Zsuzsanna Mátrai
Principal Advisor, Hungary & CEE
Zsuzsanna Mátrai is a senior public affairs strategist with over 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, having played pivotal roles in Hungary’s EU accession and institutional integration, and later serving as Microsoft’s Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe. Zsuzsanna holds international educational credentials in economics, international relations, and EU affairs, including EU law. She is fluent in English and French.
Zsuzsanna began her career in 1998 at the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she was instrumental in establishing Hungary’s EU coordination system and later led the successful conclusion of Croatia’s accession negotiations during the Hungarian EU Presidency. As deputy and then spokesperson of the Ministry, she gained deep expertise in high-stakes political communication and European affairs.
In 2017, Zsuzsanna joined Microsoft’s Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs team, initially overseeing corporate and government affairs in Central Europe. She quickly rose through the ranks and became Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe, covering 33 countries. In this role, she led public affairs strategy across the region, focusing 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 Award for European Hungary.
At Aretera, Zsuzsanna advises clients on complex regulatory and reputational challenges across the region. She brings a unique ability to bridge regulatory, political and market insight — connecting national dynamics with broader regional or EU-level agendas, and leveraging her expertise and network to drive cross-border strategic engagement.
Zsuzsanna began her career in 1998 at the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she was instrumental in establishing Hungary’s EU coordination system and later led the successful conclusion of Croatia’s accession negotiations during the Hungarian EU Presidency. As deputy and then spokesperson of the Ministry, she gained deep expertise in high-stakes political communication and European affairs.
In 2017, Zsuzsanna joined Microsoft’s Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs team, initially overseeing corporate and government affairs in Central Europe. She quickly rose through the ranks and became Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe, covering 33 countries. In this role, she led public affairs strategy across the region, focusing 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 Award for European Hungary.
At Aretera, Zsuzsanna advises clients on complex regulatory and reputational challenges across the region. She brings a unique ability to bridge regulatory, political and market insight — connecting national dynamics with broader regional or EU-level agendas, and leveraging her expertise and network to drive cross-border strategic engagement.