Zsuzsanna Mátrai

Zsuzsanna Mátrai is a senior public affairs strategist with 25+ years of experience at the intersection of diplomacy, policy and technology. She combines the insight of a former senior diplomat with the strategic leadership of a tech executive. She played pivotal roles in Hungary’s EU accession and institutional integration, and later served as Microsoft’s Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe. Zsuzsanna holds international degrees in economics, international relations and EU affairs, including EU law, and is fluent in English and French.

Zsuzsanna began her career in 1998 at the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she helped build Hungary’s EU coordination system and later led the successful conclusion of Croatia’s accession negotiations during the Hungarian EU Presidency. As deputy spokesperson and spokesperson of the MFA, she gained deep expertise in high-stakes political communication and European affairs.

In 2017, she joined Microsoft’s Corporate, External & Legal Affairs team, initially overseeing corporate and government affairs in Central Europe. She later became Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe, leading public affairs strategy across 33 countries with a focus on digital regulation, ethical AI and corporate diplomacy.

Zsuzsanna has received multiple awards for her strategic impact, including Microsoft’s European and Annual Awards, the Gold Cross of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, and the Foreign Ministry’s Award for European Hungary.

At Aretera, Zsuzsanna advises clients on complex regulatory, political and reputational challenges across the region. She bridges regulatory, political and market insight, connecting national priorities with regional and EU-level agendas, and leverages her experience and network to drive effective cross-border engagement.