Forbes Hungary recently released its fifth annual list of the most influential women in Hungary. The list ranks the women according to five different categories. Anikó Lévai, the wife of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, lost her first-place ranking in the Public Life category to Andrea Bártfai-Máger, the current administration’s only female minister. Meanwhile, in the Business category, Éva Hegedüs, owner-president of the Gránit Bank, replaced llona Dávid, CEO of Volán.
Overall, there are several returnees at the top of the list: Anikó Lévai finished fifth in the Public Life category preceded by her daughter, Ráhel Orbán, in fourth place. Andrea Bártfai-Máger, Minister without Portfolio, took first place in the category. According to the magazine, Bártfai-Máger is now in charge of a number of state-owned companies, and as a minister, she exercises ownership rights over the MVM Group, regional waterworks, regional transport centers, Volánbusz and Szerencsejáték Zrt. After a hiatus of several years, the co-chairman of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, Márta Pardavi, reclaimed her spot on the list. Judit Varga, Secretary of State for European Relations, and Klaudia Pataki Szemereyné, Mayor of Kecskemét, made their debuts.
The Business category also underwent changes: although Ilona Dávid’s, CEO of Volán and DAKK, international influence remained, she still slipped to second place behind Éva Hegedüs, owner and chairman of Gránit Bank. Edina Heal, a former Google CEO, returned to the list as the Chief Operating Officer of Republic Group. Several women – including Beatrix Kelemen, Lőrinc Mészáros’ wife – made their debuts on the Business list, as well. Kelemen recently left Echo TV and continues to serve as the president of the Life and Ozone channels.
The National Film Fund’s Ágnes Havas seems to be unshakable in the Culture category, taking first yet again. Painter Ilona Keserű, new to the list, also placed in the top due to an outstanding auction revenue of HUF 36.1 million over the last ten years. Gabriella Vidus, CEO of RTL, took first place in the Media category, and Kinga Mészáros, CEO of the Central Media Group, also moved into the top three.
This year, Forbes Hungary added a new category that selects influential women “whose power is limited, but whom we are happy to watch.” Among others, the list includes Nóra L. Ritók, Diána Ürge-Vorsatz, Antónia Mészáros, Szilvia Gyurkó, Judit Polgár, Kriszta Székely and Ági Pataki.
Per usual, Forbes Hungary compiled this year’s list using data provided by the Bisnode company’s information system as well as information gathered during background discussions. The editorial staff decided on the list’s final order after thoughtfully scrutinizing the accomplishments achieved last year by women living and working in Hungary.
featured photo: Andrea Bártfai-Máger, Minister without Portfolio, most influential woman in the Public life category.