The Manager of the Year 2023 awards were presented

Award winners and presenters

The National Association of Managers, with the trademark-protected Manager of the Year Awards, aims to set a positive leadership example and considers it important to advocate for senior executives while highlighting their outstanding work and their important role in economic and social life.

“It is our great pleasure to present these awards in 8 different categories for the 29th time to the most outstanding leaders, including the Manager of the Year award, which is rightfully considered the Oscars of the Hungarian business world. This recognition is awarded to an outstanding chief executive based on their exceptional business and leadership achievements in the past year, who has not only prioritized business success but has also demonstrated long-term social responsibility, setting an example for everyone. It is an honor for me, as the president of the Manager Association, to have presented this award this year to Radován Jelasity. The president and CEO of Erste Bank is a defining figure in the Hungarian business life, who has had a significant international career. In addition to outstanding corporate results, he has been an active promoter of making banking and the bank more human, creating an organizational culture where not only customer satisfaction but also employee satisfaction is outstanding. I congratulate him and all the awardees! Every award found its worthy place, and it is a great pride that we could elevate the prestige of the Manager of the Year awards and the Gala this year.”

– said István Kapitány, president of the Manager Association.

“The highlight of every year is our Manager of the Year Award Gala, for which we prepare for six months, including the nomination and selection process. This event gives us the opportunity to celebrate with our members all the middle and senior managers for their fantastic work over the past year, and to specially thank the work of 8 outstanding leaders who have received the Manager of the Year awards. We highlight the career paths of those young talents who, based on their humble work, leadership qualities, and forward-looking vision, can become the future leaders, those top managers who contribute significantly to environmentally conscious developments, sustainable development, or innovation and society, as well as those life paths that help us strengthen modern, European management culture in Hungary.”

– stated Tímea Buday Kollárik, executive director of the Manager Association.

The 2023 Manager of the Year Award winners and presenters:

The Manager Association’s Manager of the Year Award 2023 honoree is Radován Jelasity, president and CEO of Erste Bank. The award was presented by István Kapitány, president of the Manager Association.

Radován Jelasity and István Kapitány

The Manager Association and Gránit Bank’s Lifetime Achievement Award Manager of the Year 2023 honoree is Erik Bogsch, president and CEO of Richter Gedeon Plc. The award was given by Éva Hegedüs, president and CEO of Gránit Bank Plc.

Erik Bogsch and Éva Hegedüs

The Manager Association and Bayer Hungary’s Women’s Manager Special Award Manager of the Year 2023 honoree is Beáta Juvancz, managing director of BlackRock. The award was given by Krisztina Kárpát, managing director of Bayer Hungária Kft.

Beáta Juvancz and Krisztina Kárpát

The Manager Association and Shell Hungary’s Manager of the Year for Society Special Award 2023 honoree is Norbert Fogarasi, managing director of Morgan Stanley Hungary Analysis Ltd., head of the Budapest office. The award was presented by Andrea Istenesné Solti, chairman of the board of Shell Hungary Plc.

Norbert Fogarasi and Andrea Istenesné Solti

The Manager Association and Volkswagen’s Blue Innovation Special Award Manager of the Year 2023 honoree is Tímea Jamniczky, CEO of JCDecaux Hungary. The award was presented by Zoltán Papp, Volkswagen PKW brand director of Porsche Hungaria Kft.

Tímea Jamniczky and Zoltán Papp

The Manager Association and D.A.S. LegitiMo Legal Protection Insurance’s Young Manager of the Year Award 2023 honoree is Márk Szabados, managing director of Mogyi Ltd. The award was presented by György Szabó, CEO of D.A.S. LegitiMo Legal Protection Insurance Plc.

Anita Simon and Ákos Hegedüs

The Manager Association and Linde Gas Hungary’s Manager of the Year for the Environmentally Conscious Economy Special Award 2023 honoree is Anita Simon, deputy CEO responsible for sustainability and circular economy at ALTEO Plc. The award was given by Ákos Hegedüs, CEO of Linde Gas Hungary Plc.

Márk Szabados and György Szabó

The Manager Association and Foxconn Group’s Future Manager Special Award Manager of the Year 2023 honoree is Bálint Fazekas, owner and managing director of Euronics / Vöröskő Ltd. The award was presented by Gábor Németh, division head of Cloud Network Technology Ltd.

Bálint Fazekas and Gábor Németh

Nearly 15 partner organizations of the Manager Association, the leadership and management, as well as the chair and members of the Nominating Committee, Dr. György Beck and the committee members, and last year’s awardees made their recommendations in all 8 categories.

As every year, the management confidentially handled the nominations without the knowledge of the nominees, and prepared the background materials for the Nominating Committee. Based on the committee’s scoring, 3 nominees per category were presented to the leadership of the Manager Association, without ranking. The leadership then voted secretly again this year on who became the most excellent leaders of 2023, the best of the best, after a six-month nomination and decision-making process.

This year, the gala’s charity raffle benefited the Hungarian Paralympic Team.

The awardees:

The Manager Association’s Manager of the Year 2023 honoree is Radován Jelasity, president and CEO of Erste Bank.

Radován Jelasity

The economist born in Baja studied in Budapest, Belgrade, and Chicago, worked at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt, at McKinsey, and at the Serbian central bank, where he was also the president for six years.

In 2011, he took over the leadership of Erste Bank, when the Hungarian banking sector closed the year with its biggest ever loss, nearly minus two hundred billion forints. From here to win! – the leader believed, and thanks to his well-constructed strategy – which included making one successful acquisition every year, from the retail business of Citibank to the Hungarian subsidiary of Commerzbank -, in 2023, the bank closed with a record profit of 115 billion forints.

He was an active promoter of making banking and the bank more human. Erste broke away from the rigid banking culture. Everyone uses first names, ties were replaced by polo shirts; and as with others, the president and CEO does not have his own room or conference room, he sits together in one room with his colleagues. In the cafeteria, anyone can have lunch or coffee with him.

Employee satisfaction, which a survey with a 90% participation rate confirms, is the basis for customers also being satisfied with the service, and of course, at the end of the day, the owners as well.

Over the years, he also managed to rebuild bridges that had been destroyed between competing banks, as well as between financial institutions and the government. He initiated the agreement between the government, Erste, and the EBRD, which kick-started lending and helped the economy grow.

As president of the Banking Association, he maintained dialogue between the government and the sector.

Thanks to his initiative, he launched joint charitable programs such as Blood Donors Week, which also proved the power of unity in the banking sector to the outside world and to themselves.

His motto: “Anyone can fight, there is nothing easier, finding a compromise is the real success!”

The link to the introductory video of the awardee on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bEDBNpJYgAY

The Manager Association and Gránit Bank’s Lifetime Achievement Award Manager of the Year 2023 honoree is Erik Bogsch, president and CEO of Richter Gedeon Plc.

Erik Bogsch

He began his career in research and development at Richter in 1970, with a degree in chemical engineering and business economics. He has been working at the company for more than half a century, interrupted only by his assignments in Mexico and London.

He was asked to lead Richter in 1992, when the company was facing serious economic difficulties due to the collapse of the COMECON markets. Not only did he avoid bankruptcy under his leadership, but he also grew the company into one of the most significant multinationals based in Hungary.

His name is associated with the 1994 IPO, which helped Richter maintain its independence and become one of the most important blue-chip stocks on the Budapest Stock Exchange. Under his direction, not only the Eastern market network, but subsequently in Western Europe, Latin America, and even in China and Australia, subsidiary networks were established, thanks to which he created a globally outstanding gynecological portfolio.

He is also credited with preserving and strengthening R&D activity. One of the most visible results of this is the success of an original antipsychotic that became a “blockbuster” product in America, generating over 500 million USD in intellectual revenue.

A decision to enter the fastest-growing segment of the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology, was also made under his leadership. </p]

For 25 years he was the CEO of Richter, then for 7 years the chairman of the company’s board. Since March 2024, he has been the company’s Honorary President for Life.

He has been recognized for his outstanding economic achievements and his support for domestic innovation activities with several awards, including the Széchenyi Prize, the Middle Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, and the Figyelő Person of the Year Award. </p]

His motto: “The true value of a company is its people.”</p]

The link to the introductory video of the awardee on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TvzG1vNYNs0</p]

The Manager Association and Bayer Hungary’s Women’s Manager Special Award Manager of the Year 2023 honoree is Beáta Juvancz, managing director of BlackRock.</p]

Beáta Juvancz

She studied at Temple University in Tokyo and Philadelphia. Her subsequent studies were at the top Ivy League business school, Wharton.</p]

Throughout her career, apart from spending two years at the Hungarian National Bank, she primarily worked at large American companies’ Hungarian representations, typically joining in the first year of their establishment in Hungary.</p]

She worked at Arthur Andersen, Boston Consulting Group, and was a key contributor in establishing and strategically directing Morgan Stanley’s Budapest office. In addition to Budapest, she also led teams in London and New York.</p]

In 2022, she joined BlackRock as a managing director, the world’s largest asset management firm, as the first Hungarian at the head of the office. The Budapest office, dubbed an “innovation center,” is perfectly positioned to be part of the latest developments in artificial intelligence and data science.</p]

Her passion is shaping the future and making it a reality; she believes that we must find breakout opportunities for our country as well. As a female leader, she considers cooperation essential for achieving results and values conflict-avoiding solutions. She has learned to appreciate differences and became an enthusiastic supporter of diversity when she saw how many components are necessary for success.</p]

She was the chair of the board of trustees of SOS Children’s Villages Hungary for three years, and in 2021 she was elected vice president of Children’s Villages International. She supports STEM education from elementary school to university and encourages high school girls to pursue STEM studies. She is the proud mother of three children, now older than 18. Her mission is to give back to society and achieve as much impact in this area as possible.</p]

Her motto: “Something new, a less trodden path.” </p]

The link to the introductory video of the awardee on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Wj3a_N8qNA8</p]

The Manager Association and Shell Hungary’s Manager of the Year for Society Special Award Manager of the Year 2023 honoree is Norbert Fogarasi, managing director of Morgan Stanley Hungary Analysis Ltd., head of the Budapest office.</p]

Norbert Fogarasi

He has been a loyal employee of Morgan Stanley for 25 years, and has led the Budapest office, the Hungarian subsidiary, for thirteen years. Morgan Stanley is one of the world’s largest financial services companies, and its Budapest office employs nearly 3000 people in IT, finance, quantitative modeling, and risk management. </p]

One of the company’s core values, a spirit worldwide, is “Give Back,” which is also an important part of his life. He has been a curator of his company’s London-based foundation for four years, which has supported the goals of about 20 Hungarian organizations over the years, with hundreds of millions of forints. </p]

Under his personal leadership, Morgan Stanley has been the main sponsor of the Judit Polgár World Chess Festival for five years. </p]

For more than 10 years, he has been an ambassador of the Csodalámpa Foundation, which fulfills the wishes of seriously ill children, for which he received the BusinessCoach “Better Leaders, Better World” award. He has also been the chairman of the board of trustees of the Salva Vita Foundation for three years, supporting the employment and independent living of people with disabilities. He earned his doctorate in financial informatics and also received the BME Pro Facultate award. </p]

He regularly teaches at universities in Budapest, as well as mentoring talented Hungarian students studying at the University of Toronto and at foreign universities. </p]

He is an active member of the ÉrMe Christian leaders community and one of the founders of the weekly prayer community at his company. He and his wife have been married for 19 years, and along with raising two teenagers, they regularly serve at their parish and at the Two Yes Foundation as mentor couples in relationship enrichment programs. </p]

His motto: “Give Back – business is more than profit.”</p]

The link to the introductory video of the awardee on YouTube: https://youtu.be/aT8SCe4BL2Y</p]

The Manager Association and Volkswagen’s Blue Innovation Special Award Manager of the Year 2023 honoree is Tímea Jamniczky, CEO of JCDecaux Hungary.</p]

Tímea Jamniczky

After graduating from the University of Economics, she began her career in finance. Just three years later, she became the financial director of a Dutch-owned company, then continued her career at Telekom, as a member of the strategic management team of T-Systems. She has been the CEO of JCDecaux Hungary Zrt., the world’s leading outdoor company, for 15 years. </p]

Under her direction, the Hungarian outdoor market was transformed from a billboard-dominated state to an innovative, digitalizing market offering various advertising solutions that serve to beautify and make cities more comfortable. Seven years ago, her commitment to contemporary arts brought to life the unique and innovative “Stop for a Short Story” literary competition. 2023 was a year of records for the company in every respect: record revenue and profit, and unprecedented interest in innovative solutions. </p]

In 2021, she became the first Hungarian woman to receive the world’s number one business award, The Stevie Awards, with the Find the Pigeon project, in the communication and marketing category. She made it onto Forbes’ list of the most influential Hungarian women, as well as the Marketing and Media Top 50 Most Influential People in the Media. </p]

Under her professional direction, the company began an initiative where it supports non-profit organizations’ campaigns on its own surfaces. </p]

For a decade, she has been the chairman of the board of trustees of UNICEF Hungary, and in her free time, she supports the organization as a private individual. </p]

Despite all her professional challenges and achievements, her greatest pride is her son. </p]

Her motto: “As an employer, you must provide conditions that create a ‘sense of belonging,’ which is the cradle of innovation; and in which both the company and the individual can perform their best.”</p]

The link to the introductory video of the awardee on YouTube: https://youtu.be/giftSawaVII</p]

The Manager Association and D.A.S. LegitiMo Legal Protection Insurance’s Young Manager of the Year Award 2023 honoree is Márk Szabados, managing director of Mogyi Kft. </p]

Márk Szabados

He started his career as a packaging student at the nearly 35-year-old, 100% Hungarian-owned Mogyi Kft. in Baja. Later, he worked as a full-time regional representative, purchaser, and product developer. As an export manager, he gained experience in crisis management of foreign companies, founding subsidiaries, creating go-to-market strategies, and enforcing HQ interests abroad. </p]

In 2012, as managing director of the Romanian subsidiary, he managed a crisis, developed a commercial strategy, and built a BI-based controlling system. </p]

In 2014, he was appointed commercial and marketing director of the company group, which also included logistics and full management of foreign subsidiaries; two years later, he also took on the company’s purchasing tasks. </p]

Since 2021, as managing director, he has continued to develop the company, which is now present in 31 countries across Europe. Annually, it purchases 25,000 tons of edible sunflowers and popcorn grown on 10,000 hectares, thus processing 90% of Hungary’s edible sunflower volume in its plant. </p]

He successfully managed the crises caused by COVID and the war in Ukraine; under his leadership, the company achieved significant revenue and profitability improvements in recent years. </p]

For more than two years, he has been supporting the work of the Amigos for Children Foundation at the Bethesda Children’s Hospital. In Christmas 2023, nearly 150,000 bags of products were donated to needy families, distributed nationwide with the help of the Hungarian Red Cross and the Hungarian Food Bank Association. </p]

The company has supported children and young people through various associations and organizations for more than three decades. Typically, they back local city events and sports clubs, but they also strive to support charitable organizations in the capital. </p]

Proud father of three young daughters, grateful for the peace of his rural home. </p]

His core values are humanity, humility, persistence, optimism, and continuous development.”</p]

The link to the introductory video of the awardee on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KNYuvFcPjqw</p]

The Manager Association and Linde Gas Hungary’s Manager of the Year for the Environmentally Conscious Economy Special Award 2023 honoree is Anita Simon, deputy CEO responsible for sustainability and circular economy at ALTEO Plc.</p]

Anita Simon

She began her career in agriculture and the feed industry, then continued her career in the early 2000s at one of Hungary’s largest used cooking oil collection companies. </p]

On behalf of the KSZGYSZ, she represented Hungary in Brussels at the FEAD organization in the organic waste sector in 2009-2010. </p]

In 2017, she founded ECO-FIRST Ltd. because she believed that a paradigm shift was necessary in waste management. </p]

In 2019, she joined ALTEO Plc., where she has since become the deputy CEO responsible for sustainability and circular economy. In 2022, under her direction, the ALTEO Group became a member of FE-Group Invest Plc., where she serves as CEO and board member, working with her colleagues to implement the highest technological conditions for recycling and provide comprehensive waste management services. </p]

Her work is her passion, and she considers it important that the green mindset also appears in everyday life. She came up with the idea for Hungary’s first biogas conference, but she is also a board member of the National Biomethane-Biogas Green Energy Industrial Association and the Budapest Global Association. </p]

She is the only Hungarian invited member of the European Investment Bank Group’s EU Women Climate Leaders Network, where participants aim to support competitive solutions to the challenges of the green transition for the EU’s regulatory and investment program. </p]

She is a member of the advisory board of the Budapest Festival Orchestra. She believes that helping others can give strength in everyday life, which is why she joined the Smile Foundation’s Fundraising Board. In her free time, she regularly organizes inspiring salon talks and thematic evenings for her friends, where a leading expert gives a presentation on a specific topic. </p]

Her motto: “I believe in the power of education, leading by example, and innovation, because it matters what we leave behind.”</p]

The link to the introductory video of the awardee on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Oo8l03v_xW0</p]

The Manager Association and Foxconn Group’s Future Manager Special Award Manager of the Year 2023 honoree is Bálint Fazekas, owner and managing director of Euronics / Vöröskő Ltd.</p]

Bálint Fazekas

He moved abroad at the age of 14, where at 16, his strong leadership style was already evident as he led 100 students in an international environment.</p]

He studied financial management and obtained his master’s degree in international business management, living in London, Amsterdam, as well as New York and San Francisco. </p]

He began his career at the family business founded in 1989, starting as a warehouse worker and climbing up the corporate ladder. In 2017, he moved back home due to a family health issue and took on executive responsibilities at the age of 23. The main challenge at that time was setting up digitization and online sales. </p]

In 2018, he expanded the company’s retail profile into manufacturing by acquiring the Dyras brand, since then the product family has grown by more than 200 items. </p]

At the age of 26, he took over the commercial management responsibilities at Vöröskő Ltd., thereby being responsible for more than 600 people at the company. Thanks to his efforts, the company known for its offline store network became the largest Hungarian-owned webshop in the country. </p]

In 2022, he was elected as an independent member of the board of directors of the stock-listed Masterplast. As of early 2023, in the final steps of the generational change, he has taken over the complete management of the company, with 1000 employees. Under his leadership, the Euronics expansion into the Croatian and Slovenian markets will soon begin, opening a completely new chapter for the 35-year-old family business. </p]

Besides business, he places great emphasis on helping others, mental hygiene, and sports. Amid his dynamic work, he runs, meditates, and practices martial arts. Every year, he supports numerous hospitals and foundations. </p]

His mission: “I consider it my special task to set an example for family businesses awaiting generational change, as well as to prove that a Hungarian retail company can also build successful regional presence.”</p]

The link to the introductory video of the awardee on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IL7qMoqQKLE</p]