site.btaAward Winners Honoured in Bulgarian Insurance and Pension Sectors

The Insurer of the Year, Pension Insurance Company of the Year and Insurance Broker of the Year awards were presented at the Grand Hotel Astoria in Sofia on Wednesday. The event recognized the top performers in Bulgaria’s insurance and pension sectors for 2024.

The ceremony, now in its seventeenth year, was organized by the University of Insurance and Finance, the Association of Bulgarian Insurers, the Bulgarian Association of Supplementary Pension Security Companies, the Prof. Dr. Veleslav Gavriyski Foundation, and the Bulgarian Association of Insurance Brokers. Awards were presented in ten categories, determined by an expert committee using publicly announced criteria.

The event began with a speech by Chair of the Management Board of the Association of Bulgarian Insurers Nikolay Stanchev, who remarked that the day marked an opportunity to recognize the industry’s achievements and to approach the future with optimism. Stanchev expressed that greater unity would help the sector address challenges more effectively. He stressed that the mission of insurers is to provide security and support the stability and resilience of the economy. Stanchev also noted that Bulgarian insurers are investing in innovation and client-oriented solutions.

Financial Supervision Commission Chair Vasil Golemanski identified insurance as a key sector for both the economy and society, referring to the industry as an “invisible shield” that safeguards business interests and individual lives against risk.

“It is an honour that the sector regards us as open partners. We are improving our communication with the industry because our understanding is that we should not only monitor order and compliance, but also help develop this business,” Golemanski said.

Before the awards ceremony, a message of congratulations was relayed from Parliamentary Labour and Social Policy Committee Chair Denitsa Sacheva.

Bulstrad Vienna Insurance Group won the 2024 Insurer of the Year – General Insurance award. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov presented the award to Board Chair and CEO Nedyalko Chandarov.

DZI Life Insurance received the 2024 Insurer of the Year – Life Insurance award from Vasil Golemanski.

Groupama Insurance was recognized as the most dynamically developing insurer for 2024. The award was presented by the Deputy Chair of the Financial Supervision Commission responsible for insurance supervision, Plamen Danailov. Groupama Insurance CEO Celine Bolard received the award.

SDI Group received the Insurance Broker of the Year – General Insurance award, which was also presented by Danailov, this time to SDI Group Managing Director Nikolay Zdravkov.

The Insurance Broker of the Year – Life Insurance award for 2024 went to ING Insurance Brokers Ltd. Company Director for Business Development and Sales, Todor Dedinski, received the prize from Member of Parliament Hasan Ademov.

Marsh was recognised as Insurance Broker of the Year – Most Dynamic Development for 2024, with the honour presented to Managing Director Neli Kalcheva by National Statistical Institute President Atanas Atanasov.

Amarant Bulgaria received the Insurance Broker of the Year award in the Sustainable Development category. Martin Oresharski, Director of Certification Services at BORICA, presented the award to the company's Director, Yanaki Yanakiev.

The ceremony recognized the leading pension insurance companies for 2024. Pension Assurance Company Doverie received the Pension Insurance Company of the Year award for mandatory supplementary pension insurance. Financial Supervision Commission Deputy Chair Diana Yordanova presented the award to Executive Directors Nikolay Marev and Miroslav Marinov.

Allianz Bulgaria Pension Company received the Pension Insurance Company of the Year award for voluntary supplementary pension insurance. The award was presented by National Social Security Institute Director Vesela Karaivanova-Nacheva to Executive Directors Tsvetomir Iliev and Reni Engibarova.

Pension Assurance Company Budeshte received the award for Most Dynamic Growth in 2024. Executive Director Todor Lilov accepted the prize from Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy Gergana Aleksova-Velikova.

Prizes for the eleventh edition of the “Insurers for Society” competition were awarded at the ceremony, organized by the Association of Bulgarian Insurers, the Bulgarian Association of Insurance Brokers, and the Association of Insurance Brokers in Bulgaria. Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva presented the awards.

Generali Insurance won first prize for its initiative “The Human Safety Net – Expanding Early Childhood Development Services in Bulgaria,” with CEO Nikolay Stanchev accepting the award.

Groupama Insurance received second place for its “Life Saver” first aid training program, with CEO Celine Bolard accepting the award.

SDI Group received third place for its donation campaign supporting a rehabilitation center for children with oncohematological conditions in Opitsvet village. Managing Director Nikolay Zdravkov accepted the award.

The Prof. Dr. Veleslav Gavriiski Foundation presented its 2025 national individual awards to distinguished professionals in the insurance and pension sector for the twenty-seventh consecutive year.

Borislav Bogoev, Chair of the Board of the National Bureau of Bulgarian Motor Insurers, was presented with the 2025 Lifetime Achievement in Bulgarian Insurance award by Plamen Danailov, Deputy Chair of the Financial Supervision Commission.

Professor Diana Ivanova received the 2025 Lifetime Achievement in Bulgarian Insurance award for her contributions to academia. The award was presented by Professor Tsvetana Stoyanova, Vice Rector of the University of National and World Economy.

Vladislav Rusev, CEO of Allianz Bulgaria Pension Company, received the 2025 Lifetime Achievement in Bulgarian Social Insurance award from Financial Supervision Commission Deputy Chair Diana Yordanova.

Rumen Staykov, Director of Broker Ins, received the 2025 Lifetime Contribution to Insurance Mediation Award from Maksim Kolev, Chair of the Management Board and CEO of the Guarantee Fund.

The University of Insurance and Finance presented its annual award for contributions to insurance education for the second year, recognizing Georgi Benkovski Secondary School in Teteven. School Director Marinela Markova received the award from Boris Velchev, Rector of the University of Insurance and Finance.