Banks and the Business

Prof. Dr. Yanis Varoufakis

Professor of Economics at the University of Athens and former Minister of Finance of Greece

Varoufakis (*1961) studied economics in the UK, first at the University of Essex and secondly mathematical statistics at the University of Birmingham. He has a PhD in economics. He then taught economics and econometrics at the University of Essex and the University of East Anglia. In 1988, he spent a year as a Fellow at the University of Cambridge. From 1989-2000 he taught as senior lecturer in economics at the Department of Economics of the University of Sydney and in 2000 he accepted the offer to become Professor of Economic Theory at the University of Athens, which he has resumed in 2017 after a two-year-break.
From 2004-06, Varoufakis served as economic advisor to George Papandreou, then Prime Minister of Greece. In 2012 Varoufakis became Economist-in-Residence at Valve Corporation. He researched the virtual economy on the Steam digital delivery platform, specifically looking at exchange rates and trade deficits. From 2013-14 he taught at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin as a visiting professor.
On 25 January 2015, Varoufakis was appointed finance minister by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras after the election victory of Syriza in the parliamentary election. Varoufakis resigned as Finance Minister on 6 July 2015. In February 2016 he announced the Democracy in Europe Movement 2025 "DiEM 25". He is leader of MeRA25, DiEM25's new progressive party in Greece and since July 2017 Yanis Varoufakis is Member of Parliament in Greece.
Varoufakis is the author of several books on game theory, he also is a recognised speaker and often appears as analyst for national news media.

Kalin Hristov

Deputy Governor, Head of the Issue Department and Member of the Governing Council, Bulgarian National Bank

szKalin Hristov has been Deputy Governor, Head of the Issue Department and Member of the Governing Council, Bulgarian National Bank since October 23, 2009. Elected on July 29, 2015 by the 43rd National Assembly for a second 6-year term, as of 24 October 2015. Mr. Hristov was born in Pleven. He has a master's degree in macroeconomics, University of National and World Economy, Sofia. Author of numerous independent publications in the country and abroad in the field of macroeconomics, monetary policy, currency board, economic and monetary union and the introduction of the euro in Bulgaria, as well as co-author of articles and publications on economic and financial topics.

Petia Dimitrova

Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Management Board

Mrs. Petia Dimitrova is Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Management Board of Postbank (under the legal name Eurobank Bulgaria AD). She joined the team of Postbank in 2003 as Country CFO for the eight affiliated companies of Eurobank EFG Group in Bulgaria. In 2005 was appointed Procurator of the Bank. In 2007 she was appointed Executive Director and Member of the MB of DZI Bank. After the legal merger of DZI Bank and Postbank she became Executive Director and Member of MB of the unified bank. In 2012, Mrs. Dimitrova became Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Management Board of Postbank.
Under her leadership, Postbank completed in just a few years two successful deals, the acquisition and integration in a record short-term time of Alfa Bank - Bulgaria Branch, followed by Piraeus Bank Bulgaria. They are another step to strengthen its position as a systemic for the bank market and to expand its customer base.
Mrs. Dimitrova began her career in 1996 at the Consular Department of the US Embassy. Then, in 1998-2003, she worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers as Senior Manager and Senior Auditor.
She is a chartered accountant, qualified ACCA member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in London, UK. Mrs. Dimitrova has an Executive MBA in General Management from the University of Sheffield, UK and holds two Master Degrees in Finance and Banking and Tourism from the University of National and World Economy and Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. In addition, she is a graduate of ALBA Leadership Development Program, Harvard; holds a Certificate of Merit from Georgetown University Leadership Seminar, Washington D.C. and graduated Management and Social Development of NGOs at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and University of Macedonia, Greece. She also holds certificates for successful completion of the program "Harvard Business School - YPO Presidents' Program" in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Mrs. Dimitrova has acquired her professional qualifications in UK, Greece, Holland, Belgium, USA and Bulgaria, and has participated in various prestigious international trainings, seminars and conferences.
Mrs. Dimitrova is a Member of the Management Boards of the Association of Banks in Bulgaria, "Atanas Bourov" Foundation, "Borica" AD, Endeavor Bulgaria Association, the International Banking Institute. She also is a Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hellenic Business Council in Bulgaria, Associate member of the Management Board of CEIBG and Member of the University Council of the American University in Bulgaria. Petia Dimitrova is a Member of the National Council of Global Compact Local Network Bulgaria, Industrial Advisory Board - CITY College, International Faculty of the University of Sheffield, Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), Young Global Leaders Forum, part of the World Economic Forum, Gerson Lehrman Group Accounting Council London, UK, Fellow Member of the Chartered Management Institute, UK and Cofounder of the Public Council of Women in Business.
Mrs. Dimitrova has received many awards, including the prestigious recognition "Mrs. Economy" in "Mr. and Mrs. Economy" competition organized by CEIBG and Economy Magazine (2018, 2015); award by "Atanas Bourov" Foundation for Banking and Financial Management (2017); the Special "Banker of the Year" Awards by Banker weekly in 2020, 2019, 2017, 2015 and 2012; "Woman of the Year" in Business category by Grazia magazine (2014); two Silver Stevie Awards – "Female Executive of the Year in Europe, the Middle East and Africa" and "Female Executive of the Year – Consumer Services with up to 2,500 employees" (2013); "Banker of the Year 2012" by Banker weekly; "Mrs. Economy 2012" for her contribution to the development of the banking sector; one of the Young Global Leaders honorees for 2012, distinguished by the Forum of Young Global Leaders part of the World Economic Forum; International Faculty Distinguished Alumni Award from The University of Sheffield (2011); Businesswoman of the Year (2010); the Grand prize in the Bulgarian annual contest for young managers "Next generation" (2009) by Capital weekly; and many others.
Under her leadership Postbank won nearly 100 prestigious international and Bulgarian awards, including gold in "Excellence in Customer Centricity or Customer experience" category in one of Europe's most prestigious competition in the banking sector – The Retail Banking: Europe 2019 Awards. Also "The Best Retail Banking in Bulgaria" award in 2018, 2019 and 2020, "Best Consumer Digital Banks, Bulgaria 2020" award and "Best Mobile Banking Apps, Bulgaria 2020" award from the London-based World Finance Magazine, "Bank of the Year" 2019 at the Annual Bank Awards, Best Employer Awards, and many more.

Peter Ruben

CEO of UBB and Country Manager of KBC Group in Bulgaria

Peter Roebben is CEO of UBB and Country Manager of KBC Group for Bulgaria. He has a 30-year career within KBC Group, covering a wide range of executive assignments across Europe. Prior to coming to Bulgaria, he was the CEO of KBC Ireland, which is the first digital bank in the Belgian financial group.
 

Diana Miteva

Chairperson of the Executive Board of the ABB

Ms. Diana Miteva has been Member of the Management Board, Executive Director and Head of Retail Banking Division at DSK Bank since 2006  – the leading retail bank in Bulgaria, part of the OTP Banking Group. Ms. Miteva is also current Chairperson of the Executive Board of the Association of banks in Bulgaria (ABB) and member of the Board of the European Banking Federation (EBF).Her professional career has been entirely dedicated to the financial and banking sphere, being part of the management teams of ING Bank Sofia Branch, as Head of Financial Controlling, and of Demirbank, as Member of the Management Board and Executive Director.Bearer of the prestigious Hungarian "Andras Fay" Award. In 2009 and 2017 Ms. Miteva was named "Banker of the Year" by Banker financial weekly. Winner of the renowned "Atanas Bourov" award in 2014. In April 2017, Diana Miteva was awarded with the prestigious French National Order of Merit - Médaille du mérite.

Miroslav Vichev

Chief Executive Officer, BORICA

Miroslav Vichev  is a Chief Executive Officer of the payment and card operator BORICA. He has over 30 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, 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 CEO of "Information technologies and Operations" of OTP Bank (Hungary). In 2021 Mr. Vichev has been awarded as "Manager of the year" in the most prestigious business contest in the country. He is a former graduate of the Technical University of Sofia.

Levon Hampartzoumian

Chairman of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum

Borislav Genov

Head of Retail Banking of UniCredit Bulbank

Before taking his position as Head of Retail Banking of UniCredit Bulbank, Borislav was CEO of UniCredit Consumer Financing Romania.
Former Head of Retail at UniCredit Bank Banja Luka.
His first experience in the UniCredit Group was in 2002 as an intern in Bulbank, and since 2006 is a member of the start-up team for UniCredit Clarima Bulgaria.
Starting with 2007 he has held various managerial positions such as Sales Manager, Head of POS Business, Non-Banking Business Division, and since 2012 he has been appointed Chief Business Officer and Member of UniCredit Consumer Financing Bulgaria Management Board.
Boris graduated at Bocconi University in Milan.