Annual Fintech Summit 2019

Nina Stoyanova

Deputy Governor, Bulgarian National Bank

Nina Stoyanova is Deputy Governor in charge of the Banking Department and the Fiscal Services Department and member of the Governing Council of the Bulgarian National Bank elected by the 43rdNational Assembly on 29 July 2015 for a six-year term of office.

Alexandra Maniati

Senior Policy Adviser on Cybersecurity, European Banking Federation

Alexandra joined the European Banking Federation (EBF) in January 2017 as a Senior Policy Advisor in charge of the Cybersecurity, Digital Skills and Social Affairs portfolios. In the framework of cybersecurity and digital skills, Alexandra is responsible for the creation and implementation of the EBF Cybersecurity Working Group action plan, relevant EBF positions, relations with EU institutions, the annual EBF Cybersecurity Conference and projects aimed at the harmonization of the legislative and regulatory environment, cybersecurity awareness-raising and the enhancement of digital skills for bank employees and customers. She also represents the EBF in the Advisory Group on Financial Services of Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) and the Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition of the European Commission.
Between 1999 and 2016, Alexandra served as Director of the Hellenic Banking Institute at the Hellenic Bank Association (HBA); Secretary of the Executive Committee and Member of the Board of Directors of the European Banking & Financial Services Training Association (EBTN); Member of the Board of the Institute of Career Guidance (IEPAS); Chair of the Financial Literacy Committee of EBTN; Vice-Chair of the Financial Education Project Group of EBF; and HBA rep. to the International Network on Financial Education of OECD.
The professional experience of Alexandra prior to joining the EBF includes a range of fields mainly in but not restricted to the banking sector, in national, European and international settings: business relations, industry positioning, management of professional training and qualification services (including accreditation of qualifications, skills frameworks, certification exams and e-learning), publications, events and financial literacy activities.

Levon Hampartzoumian

CEO and Chairman of the MB of UniCredit Bulbank, FinTech Summit Advisory Board Member

Levon Hampartzoumian is the CEO and Chairman of the MB of UniCredit Bulbank since 2001. He is member of the Managing Board of BORICA. From April 2005 to April 2008 and April 2011 - April 2015 he is Chairman of the Management Board of the Association of Banks in Bulgaria. Levon Hampartzoumian is a non-executive member of the Board of the Institute for Market Economy. from 2008 to 2012 he is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sofia University. Levon Hamparztoumian is awarded with the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity (Ordine della Stella della Solidarietà Italiana) and is honoured with the title Commendatore of the Order at the beginning of May 2008 with a Decree of the President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano. Levon Hamparztoumian is awarded with the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity (Ordine della Stella della Solidarietà Italiana) and is honoured with the title Commendatore of the Order at the beginning of May 2008 with a Decree of the President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano. In 2007 Mr. Hampartzoumian was awarded by "Atanas Bourov" Foundation for bank management; he is also announced "Banker of the year" twice – by Finance Central Europe magazine in 2005 and by Banker weekly in 2007. In 2006 Mr. Hampartzoumian is awarded for management by Manager Magazine. ПИн 2015 the CEO of UniCredit Bulbank was awarded with Grand Silver Merit Badge of the Republic of Austria. Levon Hampartzoumian has a degree in Chemical Engineering and professional experience working for PriceWaterHouse Coopers and Earnst&Young. During 1999-2001 he was consecutively Deputy Minister of Economy and Executive Director of Sofia’s Privatization Agency.

Miroslav Vichev

Chief Executive Officer, BORICA, FinTech Summit Advisory Board Member

Miroslav Vichev is member of the Advisory Board of FinTech Summit.
Mr. Vichev is a Chief Executive Officer of the payment and card operator BORICA. He has over 25 years of experience in the field of information technology for the banking sector. Before joining the company, he held a number of leadership positions - Head of "Applied Systems" at the Bulgarian Postbank, Director "Management Consulting and IT" at Deloitte & Touche, Head of "Consulting Department" at Microsoft Bulgaria and a consultant to the BNB in relation to the RINGS system, IT Director at HVB Bank Biochim, CEO of DSK Bank. He was also a member of the Supervisory Board of the "DSK Rodina" pension company, member of the Board of Directors of the "Cash Service Company AD" and a member of the Board of Directors of OTP Bank (Russia), Deputy of the CEO of OTP Bank (Hungary) and Chief Information Manager of the banking group. Mr. Vichev is a former graduate of the Technical University of Sofia.

Filip Genov

CEO of F27 and Co-founder of Sophia Lab

Filip Genov is a Member of the Advisory Board of the FinTech Summit.
Mr. Genov is a senior banker with 20+ years of executive experience in Bulgaria and numerous other markets, where he initiated and created a wide array of innovations, new business lines, products and companies in the financial services area. His main areas of expertise are strategy, innovations, business development, change and risk management. In 2013 he became the first Eastern European manager to be elected to the Executive Committee of the Factors Chain International, being responsible for the R&D and innovations. In 2003-2006 and in 2012-2014 Filip has been launching and implementing various business development projects and initiatives for UniCredit Group throughout Italy, Germany and the countries of the Central and Eastern Europe. Filip is also an avid supporter, business angel, mentor and investor in startups of young entrepreneurs. He holds an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business and the London School of Economics and an UniCredit Executive master from SDA Bocconi.

Vanya Manova

Country Manager Bulgaria and Macedonia, Mastercard, FinTech Summit Advisory Board Member

Vanya Manova is accountable for the development and implementation of Mastercard’s local business strategy. In her role, Vanya drives innovation in both markets, related to Mastercard new tech solutions’ expansion and electronic payments’ growth, and further strengthen the collaboration and partnership with key customers, governmental bodies and the public sector. After 20 years’ experience in banking sector Vanya Manova joined the Bulgarian team of Mastercard in 2008 as an Account Manager. Over the past few years, she has driven the local business operations and has helped to position Mastercard as a strategic partner for both end customers and non-traditional partners including local government institutions and regulatory bodies. She led the launch and growth of contactless payments in Bulgaria & Macedonia making Mastercard the ultimate leader in contactless field within these markets.

Goran Angelov

Founder and CEO, IBS Bulgaria

Goran Angelov is a founder and CEO of IBS Bulgaria (IBS) one of the leading IT companies in the country with a focus on finance industry, analytics solutions and systems integration. Nowadays IBS is involved in key project for leading banks related to digital transformation, PSD2 regulation, infrastructure modernisation and information assets management.
Goran Angelov has an engineer degree in process automation. He has more than 20 years of experience in the field of information and communication technologies and has participated in a number of successfully implemented large-scale IT projects for the business and the public sector.

​Tal Sharon

Managing Director, Equitech, Member of the FinTech Summit Advisory Board

Tal Sharon is member of the FinTech Summit Advisory Board.
Mr. Sharon is a FinTech consultant specializing in analyzing corporates and financial institutes requirements. Tal brings vast financial and legal knowledge in order to bridge the gap between corporates and innovative FinTech solutions. Tal has accumulated extensive knowledge in the FinTech industry and has been providing advisory services to FinTech ventures in various stages

Russell Taylor

Chief Commercial Officer of Software Group

Russell Taylor is the Chief Commercial Officer of Software Group, a global technology company that is specialized in delivery channel and integration solutions for institutions that provide financial services. Russell is an accomplished executive with solid knowledge and experience in the banking and technology industry. He has a proven track record in driving software and services growth, increasing revenue and improving profits, while enhancing customer value. He has more than 20 years of experience in Retail Financial Service delivery and Information Technology consulting and management, in both developed and emerging markets, with extensive experience in North America, Latin America, Africa, CEE countries, Central Asia and the Caribbean. Russell carries extensive specific industry knowledge of micro-banking, SME, and niche players who offer solutions to expand access to technology and services in mass markets. Prior to joining Software Group, Mr. Taylor was the President and Regional Director for North America in TEMENOS that included driving two successful acquisitions in the United States, increasing the product portfolio and reach. In total he spent a total of 14 years at TEMENOS in different leadership roles in different geographies. Mr. Taylor also was Vice President for SAP’s Financial Services and Healthcare business, and worked for Standard Bank of South Africa and Telkom in various leadership positions.

Kalin Radev

CEO, Software Group, FinTech Summit Advisory Board Member

Kalin brings more than 20 years of professional experience in IT, over 15 of which in financial inclusion, banking and microfinance. He has extensive international experience leading strategic projects in Europe, Africa, Asia, Pacific and Latin America. His expertise has been crucial for carrying out more than 100 projects around the globe, focused on developing IT strategies and designing solutions that accelerate financial inclusion and enhance efficiency. Kalin is a Member of the Board of Directors of the Microfinance Center (MFC), Endeavor Bulgaria, and the Indian-Bulgarian Business Chamber.

Petr Baron

CEO, TBIF Financial Services (TBI Bank), FinTech Summit Advisory Board Member

A dynamic and result-oriented executive, Petr Baron has extensive experience in retail banking with focus on digital transformation and business evolution. An expert in developing strategic lending initiatives, maintaining a reputation built on quality, service, and uncompromising ethics. 
Petr Baron started from leading advisory and investment roles and for over 16 years of his professional career held multiple board roles in multinational and local companies in the UK, Russia, Macedonia and later in Ukraine, where he held positions of CEO of VAB Bank and VAB Group, member of TBIF Financial Services B.V. (TBIF), having managed to transform corporate identity and create the first Ukrainian financial supermarket in retail financial services. 
From 2012 he held the post of Vice President Strategy for TBIF, being an advisor to the Managing Director on the group’s banking and non-bank operations across CEE, moving on to assisting 4finance Group S.A. in developing its banking strategy and acquisition targets. From 2016 Peter Baron is the Managing Director TBIF, while recently he was appointed as a Member of the Executive Committee of 4finance Group S.A.
Petr has a BSc in Investment and Financial Risk Management from the Cass Business School, UK.
 

Diana Medanova

Executive Manager and COO, bsurance

Diana Medanova is executive manager and chief of operations at the Austrian insurtech bsurance. She is the founder of the first and second largest online insurance aggregator in Austria which was exited in 2015. She has been consulting insurtechs and insurance companies in digital distribution and transformation and has 12 years of experience as an insurance broker. She is also an independent consultant to the Austrian government and the Chamber for Workers and Employees. Medanova holds a double master degree from the Economics University in Vienna and FGV Sao Paulo in Brazil.

Artur Derwiszynski

Head of Industry, Financial Services, CEE, SAP

Vladimir Savov

Member of the Financial Supervision Commission

Mr Savov is a member of the Financial Supervision Commission. since January 2014 He holds a MBA Degree from the London Business School and a Master’s in International Economic Relations from the University of National and World Economy, Sofia. Between 1993 and 1998, he worked for Unicredit Bulbank as a manager of Correspondent relations with foreign countries. In 1999 Vladimir Savov completed internships at the departments of Central and Eastern Europe and Global Depository Receipts in The Bank of New York, London. From 2000 to 2009, he worked in Moscow, initially as a senior analyst at Brunswick UBS, and from 2003 to 2006 as a Deputy Director and subsequently - Director of Analysis on the Banking and Consumer Sectors Unit at the Uralsib Capital Bank. Between 2006 and 2009, he was Director of the Analysis Department at the Credit Suisse Investment Bank, and from 2009 to 2013, Mr. Savov was a Managing Director, Head of the Analysis Department at "Otkritie" Financial Corporation, the biggest private financial holding in Russia. In his professional career, he has gained rich experience in the field of financial analysis and strategies, investments, capital markets, banking and international finance. Mr Vladimir Savov is fluent in English and Russian.

Alex Zhigarev

Partner at Speedinvest

With over 15 years of experience in strategy, operations and entrepreneurship, Alex knows сhallenges faced by technological startups and how to deal with them. Having completed a Masters Degree in Applied Mathematics from Moscow Engineering Physics Institute, he started his career as a software developer and project/program manager in large IT companies (Luxoft, Dell, Ericsson). After obtaining an MBA from INSEAD in 2010, Alex moved to the exciting and unpredictable world of entrepreneurship. He co-founded and managed a number of companies, some of which were successful and some less so. The "airbnb" for Russian speaking markets was one of the largest online apartment rental players on the CIS market by 2012. The "Booking.com" for medical tourists collapsed after the crush of the Russian currency in 2014. The gig he worked on before becoming partner of Speedinvest was Vest Financial – a company backed by Y Combinator and First Round Capital and acquired by Chicago Board Options Exchange in 2016. Alex is an angel investor in a number of startups and works on board of one of the largest online travel agencies in Russia.

Dimitar Grozdanov

Head of FinTech Practice, Tsvetkova, Bebov, Komarevski, Attorneys-at-law

Dimitar Grozdanov works in the field of banking and finance law and leads TBK’s FinTech Practice. His area of expertise covers payment services, online and peer-to-peer lending, cryptocurrencies, consumer financing, anti-money laundering regulations, consumer protection and white-collar crime. He has helped guide banks, financial institutions and start-ups to ensure compliance of their innovative products through an ever-changing and growing regulatory framework.
Dimitar assisted the entry on the Bulgarian market of one of the leading European used car finance providers, worked on the implementation of the second Payment Services Directive for a major Bulgarian bank and consulted on the creation of one the first Bulgarian cryptocurrency portfolio management companies. He is a member of the Sofia Bar Association and holds an LL.M. degree from Sofia University.

Boyan Byanov

Regional Director CEE of Raisin GmbH

Boyan held various managerial positions in retail banking since 2004, first in Fibank and later in TBI Bank in Bulgaria and Romania. He joined one of the leading Fintech companies in Europe- Raisin two years ago and from 2019 is promoted to Regional Director CEE, responsible for the business development and partnerships of Raisin in the region. The Berlin based company is operating a unique and innovative marketplace, democratising the savings and investments market in Europe. Since launch, 5 years ago, the company had raised more than EUR 170 million equity from leading investors, such as PayPal, Index Ventures and Ribbit Capital. Its more than 160 000 customers have transmitted EUR 11 billion to its 63 bank partners from 23 countries making Raisin one of the leaders in the European wealth tech space.

Filip Mutafis

Investor, Paysera Bulgaria

Filip Mutafis is investor and among the founders of Paysera Bulgaria, a local representation of the Lithuanian electronic money company Paysera LT, and one of the first Fintech companies in the country. Mr. Mutafis has many years of experience in IT companies, including Dynamic Solutions, Singular, Unisoft, Sirma Business Consulting, Balkan Services. He is a member of the Bulgarian Association of Software Companies (BASSCOM). Throughout his career, he has initiated and participated in innovative activities for the Bulgarian business initiatives: the first Internet labs, e-learning systems, localization and implementation of ERP systems, mobile solutions, and the launch of the most successful Business Intelligence System in Bulgaria - QlikView. Paysera is an innovation in which he is also actively involved. He has been a lecturer on multiple events for business planning, ERP, CRM, BI, payment systems and payments, ecommerce and international business

Konstantin Djelebov

CEO and Co-Founder of phyre

Konstantin Djelebov is the CEO and Co-Founder of phyre, also a creator, entrepreneur, geek, gym lover, time management freak. Konstantin loves seeing people happy with phyre's products and enjoys the painful process in achieving this. If he invites you for launch at some point you will be participating in product/marketing research or experiment, most often without even noticing it.
Konstantin started his career as part of a team pioneering remote registration for internet banking system back in 2007.
2013 was the year of startup journey, he was invited as a CTO and Co-Founder in getti, a multi-retailer loyalty program which generated more than 150,000 users. Now he is focused on making phyre top-of-mind when you think of payments.  
He always strives to leverage his productivity and results. Wakes up smarter, better and stronger every day.

Stoil Vasilev

VP Corporate Development, SumUp

Stoil Vasilev has been leading Corporate Development at SumUp for over 4 years. He is an expert in the financial services industry with more than a decade of experience. Main focus and interest of Stoil lie in the areas of Corporate Development, Corporate Finance, Investments and M&A. During his career Stoil held the position of Acquisitions Manager at Landmark and Managing Director of the leasing arm of Eurohold - EuroLease Group. When not ideating the Corporate Development strategy for SumUp or sharing thought leadership on the stages of top FinTech conferences globally, Stoil enjoys running and spending time with his family. Stoil holds a Finance degree from D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics in Bulgaria. Stoil also successfully passed levels 1 & 2 of CFA.
 

Tamara Valdo

Fintech Partnerships Manager, Group Strategy & Innovation, Raiffeisen Bank International AG

Tamara Valdo joined the division of Group Strategy & Innovation in Raiffeisen Bank International one and a half year ago in order to support the set-up of Elevator Lab, the biggest corporate fintech partnership program in Central- & Eastern Europe. She now has the responsibility of organizing the program and is validating fintechs' business models as well as their applicability for RBI Group and its scalability across RBIs CEE markets.

Evgeny Angelov

BVCA Chairman and Partner, PostScriptum Ventures

Evgeny Angelov is the initiator and Chairman of BVCA. He has been an Economic Advisor to the President of the Republic of Bulgaria since January 2012. His efforts are directed at raising the competitiveness of Bulgarian companies, promoting energy efficiency, strengthening the innovation ecosystem and improving the business environment.

Todor Breshkov

co-founder and managing partner at LAUNCHub Ventures

Investor, entrepreneur, interested in blockchain and innovation. Former Investment Banker and angel investor, now a VC. Todor is a co-founder and managing partner at LAUNCHub seed fund, focused on investing in bright entrepreneurs from South Eastern Europe in the ICT sector. Todor has a substantial banking experience and his professional expertise varies within the areas of Finance, Business Development, VC and entrepreneurship. Interested in fintech and crypto economy and the fascinating new future

Andrey Aleksandrov

Chief Operating Officer and member of the Executive Committee of Allianz Bulgaria Holding

From 2008 until the end of 2016 he is at the forefront of the market leader in Life Insurance – ZAD Allianz Bulgaria Life. For these 8 years the company won 8 times the Insurer of the Year Award, which is conferred by the Bulgarian Insurance Association. Also, under Andrey Aleksandrov’s management, Allianz has been distinguished with the prestigious Company with Best Life Insurance Products Award. In 2013 he has been appointed for member of the Executive Committee of Allianz Bulgaria Holding. In 2017 he became Chief Operating Officer of the Group and is responsible for IT, Information Security and Claims Liquidation Departments. He holds a Master’s Degree in Insurance and a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance. He has gone through various trainings and specializations, such as Business Management and Leadership in New York, Client Portfolio Management in London, Management of Distribution in Vienna and Munich, Underwriting and Risk Management. He starts his career as insurance broker. He worked in AIG Life as Head of Accident and Health Insurance. Then he started working for Allianz and held various management positions before he was appointed as COO of the Holding.
 

Nikolai Genchev

CEO and Chairman of the MB of UNIQA Bulgaria

Nikolai Genchev has 20 years of experience in the financial services sector, with 15 years on executive positions. He is Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Management Board of UNIQA Insurance Bulgaria since 2009. Under his leadership the company restructured greatly its operations and portfolio and recently started its journey towards digital transformation. Nikolai is member of the boards of industry NGOs as well as Fintech enterprises, being interested in various VC opportunities in this field. 
 

Iravan Hira

Managing Director, Hewlett Packard Enterprise operated by Selectium

Iravan Hira is Managing Director of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Bulgaria and Hewlett Packard Enterprise Global Delivery Bulgaria Center since 2009. Under the leadership of Iravan Hira Hewlett Packard Bulgaria has been positioned among the top leaders in the IT sector in the country and achieves significant business results which took the Bulgarian branch of the company to the leading position in Central and Eastern Europe. Hewlett Packard Global Delivery Bulgaria Center is among the largest employers in the ICT industry in the country with more than 6000 highly qualified employees and export of services worth of BGN 260 million in 2014. Iravan has worked in Hewlett Packard Bulgaria since the establishment of the company in the country in 1998 and has held various sales and management positions. For high professional successes was honored twice with membership in the "Achievers Club" of global Hewlett Packard Company. Among the priorities of Iravan Hira are strengthening the hi-tech industry in Bulgaria, the introduction of innovations for sustainable economic growth, development and promotion of corporate social responsibility as an important public function of companies and encouragement of entrepreneurship in IT in the country. Because of its active work in these areas Iravan Hira was elected as Chairman of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum in 2013. He is also member of the Board of Directors of American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria (AmCham), Junior Achievement Bulgaria, the Consultative Business Committee of University of Finance, Business and Entrepreneurship (VUZF) and the Expert Committee of Sofia University etc. Iravan Hira holds a Master's degree in Computer Science from the Technical University in Sofia. He has special expertise in the field of new business development, sales management and corporate transformation. Married, with two children

Elena Popova

IT Lead AIG EMEA Shared Services

Elena Popova is leading the Information Technology department in the AIG Sofia Centre of Excellence  from 2014. During her career in AIG Elena has delivered numerous innovations to the company – building a fully virtual workplaces for all employees, implementation of new digital technologies and automation solutions, effective management of technology cost and investments. Elena is key part of AIG Bulgaria management team, outside of technology area she is actively working on projects related to employee engagement and career development.
Prior to joining AIG, Elena has more than 15 years of IT management experience in leading companies from various business sectors.

Chanan Friedman

Senior Manager, Global CES Channels & Business Development

Experienced Director Business Solutions with a demonstrated history of working in the computer software industry. Skilled in Marketing Management, Negotiation, Sales, E-commerce, and Entrepreneurship. Strong business development professional graduated from the Interdisciplinary Center Herzilya (IDC) and a graduate of the Merage Institute US-Israel Innovation Bridge Executive Program at the University of California, Irvine - The Paul Merage School of Business.