Open call launched to find CEO for National Transport Centre

Hungary - The Ministry of Transport and Investment has launched a public call for applications for the post of CEO of OKK Országos Közlekedési Központ Zrt., established in August. In addition to leading the company, the future head will be tasked with building virtually its entire organisational and operational structure: by the end of a two-year transformation process, the new national transport organiser must be able to carry out its duties comprehensively and reliably. Applications are being accepted until 25 October.

As previously reported, OKK Országos Közlekedési Központ Zrt. was registered by the Company Court of the Metropolitan Court on 6 August. The aim of establishing the wholly state-owned company is to draw a clearer distinction between the commissioning and service-provision sides of public transport: OKK will gradually take over the commissioning, organisational and coordination tasks of state suburban, regional and national passenger transport. While the composition of the board of directors and supervisory board was already known at the time of its establishment, the CEO responsible for the company’s day-to-day operations had not yet been named.

The call for applications published on 30 September now also reveals the tasks awaiting the new head. As OKK is a newly established organisation, the CEO will essentially have to build its operations from the ground up: responsibilities will include creating the organisational, staffing and infrastructure conditions, as well as establishing the internal control system and the fundamental processes, regulations and management systems. The organisation will be built as part of a two-year transformation project, for which the planning, scheduling, resourcing and implementation will be the direct responsibility of the CEO. By the end of the process, OKK must be able to perform its statutory duties comprehensively and reliably.

The resulting national transport organiser will bring together the planning of interurban public transport, the selection of public-service providers and oversight of their activities, as well as the operation and coordination of the unified national timetable, fare and ticket-sales system and passenger information, integrating rail, bus and other modes of transport.

The call also addresses the operating culture of the new organisation: the CEO will be expected to establish customer-focused, data-driven, transparent, performance-based and collaborative operations, as well as to create a knowledge base serving the company’s long-term professional development and a system ensuring the retention and recruitment of specialists.

The new CEO will also have an important role in the future transformation of Hungary’s rail market. Key responsibilities will include establishing cooperation with the state rolling-stock manager Magyar Vonatflotta Zrt., also registered in August, and launching and overseeing the delivery of Hungary’s first competitively tendered public-service rail passenger transport contracts. In addition, developing OKK’s international relations will also be the CEO’s responsibility, including with foreign transport organisers, public-service commissioning bodies, professional organisations and the institutions of the European Union.

The application requirements include a university degree or master’s qualification in transport science, engineering, economics or law, as well as at least five years’ experience at a transport, logistics or organisation of similar complexity. Negotiation-level English proficiency is required, together with appropriate leadership, strategic, decision-making and stakeholder-coordination skills. Advantages include, among other things, management experience in transport organisation or transport services, and experience in managing a state- or municipally owned company, EU development projects, setting up a new organisation or large-scale organisational transformation.

In addition to a CV and the necessary supporting documents, applicants must submit a professional and management programme of no more than five pages. This must set out, among other things, the main objectives and timetable for OKK’s two-year transformation period, as well as the planned steps in building the organisation. The CEO’s employment will be for an indefinite period. The call does not specify a salary; remuneration will be agreed individually on the basis of the selected applicant’s experience and competencies. The founder may also set premium targets, the achievement of which may result in a bonus of up to 20% of the annual basic salary.

Applications may be submitted until 25 October 2026. Applicants will be assessed by a professional committee appointed by the founder, which will also decide who will be invited for a personal interview; the founder will ultimately decide on the appointment of the CEO. The assessment of applications is expected within 45 days of the submission deadline.

When announcing the call, Minister of Transport and Investment Dávid Vitézy compared the establishment of OKK to the scale of change brought to transport in the capital by the creation of the Budapesti Közlekedési Központ. The ministry intends for OKK to become a national transport organiser separate from service providers, organising and overseeing the system from the independent commissioning side, separate from the public services operated by MÁV, GYSEV and Volán.