Dr. Herbert Stepic had been responsible for the internationalization of what is today Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI). He was RBI’s CEO until 2013 and the driving force of its development into one of the leading banking groups in Central and Eastern Europe with banks and many other subsidiaries in 13 countries of the region. He received numerous awards, such as the “Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria” in 2012, "WU-Manager of the Year 2005" from the Vienna University of Economics and Business, “Trend Manager of the Year 2005”, “European Banker of the Year 2006” and “European Manager of the Year 2007”. Stepic holds a doctorate from the Vienna University of Economics and Business and is Vice President of the International Chamber of Commerce of Austria.
Mr. Nikolov is a Bulgarian entrepreneur, venture capitalist and investment banker. He holds BA degrees in Applied Economics and Business Administration from the American University in Bulgaria (Class of 1997). Notable positions:
Member of the Bulgarian Parliament, Chairman of Transport and Telecom Committee and deputy minister for IT and Telecom;
Chairman of Bulgarian Telecommunications Company EAD;
Executive Director of Mobiltel (A1) EAD;
Chairman of the Bulgarian Wind Energy Association;
Member of the Board of Trustees American University in Bulgaria;
Founder and General Manager CEE Island Renewable Energy;
Chairman of the Board of Melon AD;
Founder and Executive Director Bulventures AD;
Associated Partner Expat Asset Management AD.
Mr. Higgins is an accomplished banker, private equity fund manager, economic development professional and social entrepreneur, who has been living and working in Bulgaria more than 25 years. Mr. Higgins initially came to Bulgaria in 1993 to work for the Bulgarian-American Enterprise Fund (BAEF) after completing his MBA at the Kellogg School of Management. He is a specialist in the financial services industry with extensive experience in banking, fund management, lending (SME, corporate, micro, hotel, mortgage, agricultural), leasing, consumer finance, insurance, mortgage brokerage and internet-based financial comparison lead generation. He is a native English speaker fluent in Bulgarian. Notable positions include:
Empower Capital Vice Chairman, Partner and Co-Founder – July 2014 to present;
Tokuda Bank Supervisory Board Member – May 2017 to present;
American University in Bulgaria Adjunct Professor – January 2016 to present;
Axxess Capital Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner – January 2005 – July 2011;
Bulgarian-American Enterprise Fund Managing Director & CIO – June 1997 to January 2005;
Bulgarian-American Credit Bank Executive Director/Board Member – 1997 to 2004;
American University Member of the Board of Trustees – 2009 to 2019;
Fulbright Bulgaria Commission Member of Supervisory Board – 2013 to 2019;
AmCham Bulgaria Member of Board of Directors 2005 to 2011.
Mrs. Ana Spînu is an Associate Professor in Finance, Monetary Economics and Credit at the Free International University of Moldova (ULIM). Her academic career began in 1998 as an assistant lecturer in the “Banks and Finance” department of the Free International University. Since 2018 she has been the head of the department and Associate Professor “Finance, Accounting and Cybernetics Mathematics” at the university. Bachelor of Economic Sciences, with a specialization in Banks and Stock Exchanges. Her PhD thesis was “Efficiency of foreign trade: methodological aspects”. Spînu Ana has experience in organizing and developing pedagogical and scientific activity in the financial and banking fields. Has published over 50 scientific and didactic works in the financial-banking field. Proficient in Russian and French, working knowledge of English. Notable positions:
Member of the Editorial Board of Materials Collection of the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Economic and Financial Policies for Competitive Development”;
Member of the Editorial Board of the Scientific Journal "EcoSoEn";
Expert assessor within the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research;
Awarded with the ULIM medal for merit in promoting academic values and prodigious activity at ULIM in the formation of generations of specialists for the modern society.
Tam Basunia is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accounts in England and Wales (ICAEW). He has been a professional accountant for over 40 years and devoted most of his career to the emerging markets of Russia, CIS, Central and Eastern Europe. From 1990 through 2005, Mr. Basunia has dedicated his work towards the establishment and success of PWC’s Russian practice and he was also instrumental in establishing the firm’s presence in the Middle East.
Non-executive director and chairman of the Audit Committee of Vozrozhdenie Bank (2015-2019);
Non-executive chairman of Grosvenor Castle Ltd, a private company engaged in the global sweets and candy business;
Worked as auditor/advisor to both MICEX and RTS in Russia;
Was a member of PwC’s international technical panel which dealt with the most complex accounting and reporting issues around the globe;
Lead many projects funded by the World Bank, IMF, EU for the reform of the banking and accounting sectors of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and other Eastern European countries;
Member of the PriceWaterhouse Supervisory Board for UK and Europe (prior to his move to Eastern Europe). Following the merger of PriceWaterhouse and Coopers in 2000, Mr. Basunia became Chairman of the Supervisory Board for PwC in Russia, CIS and Central Europe. He was also the Chairman of the Audit Committee for the region.
Mr. de Pontbriand has over 40 years of experience in the banking and financial sector:
- in operational and executive positions at a leading US bank operations in Germany and France;
- senior advisor and partner at PwC: permanent advisor of several governments and central banks in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Africa with the support of World Bank, EU or EBRD. Advised many CEOs, management boards on strategic and organizational issues at leading North American, Eastern and Western institutions such as Mass Mutual, Deutsche Bank, Barclays, AIB, Credit Lyonnais, Caïxa, as well as banking arms of PSA group, Renault, Volkswagen;
- independent board member of various financial institutions in Europe (e.g. Banque AIG, JP Morgan Fleming Trust), professional and social organizations. Co-founder and VP of the association of foreign banks in Germany.
- He has authored more than fifty articles published in many languages. He is a co-author of two books.
He has been lecturing at various universities and holding numerous conferences.
His education includes: MBA at Wharton School, Pennsylvania, US. Diploma of Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris, as well as master degrees in Law, Economics and Organizational science from different Paris universities.
Mr. Barlagiannis has over 30 years of experience holding various executive positions in the glass manufacturing and food and beverage industries. Mr. Barlagiannis graduated from the Faculty of Chemical Technology, Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest in 1985. Proficient in Romanian, English, and Greek. Notable positions:
- Managing Director and member of the Executive Board, Southeast Europe division of BA Glass Group, a leading glassmaking company with 12 plants in Europe (2017-present);
- Group CEO and member of the board (2010-2017), Yioula Group, the leading producer of glass packaging in Southeast Europe;
- Country Manager at Stirom SA Romania (2003-2010), a member of Yioula Group;
- Group Commercial Director (1997-2010), Yioula Group of Companies;
- General Manager, Cronos (1994-1997), Yioula Group;
- General Manager, Boutaris & Sons Wineries S.A. Greece, a group engaged in brewing and winery (1990-1992);
Group Technical Director (1990-1992), Boutaris & Sons Wineries S.A. Greece.
