Sofia, 11 June 2026
The best Chief Financial Officers for 2025 were announced at a special ceremony hosted by EY Bulgaria. This year marked the 10th anniversary edition of the CFO of the Year competition. Nearly 200 guests from leading Bulgarian companies attended the awards ceremony and gala dinner last night at the Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia.
Over the past decade, the competition has contributed to strengthening and elevating the role of CFOs as a key strategic function in every organization. CFO of the Year has evolved into a platform for ideas, a partner to businesses, and a community of professionals with shared interests. Across its ten editions, the competition has recognized more than 150 finalists and over 50 winners.
This year, three out of the seven award recipients are women. From its inception, the competition has placed special emphasis on promoting women in the finance sector.
The winners of the evening are as follows:
Category “Finance Function Transformation”
Georgi Nikolov, Dreamix – Recognized for achievements including the integration of AI tools into the daily work of the finance team, implementation of an ERP system enabling faster month-end closing, and the introduction of a cost management and control system.
Category “Planning and Budgeting”
Nikolay Vasilev, Astellas Pharma – Awarded for his approach enabling the company to plan sustainably and respond flexibly to changing business conditions by integrating external factors, regulatory developments, healthcare system dynamics, and market-specific characteristics.
Category “Small and Emerging Enterprises”
Pavel Panayotov, Maxo Bulgaria – Recognized for his role in the company’s development, achieving consistent annual growth, securing financing, developing innovative products, and leading a comprehensive business restructuring.
Category “Sustainability”
Lyuba Pavlova, Allianz Bank Bulgaria – Awarded for engaging the team in sustainability initiatives, setting and achieving ESG goals, and preparing for regulatory reporting requirements (CSRD and the EU Taxonomy). The company was the first to disclose its sustainability framework to the Bulgarian National Bank in its annual financial statements.
Category “Leadership and Team Development”
Nevеna Nikshe, UniCredit Bulbank Bulgaria – Recognized for a strong focus on building an engaged, high-performing, and sustainable team, introducing clear management practices, transparency, and a culture of open dialogue, as well as channels for collecting ideas, suggestions, and constructive feedback.
Category “Control, Reporting and Tax Management”
Yordanka Klenovska, Telelink Business Services – Awarded for her leadership in strengthening control and reporting processes by assuming ultimate responsibility for ensuring the accuracy, reliability, and timeliness of financial information, as well as reinforcing all elements of the group’s tax management framework while leading two key group-level tax initiatives.
Category “Strategic Business Partner”
Alexander Bilalov, SUNOTEC – Recognized for his key role in transforming the company from a fast-growing entrepreneurial business into a financially sustainable organization attractive to global investors, achieving an average annual revenue growth of 85% over the past four years and securing institutional capital of EUR 1 billion for project investments.
The ceremony was opened by Nikolay Gyrnev, Managing Partner of EY for Bulgaria and Southeast Europe.
“CFO of the Year is no longer just a competition – it is a tradition. Over the past decade, while recognizing the best CFOs, we have fostered successful leaders, best practices, role models, and a drive for continuous improvement. We have also built a community that continues to grow and demonstrates every day how vital the role of CFOs is in every organization,” said Gyrnev.
EY Bulgaria’s CFO of the Year competition is unique of its kind and sheds greater light on this demanding and highly specialized role within organizations. It promotes best practices and supports the development of the business environment in Bulgaria, providing an excellent opportunity for finance professionals to gain recognition and visibility for their achievements over the years.