, but if needed, I can stay up late for a party or if work demands it. On weekends, I also don’t mind sleeping in! In the recent years I started to take care a lot about my work/life balance, focusing on sleep quality, on proper diet and managing better stress. It all started with the realisation that improving these factors have a positive impact on my running performance, but it enhanced also other aspects of my life.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about? 

The future of our youth. I have four daughters, and I worry that their opportunities in life will be more limited than ours. We’re destroying the planet, and their economic prospects are getting tougher. I believe we need to help young people develop themselves and embrace lifelong learning. That’s why I’m a regular lecturer and mentor at Corvinus University and occasionally teach at other institutions as well. 

19. Buda or Pest? 

Buda for living, Pest for partying. :) 

20. What would you say is your personal motto? 

"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." – Abraham Lincoln