When he isn’t advising various British, Israeli, or Korean companies or acting as the Ambassador at Large for the Pharmaceutical Industry , you can find him on stage with a sitar or a guitar.

He later served as Hungary’s Ambassador to the United States and currently spearheads the Hungarian Innovation Hub.
 

1. Where did you grow up?

I’m a proud product of Debrecen, Hungary. Even though I left three decades ago, it still feels like home every time I go back.

2. If you could be an expat anywhere in the world, where would you choose?

Been there, done that! I’ve checked off almost every continent on my expat bingo card—from New Zealand and China to the UK and the USA. The only spot left to plant a flag is South America.

3. What would you miss most if you moved away from Hungary?

The "core team": my family and my friends.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?

We’re starting with a "gastronomic pilgrimage": the Strudel house and a Libamáj (foie gras) restaurant. Then, we’ll check out the new Citadel for the views, and end it properly—with wine tasting on a boat while cruising on the Danube.

5. What is your favourite food?

I’m not picky, as long as it’s high quality. Life is too short for mediocre ingredients.

6. What is your favourite sport / form of exercise?

The classic trio: the gym, long walks, and hitting the weights. It’s the only time my phone (and my brain) isn't running at 100 mph.

7. What is your favourite place in Hungary?

Tokaj-Hegyalja. It is Hungary’s (unfortunately) well-kept secret. Between the history and the world-class viticulture, it’s unbeatable.
 

8. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?

Honestly? I’m already juggling enough roles to fill three lifetimes. Between pharma, diplomacy, innovation, and music, I’m effectively living my dream. If I had more free time, I'd probably just end up starting a fifth career by accident.

9. What’s a job you would definitely never want?

Anything monotonous or repetitive. If I’m not solving a new puzzle or moving the needle on innovation, I’m in the wrong room.

10. Where did you spend your last vacation?

The Dominican Republic. You can’t beat it during a winter break.

11. Where do you hope to spend your next one?

I’m planning a Mediterranean cruise with the whole family.

12. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?

Music: Djabe. They are an incredible jazz-fusion band. The "teen" version of me would be thrilled to know I’ve actually been playing with them for 10 years now
Film: 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Hobby: Guitar and sitar.

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

A nice wine, a good movie, and great music. Preferably all three in the same evening.

14. Red wine or white?

I’m a connoisseur and the President of the Tokaj Wine Order; it depends entirely on my mood and the menu. Choosing between them is like choosing a favorite child—impossible, though Tokaj usually wins the inheritance.

15. Book or movie?

Movie. I love re-watching my all-time favourites.

16. Morning person or night person?

Both, unfortunately. I’m the person who stays up late and wakes up early.

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

Mental disorders. They are a massive, often invisible burden on individuals, families, and society as a whole.

18. Buda or Pest side?

Buda is where the heart (and the home) is, but Pest is where the entertainment happens.

19. Which achievement in your life are you most pleased about?

It’s a long list, but the highlights are my three teenage daughters , a career that spanned pharma, diplomacy, and innovation, and the fact that I’ve shared the stage with world-class musicians, including Steve Hackett, Ferenc Snétberger, John Popper, John Nemeth, and Chieli Minucci — just to name a few.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?

"No matter how many times you fall, stand up one more time."