Hungarian top banker received the highest state honour

President Katalin Novák decorated Sándor Csányi, chairman-CEO of OTP Bank and head of the Hungarian Football Association (MLSZ), with the Hungarian Order of St Stephen, the highest honour in Hungary, at the presidential Sandor Palace on Friday.

Csányi received the award in recognition of his achievements in bolstering Hungary’s reputation abroad and his paramount role in creating and developing a stable banking system which has served Hungary’s economic competitiveness. The award also recognises Csányi’s accomplishments as one of central Europe’s most prominent business leaders, as well as his commitment to national values and interests. In addition, the award is a recognition of his exemplary achievements in supporting Hungarian culture, education and sport as well as talent management.

He was nominated for the honour by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. In her laudation, Novák said Csányi was “unquestionably a part of and a source of Hungary’s economic strength”, noting that OTP Bank also held its own on the international market. She also praised Csányi’s support for disadvantaged youth.

In his acceptance speech, Csányi said that over the past decades he had always put Hungary’s interests before those of the companies and organisations he led. Csányi has been chairman-CEO of OTP Bank since 1992. He has been chairman of the Hungarian Football Association (MLSZ) since July 2010. He serves as president of the board of the Prima Primissima Awards presented annually to recognise artists, athletes, as well as representatives of academic life, popular culture, education and the press.

The award ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Cardinal Péter Erdő, the Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, members of government, public dignitaries and past recipients of the award.