Foreign minister Péter Szijjártó said in the statement that Exim Bank is one of the key institutions of Hungary’s foreign trade strategy, which through its lending activity largely contributes to the success of Hungarian companies – including SMEs – on foreign markets.

The new CEO, who is also member of the board of the European Investment Bank, has earlier filled senior positions in foreign trade, banking, and money and capital markets.

Urbán worked as deputy CEO of state-owned Hungarian Development Bank (MFB) from 2010 until January 2014 when he was appointed as CEO of credit guarantee institution Garantiqa Hitelgarancia. Garantiqa is 30.7% owned by the state, 46.8% by MFB, with the remaining shares held by 19 banks, including Exim Bank.

Zoltán Urbán will replace Roland Natran as CEO of Exim Bank who was appointed to the post in June 2012.