Prof. Steve Hanke

Professor of Applied Economics at Johns Hopkins University

Steve H. Hanke is a Professor of Applied Economics and Co-Director of the Institute for Applied Economics, Global Health, and the Study of Business Enterprise at The Johns Hopkins University; a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute; a Distinguished Professor at the Universitas Pelita Harapan in Jakarta, Indonesia; a Senior Advisor at the Renmin University of China’s International Monetary Research Institute in Beijing; a Special Counselor to the Center for Financial Stability in New York; a member of the National Bank of Kuwait’s International Advisory Board; a member of the Financial Advisory Council of the United Arab Emirates; and a contributing editor at Globe Asia magazine.

In the past, Prof. Hanke taught economics at the Colorado School of Mines and the University of California at Berkeley. He served as a Senior Economist on President Reagan’s Council of Economic Advisers in 1981-82; as a Senior Advisor to the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress in 1984-86; as a State Counselor to the Republic of Lithuania in 1994-1996 and to the Republic of Montenegro in 1999-2003; and as an Advisor to the Presidents of Bulgaria in 1997-2002, Venezuela in 1995-96 and Indonesia in 1998. He played an important role in establishing new currency regimes in Argentina, Estonia, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ecuador, Lithuania and Montenegro. He has also advised the governments of many other countries, including Albania, Kazakhstan and Yugoslavia. In 1998, he was named one of the twenty-five most influential people in the world by World Trade Magazine.

Vassil earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at the American University in Bulgaria and has served in various roles in companies from real estate, investment and high-tech industries.

Jean-Marc Peterschmitt

Managing Director, Central and South Eastern Europe

Jean-Marc is a seasoned banker with extensive sector and country experience who joined the Bank in London HQ in 1992. He was made an Associate Banker in the Municipal team in 1994, promoted to Principal Banker when he joined the then Balkans country team in 1996. As Senior Banker, he took up the role of Head of Office, Bulgaria, in 1998, later rising to Director.
Jean-Marc returned to HQ in 2001 as Director, Western Balkans, before joining the Financial Institutions business group in 2004, initially as Director for Bank Relationships and then as Director, EU and Ukraine, where he has worked since 2009. Prior to joining the EBRD he was at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in France.
A French national, Jean-Marc studied Agricultural Engineering in Paris and has an MBA from INSEAD.

Lubomir Mitov

Chief Econnomist Europe, Institute for International Finance

From 1982 to 1992 he served at various positions at the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations of Bulgaria. From 1992 to 1996 he worked as senior economist at the World Bank Resident Mission in Sofia. Mr. Mitov joined the IIF in 1996 as senior economist and from 2000 to 2012 served as deputy director of the Institute’s European Department. In 2012 Mr. Mitov was appointed as Chief Economist for Europe. He has authored numerous studies and papers on economic issues in countries in transition.

Recent Piblications:
Emerging Europe: Living With Geopolitical Tensions
October 2014 Capital Flows to Emerging Market Economies

 Biser Petkov

Governor, National Social Security Institute

Mr. Biser Petkov was born on September 6th, 1963 in the city of Montana.

In 1987 he graduated “Economics of Commerce”, obtaining Master’s degree in Economics.
He participated in numerous trainings and specializations, including "Business Economics" at Vienna University, Austria, "Public Finance" at the University of Leicester, England, and several short-term fellowships, organized by the Institute of the World Bank on issues of the pension reform.
He was awarded PhD in Economics.
Professional Experience:
In 1988 he started his professional career teaching at the University of National and World Economy, where in 2012 he was announced associate professor;
In the period 2002-2003 he was the Chairman of the State Insurance Supervision Agency at the Council of Ministers;
In March 2003 he was elected Deputy Chairman of the Financial Supervision Commission in charge of the Social Insurance Supervision Division until May 2009;
With a resolution of the National Assembly, from 8th September 2011, he was elected Governor of the National Social Security Institute.
Mr. Petkov has over 30 scientific publications including textbooks, monographies, etc.
Proficient in English. Speaks German and Russian.

Tony Thompson

Country Manager for Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, Europe and Central Asia

Antony (Tony) Thompson, a dual Irish and British national, is Country Manager for Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Mr. Thompson came to Bulgaria in August 2014 following four years working as Manager for Strategy and Operations at the Human Development Network, based in World Bank Group Headquarters in Washington, DC.
Tony Thompson joined the World Bank Group in 1992 as part of the Young Professional Program, working in the East Africa Human Development Department of the Middle East and North Africa Country Operations Department. Since joining, Mr. Thompson has worked in several different capacities, including Operations Officer, Lead Financial Sector Specialist, Operations Advisor, and Sector Manager. Throughout his career in the World Bank he has worked extensively in financial sector, private sector development, and tax administration.
Mr. Thompson’s other areas of expertise include human development, health, and financial sector reforms.
Prior to joining the World Bank Group, Mr. Thompson worked as a Hospital Administrator in the Manyoni District of Tanzania, where he managed a rural teaching hospital and oversaw an extensive community health care program aimed at vaccinating children under five.
Mr. Thompson holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) from the University of Ulster and a Masters of Business Administration (Honors) with a specialization in Finance from the University of Chicago. Mr. Thompson speaks both English and Kiswahili. He is married with three children. 

Theo Thomas

Lead Economist and Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Sector Leader, Europe and Central Asia

Alfredo Bello

Zolfo Cooper LLP, Managing Director, Bank Restructuring

Alfredo has over 25 years of experience in bank restructuring, banking crisis management, and analysis and modelling of banks and banking systems. He leads Zolfo Cooper's work in this field across Europe.

Alfredo has supported the IMF, the World Bank and local banking authorities on some of the most significant emerging markets banking crises of the last 20 years, spanning all regions. His experience includes ‘bottom-up’ financial, operational and strategic restructuring of individual banks, as well as ‘top-down’ support to policy makers and regulators with broader financial sector challenges. Alfredo brings a truly global perspective from over 50 countries.

A Spanish national, Alfredo gained a BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Imperial College London, an MSc in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics, and qualified as a chartered accountant.

Asen Yagodin

Chairman of the Board, Bulgarian Stock Exchange

Mr. Assen Vasilev Yagodin served as Member of The Management Board at Bulgarian Development Bank AD since April 2011 until October 2013 and served as its the Chairman of The Management Board and Chief Executive Director until September 2013. Mr. Yagodin served as Head of Treasury and a Member of the Management Board at Eurobank EFG Bulgaria AD, from December 2001 to May 2004. He joined Eurobank EFG Bulgaria AD, in February 1993. He has spent more than 10 years of his professional career in Eurobank EFG Bulgaria AD. From May 1999 to December 2001, he served as Head of Treasury Division of Eurobank EFG Bulgaria AD with responsibilities incl. liquidity management, assets & liabilities management, Stock Exchange brokerage, etc. From October 1995 to May 1999, he served as the Head of Money & Capital Markets Division of Eurobank EFG Bulgaria AD. From November 1994 to October 1995, Mr. Yagodin served as Senior Dealer, from July 1993 to November 1994, as Expert of Money & Capital Markets Division and February 1993 to July 1993, as Accountant at Sofia Branch of Eurobank EFG Bulgaria AD. He serves as the Chairman of Bulgarian Stock Exchange-Sofia AD. He has been an Executive Director of Eurobank EFG Bulgaria AD, since May 2004. Since 2001, he has been a Member of the board of the Bulgarian Dealers' Association. He graduated as a Master in Finance from the University of World and National Economics /Sofia/ in 1992. In 1994 he got certified as a capital markets broker from First Bulgarian Stock Exchange. Mr. Yagodin has gained further qualification through participation in international trainings in the field of asset management, trading with derivative financial products, etc.