Xpat Interview: Grisha Jenkov, Country Manager Central Eastern Europe, Qatar Airways.

  • 25 Jul 2013 12:00 PM
Xpat Interview: Grisha Jenkov, Country Manager Central Eastern Europe, Qatar Airways.
Grisha Jenkov is an experienced Country Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the aviation industry.

Skilled in Commercial Aviation, Marketing and Sales, Business Finance and Contract Negotiation. Strong sales professional with a proven track record and a Master's degree in Hospitality Management/Tourism from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. 

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
2 December 2013

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Yes, a couple of years ago I was in Teheran for a year running the business for my previous company.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
It is a beautiful city but I haven’t spent too much time here yet to truly dive into it. I have realized that the mentality of the people here is different from where I come from… In terms of how people do react to certain things and how tolerant they are….

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
Definitely take them to Obuda area, the Puskás Sports Pub there as this is not the usual place a typical tourist would go.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Quite a usual answer I suppose, but true: goulash.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
As I still don’t have my family here yet, lets say a bar of milk chocolate.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Egészségedre!

8. What do you miss most from home?
My family and my daughter but I am going back often to my home country to spend time with them. Apart from them, there is not much I miss.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Honestly, I love what I do so I cannot give a very specific answer, but probably I would be a football or a tennis player, or maybe a musician in a rock band.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
I think each and every job makes a contribution to society, so I cannot name one I wouldn’t do.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Greece – Halkidiki peninsula

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?
Croatia

13. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?
Pass

14. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Band: AC/DC and Iron Maiden
Film: Brave Heart
Hobby: Football – it was my favourite hobby and I keep playing it even now
15. Red wine or white?
Red

16. Book or movie?
Both

17. Morning person or night person?
Night

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
Poverty – connected to war issues in Africa and Middle East. Those people are forced to live on very little but it feels there is very little we can do about it to help them.

19. Buda or Pest side?
Definitely Buda

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
I always do what I believe I should do.

  • How does this interview make you feel?