Opposition leader Tisza Party announced new economic expert

Péter Magyar, president of the Tisza Party, has announced the appointment of István Kapitány, former Vice President of Shell, as the party’s new head of economic development and energy policy. The move is being presented as a key step in Tisza Party’s preparations for potential government responsibility.

This year’s first big signing for Tisza Party

The announcement was made on Saturday via Magyar’s Facebook page, where he described Kapitány as one of the most experienced and internationally respected Hungarian business leaders. According to Magyar, the appointment marks Tisza Party’s “first major signing” of the year.

Kapitány brings decades of global corporate leadership experience to the role. He began his career in Hungary before holding senior management positions at Shell in Germany, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. As a top executive at one of the world’s largest multinational companies, he oversaw operations in 85 countries, managing around 45,000 commercial units and supervising a workforce of approximately half a million people, as reported by 24.hu.

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Deep connection to Hungary, despite the huge success abroad

Despite his international career, Kapitány has remained closely connected to Hungary. Between 2020 and 2025, he served as president of the Hungarian Association of Managers, contributing to domestic business and leadership development. He has received numerous national and international awards, including being named Manager of the Year and European Industry Leader of the Year. In 2023, he was awarded the Officer’s Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit.

Magyar also highlighted Kapitány’s involvement in Shell’s long-standing partnership with Ferrari, which spans more than seven decades. Through this collaboration, Kapitány worked closely with Ferrari engineers and Formula One drivers, including Michael Schumacher. He has frequently expressed pride in the fact that Shell’s V-Power fuel, one of the company’s most successful products, was developed in Hungary.

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A boy from Debrecen, who grew up in Angyalföld

In a short introductory video, Kapitány is described as “just a boy from Angyalföld who conquered the world”, while also being proud of his Debrecen roots. Although he once planned to become a pilot following the tragic death of his father in a plane crash, his career ultimately led him to the highest levels of international business leadership. Kapitány has emphasised his strong belief in Hungarian talent and his deep commitment to the country’s future.