THE HBLF TOP20 COMPLIANCE LEADERS AWARDS PRESENTED FOR THE FIRST TIME
Record participation in the 10th Mentor Program, 25th Financial Summit, CoEFFICIENT Festival, CEO Forum
Budapest, November 27, 2025 - The Hungarian Business Leaders Forum (HBLF) held its year-end business event. The event featured the presentation of the first-ever TOP20 Compliance Leaders Awards.
The HBLF's mission is to build a future based on sustainability, value-based leadership and equal opportunities. That is why they initiated the compilation of a list of the most outstanding compliance leaders. Their goal is to highlight professionals who are key representatives of ethical and responsible operations, shape their companies' culture, exert social influence, and set an example with their professional commitment. The initiative was realized in partnership with the Hungarian Corporate Compliance Association and Opten Informatikai Kft. The judging panel consisted of professionals such as Gabriella Balogh, co-owner of Net Média Zrt., Dr. Hajnalka Csorbai, strategic director of Opten Informatikai Kft., Dr. Levente Kovács, Secretary General of the Hungarian Banking Association, Dr. Ádám Liber, Vice President of the Hungarian Corporate Compliance Association, and Andrea Istenesné Solti, President of HBLF.
"Responsible corporate governance and business ethics are very closely linked, and we thought we should highlight those professionals who work in the business sector to ensure that companies comply with the law and make ethical decisions. They are the role models from whom we can learn good practices," said Andrea Istenesné Solti.
The complete list of award winners can be found at the end of our announcement.
The HBLF's year-end ceremony was an excellent opportunity to evaluate the entire year. In her speech, the organization's managing director highlighted the 15-year-old Romaster program, which provided scholarships and mentoring to 57 Roma students this year. Among the most important professional events were the 25th Financial Summit, the CEO Forum, and the X Mentor Program, which started with record participation. The Women's Forum strengthened its support for female leaders with several international programs.
New developments this year included the launch of the Board-level Program, which ended with outstanding satisfaction, and the first CoEFFICIENT Festival. The HR, Education, Ethics, and Sustainability working groups also successfully carried out a number of valuable professional programs. All this was only possible because of the extremely committed and active community behind the organization—in 2025, 108 companies and 86 charter signatories supported the work of the HBLF, emphasized Managing Director, Marianna Kukely.
At the event, the host, Tamás Kórász, Partner, Advisory Co-leader, Managing Director of KPMG Hungary, presented the latest results of KPMG's CEO Outlook 2025 survey. According to the survey, despite the current global economic uncertainty, the majority of corporate leaders are optimistic about the future of their own companies. The key to survival and competitiveness today is innovation—especially AI—and retaining and developing talent. At the same time, the challenges—economic risks, technological and ethical issues, sustainability expectations—are serious. Companies that proactively shape their future while consciously managing risks will be successful.
Ezt erősítették meg egy panelbeszélgetés keretében vállalatvezetők. Heiszler Gabriella (SPAR Magyarország), Jeránek Tamás(Siemens Zrt.), Peter Roebben (K&H Csoport) és Kórász Tamás (KPMG Hungary) a 2026-os trendekről és az etikus vezetés kihívásairól osztották meg gondolataikat. A beszélgetést Mészáros Antónia, az UNICEF Magyarország ügyvezető igazgatója moderálta. This was confirmed by company executives during a panel discussion. Gabriella Heiszler (SPAR Hungary), Tamás Jeránek (Siemens Zrt.), Peter Roebben (K&H Group) és Tamás Kórász (KPMG Hungary) shared their thoughts on trends for 2026 and the challenges of ethical leadership. The discussion was moderated by Antónia Mészáros, Managing Director of UNICEF Hungary.
Next year, the HBLF will continue its work to contribute to more transparent, responsible, and ethical operations in the Hungarian corporate sector.
TOP 20 COMPLIANCE LEADERS AWARD WINNERS:
András Bácsfalvi, EY, Partner – Governance, Compliance & Controls
Dr. Péter Bán, E.ON Hungária Zrt., Legal and Compliance Director
Ferenc Batonai, AutoWallis Nyrt., Group Compliance Manager
Dr. Györgyi Birkás, JUNGHEINRICH Hungária Kft., Head of Legal and Compliance
Dr. Mária Dárdai, Global Compliance Officer
Dr. Adrienn Esztervári, Magyar Telekom Nyrt., Data Protection Officer and Data Privacy (CoE) Center of Excellence Lead
Zoárd Gázmár, OTP Bank Nyrt., Group Chief Compliance
Zoltán Halmai, ING Bank N.V. Hungarian Branch, Compliance Director
Dr. Laura Juhász, Schneider Electric Hungária Villamossági Zrt., Legal Manager and Compliance Officer
Dr. Anna Kósa, Erste Bank Hungary Zrt., Compliance Manager
Dr. Gábor Mabda, KDB Bank Europe Ltd., Head of Compliance
Dr. Gábor Mandák, Citibank Europe plc Hungarian Branch, Compliance Risk Country
Officer for Hungary, CE5 Sub-cluster Compliance Head
Szabolcs Mosonyi, Yettel Hungary Ltd., Ethics & Compliance Officer
Dr. Béla Sik, K&H Bank Zrt., Head of AML Competence Center
Nóra Sljukic, Unicredit Bank Hungary Zrt., Head of Compliance
Dr. Péter Sükösd, AUCHAN Magyarország Kft., Corporate Secretary
Dr. Éva Takács, CIB Bank Zrt., Head of Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering
Dr. Ákos Ferenc Tisza-Papp, MBH Bank Nyrt., Managing Director, Legal Adviso
Dr. Katinka Tölgyes, MVM Zrt., Head of Compliance
Dr. Zoltán Varga, Magyar Suzuki Zrt., Chief Operating Officer