TOP 50 Marketing and TOP 50 PR Leaders: New Stars and Returning Big Names

The forefront of the communications industry was once again presented in two separate rankings of 50 names each by Marketing&Media. Based on the jury’s decision, the TOP 50 Marketing Leaders list was compiled for the 10th time, while the PR ranking appeared for the third time. One third of the best marketing leaders appeared as new names in 2025, reflecting strong market fluctuation. In contrast, only eight new professionals entered the PR top 50. The sectoral breakdown also shows differences: commerce dominates in marketing, while finance and services are stronger in PR. This duality illustrates how differently the two fields operate, despite their close cooperation. Editor-in-Chief Krisztián Simon emphasized that, as in previous years, communication leaders must adapt to new technological solutions – including integrating artificial intelligence – while ensuring that their organizations can rely on stable teams and sustainable operations. The rankings also reveal the growing importance of socially impactful campaigns, which strengthen brand reputation alongside traditional business goals.

TOP 50 Marketing Leaders: stable podium finishers and emerging newcomers

At the top of this year’s TOP 50 Marketing Leaders ranking is Béla Attila Szabó, Brand Communications Director of Magyar Telekom, who finished second last year. Second place went to Ádám Mérő, who oversees Coca-Cola’s European digital strategy, while third went to Péter Pantl, Group Communications and Marketing Director at Mol. In fourth place was Nóra Horváth Magyary Voljč, Executive Director of Communications at K&H Group, followed by Tibor Péter Juhász, Marketing and Communications Director of OTP Group, in fifth. Sixth place went to Zsófia Bánhegyi, Vice President of the Hungarian Marketing Association, followed by Tibor Metykó, Chief Customer Officer of Euronics, in seventh. In eighth place was Piroska Pataky, Brand and Marketing Communications Director of MBH Bank, ninth went to Roland Kanyó, Marketing and PR Manager of dm, while the top 10 was completed by Zsuzsa Beke, Group Director of PR, CSR and Government Relations at Richter Gedeon.

TOP 50 PR Leaders: corporate and agency executives dominate

At the top of the PR list is Nóra Horváth Magyary Voljč, who has worked at K&H Group for over two decades and has become one of the most recognized communications leaders in the Hungarian banking sector. Also on the podium are Bence Gáspár (OTP Bank) and Zsuzsa Beke (Richter Gedeon), highlighting the strong role of financial and pharmaceutical leaders in communications. The top 10 also includes Ádám Szinai (CIB), Péter Pantl (Mol), András Sztaniszláv (MPRSZ/ICCO), Gabriella Liptay (KPMG), Márta Holló (Magyar Telekom), Zsófia Balatoni (Uniomedia), and István Kutas (MBH).

Overall, alongside banks and energy companies, the agency side is also increasingly strong, as agency and professional association leaders entered the top 10. The financial sector is particularly prominent, with multiple representatives on both rankings. Women continue to be highly represented: half of the PR top 10 are women, and women also feature strongly in the marketing elite. New trends are also visible: the rise of agency and professional organization leaders shows that the communications market is becoming more diverse, with room alongside corporate professionals for smaller players as well. The growing presence of retail marketers in the rankings also reflects the increasing importance of the retail industry.

The full rankings of the Marketing&Media TOP 50 Marketing Leaders and TOP 50 PR Leaders can be found in the September 2025 issue of the professional magazine.