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Executive Team
Dr. Istvan Foldesi, President, CEO
Dr. Istvan Foldesi is the President and CEO of Inter-Access since 2005. He received his Master’s degree in Economics in 1972 and a Ph.D. in 1974, and spent twenty years as a diplomat in various economic posts in London, Madrid and Washington D.C.
At the end of the 80's, he served as an advisor to the Prime Minister in Hungary, and was an active participant in the historic Round Table Negotiations that culminated in sweeping political and economic changes. In 1991 he became an advisor to OECD, the international "Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development" in Paris, helping governments tackle the economic, social and governance challenges of a globalised economy. He has been working as an international business leader and advisor since 1992.
From 1994 to 1999, Mr. Foldesi was a Member of the Board of the Directors of Magyar Telekom (formerly MATAV), and he served as Chairman of the Board until 1996. As chairman he assisted the MATAV's privatization, when "MagyarCom, a consortium of two telecommunications companies, Deutsche Telekom and Ameritech International acquired 30.1% ownership of the national telephone concession transferred on a mandatory basis to Matáv and the increased equity – for USD 875 million."
"In the second round of Matáv’s privatization MagyarCom obtained majority ownership of Matáv. According to the contract concluded on December 22, 1995 the ownership share of the two consortium companies increased to 67.3% for USD 852 million. On the basis of the combined value of the two rounds, Matáv’s privatization was up to then the largest privatization in the Central and Eastern Europe region and the largest foreign investment in Hungary." (See: Company History.)
From 2003 to 2012 Mr. Foldesi served as a Member of the Board of Directors at Magyar Telekom, where the German Deutsche Telekom obtained majority ownership. He was also a Member of the Board of Directors at Slager Radio for twelve years (1998 – 2010). The majority owner of Slager Radio was EMMIS; its Radio Division owns stations in the top three national markets - Los Angeles, New York and Chicago - and in St. Louis, Indianapolis, Terre Haute, and Austin.
Julius Asboth, Chief U.S. Strategy Adviser
Member of the Advisory Board, Western Europe
Mr. Asboth graduated with a degree in political science and international relations from Wayne State University in 1963. In 1975 received a master’s degree in management from Central Michigan University; served with the U.S. Air Force from 1963 to 1986 as international political-military affairs officer. He joined Texas Instruments in 1987 as director of international marketing for the Defense Systems Group in Washington, DC. Since 2002 traveled extensively, studied American identity and culture, and consulted to international clientele.
Mr. Asboth posted in Europe, Asia and Washington, DC.; attended the German General Staff College between 1977 and 1979. Subsequently, he served as senior NATO air forces analyst to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In 1982 appointed director of international political-military affairs to Headquarters, United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), responsible for the formulation of international policy drafts and negotiations throughout Europe and the Middle East. At USAFE initiated international negotiations training to improve the effectiveness of subordinates. In 1985 returned to Washington to direct military attaché operations in Central Europe.
As director of international marketing operations for Texas Instruments in Washington he worked closely with foreign diplomats, military attachés and defense ministry officials, U.S. and foreign corporate executives and managers, as well as policy staffs at the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce. In 1990 he established Texas Instruments’ corporate marketing office for Central and Eastern Europe in Budapest. In 1996 started the company’s cross-cultural training program to improve the performance of international marketing and sales personnel.
Created "American Ways – Strategy for Managing Cultural Differences:" Based on over forty years of real-world experience with Americans, Europeans and Asians, this concise but comprehensive cross-cultural program offers penetrating insights and practical "how to" advice on successfully managing day-to-day transactions within the daunting context of American life, whether in business, diplomacy, education or other professions. It ranges from distinctly American cultural values, perceptions of the world and of self, thought processes, business and social etiquette, verbal and nonverbal communication to advice on establishing rapport, and insights into American organizations and management among other topics.
Sandor Simon, Regional Director
Central Europe (Hungary)
Sandor Simon is a strategic regional representative of Inter-Access specializing in project management, product management, and marketing of various Central European projects. He has extensive experience in advising clients in business planning for successful organizational operation, and identifying circumstances under which an organization must adjust to a higher strategic level. He focuses on strategic development based on competitive and industry analysis to promote international sales and business development.
Mr. Simon received his Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 1982, and environmental engineering in 1996, and spent thirty years in industrial and sales management supporting developing technologies. He was the Central European Director of PBS Inc. (1999-2003), a well known explosive industrial company, introducing and managing know-how licenses. He managed marketing projects for the German RITZ Gmbh. in environmental and energy business development. He served the Environmental Protection Inc. as marketing and environmental engineering expert in hazardous waste industry (1993-1999), and recently managed regional leading engineer sales projects for the global Fortune 300 company, Praxair Inc. that is active in more than 50 countries; focusing on helping the customers become more profitable, efficient and environmentally friendly.
Susanna Joseph, Esq. Attorney at Law, USA / Hungary
Legal Adviser
Ms. Joseph is admitted to the Bar in the United States, Virginia, and in the European Union, in Hungary. She is the Principal of the Susanna Joseph Attorney at Law office, in Virginia, USA and the DR JOZSEF LAW FIRM in Budapest, Hungary. Graduated from the George Washington University Law School with a Master of Laws degree (2011), and earned her Juris Doctor degree from University of Pecs, Faculty of Law (2004). Ms. Joseph has extensive experience in international trade law, international private law, and corporate law relating the Law of European Union/Hungarian Law. In cooperation with American lawyers she has been instrumental in helping numerous Hungarian companies to enter overseas markets.
Publications, including: Legislative Solutions for the Housing Crisis in the United States - Studia Iuridica Caroliensia, Budapest, 2009; Principles of the American Real Property Law- Studia Iuridica Caroliensia, Budapest, 2009; The Role of Joseph Story to exceed the Theory of Statutum Reale- Jogtudományi Közlöny (Est. 1866 ) “Official Journal of Jurisprudence” – a monthly legal periodical of the Committee of Jurisprudence of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, 2007. 2. 2007.5 (p.233-239; in Hungarian); The Landmark of Statutum Reale in the Saul v. His Creditors Case- Jogtudományi Közlöny (Est. 1866 ) “Official Journal of Jurisprudence” – a monthly legal periodical of the Committee of Jurisprudence of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, 2007. 2. (p. 50-62; in Hungarian); International Commercial Law with American perspectives – Collega, Budapest, 2006, 2-3. (p. 204-209); Entry to the American Market - Information booklet, Budapest, 2006; Content: Business Entities, Tax, Intellectual Property, Immigration, Labor and Employment.
Nicolas R. Vay, Chief International Adviser, Member of the Advisory Board
Mr. Vay has a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor’s from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, as well as a Masters equivalent in International Relations, U.S. Naval War College, Masters Equivalent in Industrial Management, U.S. Army War College. He has also completed Mid-Level Executive Coursework in Information Management at IBM, and has held a Top Secret Security Clearance.
Mr. Vay specializes in private business consulting and government relations, and as a Member of the Advisory Board assists in initiating, developing, negotiating and managing successful proposals and contracts, valued at up to $81 million.
He has significant experience in Business Development, Marketing and Promotions, Organizational Assessment, Strategic Relationships, Information Management, International Relations, Training and Development, and Law Enforcement and Security.He has been a principal of NIMAC International Associates, a consulting firm specializing in immigration issues, since 1994.
Mr. Vay worked for Star Mountain, Inc. from 1995 to 2002 as Director of the Commercial and International Operations Division from 1997 to 2002, and Program Director from 1996-1997. Mr. Vay also worked as a Principle Training Analyst between 1995-1996. During his tenure at the firm, Mr. Vay also served as an expert advisor to the Immigration Services Division of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Between 1992-1994 he was the Director of East European Operations at EER Systems, Inc.In this position he provided technical, management, and business development support for planning and implementation of successful international training programs. He further negotiated exclusivity with the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and Education for the creation of U.S. model community colleges to address a critical need for technically skilled personnel. Mr. Vay secured funding from the Soros Foundation and GM Hungary. Previously he worked at the firm as Program Manager and Lead Systems Engineer (1988-1992).
Mr. Vay served in the United States Army from 1961 to 1988. During his 27 years of active duty with the U.S. Army, he held a variety of positions associated with leadership development, training, program evaluation, and recruiting. He is amember of American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers (ASLET)and received theU.S. Naval Air Systems Command Letter of Commendation.
