Project managers play a strategic role: this year’s winner of the Project Manager of the Year Award announced

The project that set digital payments on a new foundation

The Qvik project was not only a technological, but also an organizational and industry breakthrough.
The project team of 25–30 people implemented the development in cooperation with more than 15 banks, regulatory bodies and technology partners. The program was implemented on time, within budget, and with full security compliance, which is a rare, almost textbook success in today’s project world.

“Today, the project manager not only manages tasks, but also builds trust. In a project of this size, with many actors, the basis for success is human cooperation and strategic thinking.”

– said Ádám Bándy, Project Manager of the Year 2025.

The end result: from September 2024, anyone can pay with a QR code when shopping in stores and online, independently of banks.

The award was presented by Richárd Szabados, State Secretary for the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Technology and the Defense Industry, on behalf of the Minister of National Economy as the main patron, at the Millennium House.

Qvik: a breakthrough in digital payments under the professional leadership of Ádám Bándy

Ádám Bándy, PMO Manager at Innopay Zrt. and partner at GIRO Zrt., led the Qvik – Instant Payment 2.0 project, which created Hungary’s first, nationwide, unified QR code payment ecosystem. The development was implemented as part of the digital payment strategy of the Hungarian National Bank.

With more than 15 years of experience, Ádám Bándy is a leading project manager in the financial and consulting sector, combining technological innovation, business focus and people-centered leadership in his work. During his career, he managed the implementation of treasury, data and core banking systems, as well as international consulting projects in Asia and the Middle East.

Due to the complexity and strategic importance of the project, it is considered one of the most outstanding domestic developments of recent years, in which Ádám Bándy’s leadership role was key.

Strategy and human factors

The Project Management Excellence Board, operated by a community of professional organizations, selected the winner of the Project Manager of the Year Award again this year based on a thorough evaluation of the applications and references. In the past 25 years, many outstanding professionals have received the award, several of whom have also achieved podium finishes at the IPMA international competition.

The State Secretary Richárd Szabados, who presented the award, highlighted that the project approach also provides the backbone of effective implementation in government work, where one of the most important tasks is to organize many separate measures into a coherent system. He mentioned as an example the coordinated structure of the Demján Sándor Program, in which more than 23,000 enterprises have already received support, and whose elements – from the capital program to the 1+1 investment support – work in a mutually reinforcing manner. Similar, comprehensive thinking led to the 11-point tax and administration reduction agreement recently concluded – following the chamber’s proposals – or to the fixed 3% corporate loan program. In the latter case, more than 5,000 companies had the opportunity to use preferential financing in one month. The Secretary of State emphasized that such interdependent interventions provide the “project logic” that can create real economic impact and lasting stability.

“Over the past 25 years, the role of the project manager has evolved from an executive to a strategic decision-maker. This year’s award winner is the best example of this change in perspective”

– emphasized József Cserna, President of the Hungarian Project Management Association and the Project Management Excellence Board.

The projects nominated for the 2025 award covered a wide spectrum of industries, from the financial sector to the energy and automotive industries to government IT. Their common denominator was digital transformation and increased efficiency. The finalists included projects from large corporations, governments and international backgrounds, where technological innovation and teamwork played a key role.