At its meeting on 13 April, the governing body of the Maecenas Universitatis Corvini Foundation, which maintains Corvinus University of Budapest, elected József Váradi, the CEO of the Wizz Air Group, as a member.
The aim of the renewal of Corvinus is to educate and train the excellence of the future in Hungary and Central Europe as one of the best universities in the region. Provide practical knowledge and establish a continuous, direct, strategic relationship with the most important labor market actors. in order to achieve this, cooperation between parties from different backgrounds and approaches is also necessary in the sustainability board.
Studies, professional careers, awards
József Váradi is one of the most successful Hungarian entrepreneurs. In 2003, he and his colleagues set up Wizz Air in a few months, which has now become the largest discount airline in Eastern and Central Europe.
József Váradi graduated from Corvinus’ legal predecessor, the Budapest University of Economics, and then graduated from the University of London with a master’s degree in international business law, but also a degree from INSEAD.
He is a board member of Wizz Air Holdings (UK) and JetSMART (Chile) and chairman of Wizz Air Hungary, Wizz Air UK and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi. Prior to founding Wizz Air Holdings, he worked as CEO of Malév and before that as Sales Director for Protecter & Gamble Central and Eastern Europe.
In 2017, Ernst & Young was named Businessman of the Year, and in 2018, he was named Best CEO in Central and Eastern Europe. Also in 2018, he represented Hungary at the European Entrepreneur of the Year competition in Monte Carlo.