Gabor Kovacs

Biography

 Banker, art collector and philanthropist, founder of KOGART. Having studied at the Moscow State Institute for International Relations (MGIMO) between 1975 and 1980, he started his career at the Hungarian National Bank. He had served as first managing director of Citibank Budapest from 1985, before becoming vice-president of Citibank London. Back to Hungary by 1991, he founded Bankár Holding Plc., which he now heads as president and CEO. It was at this time that he began to collect art works by, as well as to support, Hungarian artists. His collection spans across the history of Hungarian painting from the early 18th to the mid-20th century. On 8 November 2003, he established the Gábor Kovács Art Foundation with a HUF 3 bn ($11mln) capital stock, and opened KOGART House in Budapest, on 20 April 2004. He has been a member of the Trilateral Commission since 2006. Awards and distinctions earned include 2005: Summa Artium Award, “For Contemporary Art” category, for his extensive work as an organizer and supporter of art. 2005: Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary.

Research Interest

 Genetics