Ecommerce and Retail Summit

Sucharita Kodali

VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester

Sucharita serves digital business strategy professionals. She is an expert on eCommerce, omnichannel retail, consumer behavior, and trends in the online shopping space. She is also an authority on technology developments that affect the online commerce industry and vendors that facilitate online marketing and merchandising.
In her research, Sucharita covers such consumer-oriented topics as eCommerce forecasting and trends, merchandising best practices, conversion optimization, and social computing in the retail world. She has also authored "The State Of Retailing Online," a joint study conducted annually with NRF.
Prior to Forrester, Sucharita was the director of marketing at Saks Fifth Avenue, where she managed the customer acquisition, retention, and market research efforts for the $2 billion luxury retailer's online channel. Prior to Saks, she held management positions at Toys R Us, where she was a merchant in the Babies R Us division and a store manager in one of the company's largest toy stores. She also worked for the Walt Disney Company, where she developed and managed marketing plans for new business initiatives, including the Disney Stores, the Disney Cruise Line, and Club Disney.
Additionally, she was involved in the expansion of Cap Cities/ABC properties, specifically ESPN Zone, ESPN Magazine, and the Go.com network. She has written two nonfiction books and has contributed to BusinessWeek Online.
Sucharita holds a B.A. in economics from Harvard University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Kiril Dinov

VP of Sales Eastern Europe at VTEX

Kiril Dinov has 10 years of experience in marketing and e-commerce, over the years holding positions as Sales Director in a company for Marketing Automation and Personalization for E-Commerce and developing strategic partnerships with Google and Facebook, as well as partnerships with online trading platforms in Europe . Since the beginning of July 2020, Kiril is part of the team of VTEX - a global platform for omnichannel trading with over 3200 enterprise customers, of which Carrefour, Whirlpool, Sony, Motorola, Walmart and is responsible for sales and business development in Central and Eastern Europe.

Georgi Malchev

Managing Partner, Xplora BG

Georgi Malchev has over 24 years of business, management and marketing experience - he has been a journalist, management consultant, chief operating officer, chief business development officer, board member.
Managing partner at Xplora (https://xplora.bg) - an integrated digital marketing agency. The agency has over 90 current clients in Bulgaria and Europe, including Schneider Electric for Bulgaria and for Israel, Nedelya The Cake Company for Bulgaria and for Romania, United Bulgarian Bank, DZI Insurance, Aladin Foods, Skoda, Tombou, Wienerberger, Neterra, Helecloud, dev.bg, TekExperts, Primexetc.
Managing partner at Xplora Academy (https://xplora.academy) - a platform for digital marketing courses.
He teaches digital marketing, communications and advertising at New Bulgarian University, International Business School and University for National and World Economy. Board member of IAB Bulgaria between 2016 and 202.
Georgi Malchev lives with #ExtremeOwnership and #LeadByExample - more at his personal blog https://malchev.net

Marchella Abrasheva

Regional Managing Director SEE, Kantar

Kantar is the leading global media and market information and research company within WPP, with offices in over 80 countries. Kantar focuses on innovative research aimed at providing faster, more accurate insights and actionable results for delivering growth in business, and social & poling surveys helping institutions and decision makers.  As part of Kantar global network, the Kantar Insights Division cluster for South East Europe covers Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kosovo, as well as Slovenia and Croatia.
Marchella has over 25 years of experience in market research and poling in SEE, across categories and services, data collection methods, industry sectors, and domains of analysis. She has had opportunities to develop robust cross- country and cross-sector expertise, putting research in the strategic perspective of overall business and social development. Marchella has worked with local and global multinational companies in Telecom, Finance, Consumer goods, Public services, including healthcare and education, and with international institutions, such as the European Commission. Recent interests are in consulting in Brand & Marketing Analytics, and Customer experience systems.
 

Milena Dragijska

CEO, Lidl Bulgaria

Milena Dragijska has been managing Lidl Bulgaria since 2007, when the chain started on the Bulgarian market. Her career in Lidl Germany began as a regional sales manager for the Stuttgart and Karlsruhe regions, then she continued her professional development at the headquarters of Lidl, where she was responsible for various international projects for Lidl International.
She is a member of the Management Board of the German-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Management Board of the Council of Women in Business in Bulgaria, the Management Board of America for Bulgaria Foundation as well as the Management Board of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum, as well as Member of the Board, Association for Modern Trade.
 

Ivanka Stojnić

Sustainability Manager for South East Europe Market at Nestle

Ivanka Stojnić has been a Sustainability Manager for South East Europe Market at Nestle since 2021. She has over eight years of experience in the company and before being appointed at her current position she has held the positions Trainee in Safety, Health and Environment, Safety Health and Environment Specialist, Safety Health and Environment Officer for Surcin Factory and Distribution Center, and Safety, Health and Environment Officer for South East Europe Market. She has one Bachelor and two Master’s degrees in the field of Environment and has received the Nebosh International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety.

Adrian Poon

Co-founder of Betra

Adrian is the Co-founder of Betra. Having earned his stripes (and 2 to 3 Hats) working along some of the finest chefs in Australia, Europe and Asia for many years, Adrian went a step further to become the Head Development Chef for Rockpool Consulting, David Jones, Sake Junior, Burger Project and Fratelli Fresh where he established his name and reputation in Australia. The advent of a new and exciting sector in the food industry brought Adrian to Germany as Culinary Director at Keatz - one of the first ghost kitchen concepts in Europe. He developed and launched Tamaka, Green Guru’s, Vegan Streets, Ono Ono Poke, Gringo Burrito and Moody Monkey across Germany, Netherlands and Spain before taking a plunge and co-founding Betra an unmanned micro retail technology startup which has  launched the first unmanned micro retail concept in Balkans in 2022.

Catalin Vladescu

VP of Sales for VTEX Romania

Catalin Vladescu is a VP of Sales for VTEX Romania. He has more than 15 years of experience in the IT&C sector, 10 of them in eCommerce alone.  As a Platform Manager for eMag, mr. Vladescu has been an integral part of transforming the online giant from an IT store to a regional multicategory marketplace. Furthermore, as a Regional eCommerce Specialist for The LEGO Group, Catalin proved his experience is not limited to the B2C retail area - he managed the entire regional strategy for the world’s largest toy manufacturer.

Nikolay Valkanov

CEO, Association for Modern Trade

Nikolay Valkanov is an executive director of the Association of Modern Trade since 2021. He is also a founder and manager of the non-governmental organization IntelliAgro. It aims to support the growth of sustainable and competitive agribusiness in the country. During the period 2012-2014, he managed the project "Economic Analysis of Agriculture" at the Institute of Market Economics.  Between 2011-2015, Mr. Vulkanov analyzed the retail sector in the country for the international company PMR Publications. 
The Association for Modern Trade unites 12 of the leading retailers in Bulgaria: Billa Bulgaria, Van Holding (Fantastico), Daichman, dm Bulgaria, Doverie - Brico (Mr. Bricolage), IKEA - Bulgaria, Kaufland Bulgaria, Lidl Bulgaria, Maxima Bulgaria (T MARKET), PEPCO Bulgaria, ProMarket and Hippoland.

Georgi Angelov

Senior Economist, Open Society Institute - Sofia

Georgi Angelov is a Senior economist at the Open Society Institute - Sofia. He is interested in macroeconomics, economic development and modernization of institutions. Author and co-author of analyzes and reports. He holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Finance and various specializations and trainings, including from the Wharton School (Coursera), the MVF and the World Bank. From 2004 to 2015 he was a member of the Management Board and Deputy Chairman of the Bulgarian Macroeconomic Association, advisory member of Working Group 31 on the National Reform Program.

Margarita Bakracheva

Professor of Psychology, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski

Professor Margarita Bakracheva is lecturer in general and age psychology, developmental psychology, psychology of personality, social psychology, organizational psychology, clinical and consulting psychology, mass behaviour and crisis communication, etc. Author of 6 and co-author of other 7 books and author of more than 100 scientific publications. Consulting program for coping with identity crises. Realized a number of trainings. Key interests: identity, happiness and life satisfaction, lifelong development, stress and coping strategies, marketing and communications. Expert and evaluator of national and international programs.
Вижте повече 

Georgi Ivanov

Global Marketing Director, Commetric

Georgi Ivanov has extensive experience in digital strategy development, strategic communications, brand and marketing management, media analytics, and integrated marketing communications.
Georgi Ivanov is leading Global Marketing at Commetric, a strategic media analytics and reputation measurement consultancy, which helps organisations such as Coca-Cola, Samsung, Verizon, Orange, McKinsey, Citi Bank, Amnesty International, etc., achieve their communications objectives by using the company’s advanced media measurement solutions.

Joanna Bychawska

eCommerce Strategy Director, Le Pont Publicis Groupe CEE

Joanna Bychawska has 12 years of experience in marketing. Both on client and agency side, as well as at a fin-tech startup.
She was helding posions of Managing Director and Head of Marketing at regional CEE / MENA level.
Always focused on the highest team efficency and satisfaction, as well as delivering the best quality of work within the highest standards.
Worked with the biggest clients: Google, Metlife, Nestle, Danone, MTV Networks, Brown Forman, Opel, ING Bank, LOT Polish Airlines.
Now leading an eCommerce Strategy team at Le Pont by Publicis Groupe CEE, delivering best in class eCommerce content strategy to clients globally. Working for Sanofi, Unilever, adidas, P&G, GSK, Nivea, Mondelez, Barilla, Alcon, Lidl.

Jose Saloio

CEO of BNP Paribas Personal Finance, Bulgaria

Jose Saloio is the CEO of BNP Paribas Personal Finance, SA, Bulgaria Branch. His entire career has been associated with Europe's leading consumer lending company BNP Paribas Personal Finance, part of the BNP Paribas Group, where he began working after graduating from the prestigious Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris with a degree in Information Systems.
For almost 20 years, Mr. Saloio has held various international positions such as: Manager of BNP Paribas Personal Finance in Bulgaria, Chief Operating Officer of BNP Paribas Personal Finance for Central and Eastern Europe, Regional Risk Management Director for Poland, Ukraine, China, Turkey, Serbia, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, Risk Management Manager in Romania.
As a manager, Jose Saloio is focused on developing innovative financial products and progressive solutions for a multi-channel approach to customers. It is also dedicated to the development of cooperation between BNP Paribas Personal Finance with fintech companies, startups, retailers and online retailers. His vision and ambition are for each client to get the best possible experience in working with the bank and to feel it as a trusted partner in various life situations.
The CEO of BNP Paribas Personal Finance, Bulgaria speaks French, Portuguese and English. He is a dedicated skier and in his free time he practices Bulgarian folk dances.

Ventcislav Kamenov

Founder and CEO, Supermag.bg

Georgi Stoeff

Co-Founder and Chairman, Trakia Tech

Georgi Stoeff is a co-founder and chairman of Trakia Tech - a think tank for digitalization of industry and co-organizer of the Annual Business Forum Industry 4.0. Mr. Stoeff is a trained economist at the University of Leuven, and is one of the best recognized macroeconomic analysts in the country. Based in Plovdiv, he is a strategic consultant for the one of the largest constellation of industrial and tech parks in CEE - Trakia Economic Zone. His team developed the economic profiles and investor presentations for the some of the main cities in Bulgaria.
 

Iskra Violinova

Strategic Expert, Xplora

Iskra is a Strategic Expert in the Content Marketing and Creative Team of Xplora. She has 5+ years of experience in creating content on social networks with a focus on creativity and managing integrated influencer campaigns and gaming on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. She has experience working with brands such as: Medix, Philips Avent, Acer, TAT, YoPRO, Kozarev, Cima and others.

Denislav Milanov

Strategic Expert, Xplora

Denislav is the other Strategic Expert in Xplora's Content Marketing and Creative team. He has 4+ years of experience in the management of social networks and specializes in creating B2B content on the Bulgarian and international market. He has experience working with brands such as: Aladin Foods, Zagorka, UBB Asset Management, Primex, MAPEI, HeleCloud, Ocean Investments and others.
Denislav says that he is attracted by storytelling and storytelling through content tailored to the specifics of Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and TikTok.
 

Denis Gorbunov

CEO, TBIBuy

Denis Gorbunov is the CEO of TBIBuy - an innovative all-in-one shopping app that aims to transform the way customers shop and build loyalty to a wide network of merchants.
Denis has more than 15 years of experience in the banking and financial sector, and he is the driver of TBIBuy team, which already consists of over 100 young and ambitious professionals.
 

Elena Gelemenova

Business Operation Manager, OLX Romania, Portugal and Bulgaria

Elena Gelemenova is performance-driven and experienced in Business Operations with a demonstrated history [15+] of working in the e-commerce industry. Her current role with OLX is all about building solutions for increasing sales teams efficiency and performance, developing an effective, scalable, and sustainable framework to deliver operational excellence.
This goes hand in hand with cross-functional support and creating opportunities for synergies across the business ecosystem on topics such as developing business models, organisational design and cross-functional initiatives to drive long term business sustainability.
She is a real problem solver, loves challenges and her passion is translating gaps into opportunities.

Katarzyna Zubrzycka

Head of Merchant Sales & Acquirers for CEE, Visa

At Visa, Katarzyna manages a team responsible for relations with acquirers and retailers, and acceptance growth in the region of Central Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia). She has over a dozen years of professional experience in sectors such as banking, cashless payments and loyalty programs, as well as in the FMCG industry. During her career, she has held a number of directorial positions with companies including Raiffeisen Polbank (formerly Polbank), POLCARD, and Premium Club. Most recently she was the President of the Management Board of Paymax S.A., a company offering solutions enabling card acceptance via a mobile payment app (phone / tablet) and mPOS Paymax card reader.

James Henderson

Enterprise Architect, Commerce, Accenture

James is a digital transformation executive with more than 20 years of experience working with technology, people and process. Garnered from world-leading digital agencies and consulting firms, IT vendors, talent acquisition organizations, early-stage businesses and startups. James has a focus on elevating global business performance for Fortune 500 and early-stage companies through diagnosis and the subsequent development of transformational customer experience, value-led technical architecture, related digital strategies and as a result delivery of digital products, digital services, operating models and growth marketing campaigns at global scale.
James has extensive experience with agile ways of working, customer experience architecture and value-driven journeys, performance marketing campaigns - analysis, development and management, leading b2b, b2c, DTC commerce architecture and components including; platforms, front-end technologies, integration solutions, web analytics, automation, marketing, blockchain / digital ledger technologies, customer data platform, marketplace, metaverse and custom software development for aspiring high performing technology organizations.
James is an active early-stage investor in disruptive fashion (Leukbook.com.au), digital health (Carevision) and blockchain projects. In his role at Accenture he owns and leads the development of assets related to digital commerce transformation.

Konstantin Chervyakov

CCO & Managing Partner of Ringostat

Konstantin is one of those who developed Ringostat from a startup with 20 clients to 1300+ active clients and a niche leader.
He built a strong sales department and one of the best Customer Support departments in its niche.
Konstantin manages a team of 40 cool employees :) He still sells and helps clients personally in order to be in the market and be as close as possible to the client.

Dinyo Madjarov

Manager, Pragmatics Ltd.

Savin Dyankov

Senior Manager, ESG Advisory Services, PwC Bulgaria

Savin Dyankov is a Senior Manager in the Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory Services team of PwC Bulgaria. He is part of the Southeastern Europe ESG team and is leading the accounting advisory practice in the same. Savin has 13 years of experience both in industry, having spent 8 years in the Financial Services industry and 5 years of professional services since joining PwC.

Ivaylo Georgiev

CEO, Gastronom.bg