The Annual General Meeting of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum (BBLF) renewed the mandate of Peter Velev, CEO of Ecopharm, as member of the Board of Directors for the next three years. Gilbert McCaul, the organisation’s long-time financial controller, was also re-elected.
The meeting on 3 June 2026 at Grand Hotel Sofia was attended by owners and managers of more than 40 companies from the BBLF community. At the opening, President Anton Panayotov and Vice President Levon Hampartzoumian emphasised the key role of responsible companies in this country’s economic growth and prosperity.
“BBLF’s mission is to connect organisations that put into practice high standards of good governance, commitment to social causes, and sustainable development, and to encourage the exchange of ideas, experience, and opportunities for cooperation. Our overarching goal is to transform the business and social environment and make Bulgaria an even better place to invest, work, and live”.
BBLF is a well-established association of responsible companies dedicated to promoting business ethics and corporate social responsibility. The forum brings together over 180 leading companies from various sectors that share the values of transparency and sustainability.
George Ruitchev, BBLF Executive Director, presented a report on the organisation’s activities over the past year and outlined upcoming initiatives. The General Assembly also approved the financial reports for 2025.
As a result of the elections, Peter Velev, CEO of the Bulgarian pharmaceutical company Ecopharm, was elected to the Management Board for a new three-year term. The delegates also voted in support of Gilbert McCaul, BBLF’s long-standing controller. Gilbert has been a member of the BBLF since its inception 28 years ago and is a co-author of the Business Ethics Standard, adopted by the Forum in 2001.
Both of them will continue to work on initiatives that promote business ethics, the exchange of best practice among BBLF members, and dialogue with other sectors.
During the informal part of the event, the participants – managers of some of Bulgaria’s largest and most successful companies – discussed opportunities for future partnerships.
Please check out further details, photos from the event, and a selection of media reports: Еconomy.bg, Lider.bg, BGlobal.bg.
BBLF Management Board:
President – Anton Panayotov (Alaric Securities);
Vice President – Levon Hampartzoumian (LV Advisory);
Members – Bojidar Neytchev(PwC Bulgaria); Vesela Ilieva (Unique Estates); Vladimir Dichev (Electrohold Bulgaria); Iravan Hira (Tiger Technology); Kamelia Slaveykova (Shell Bulgaria); Maxim Behar (M3 Communications Group); Miroslav Petrov (Lead Vision); Pavel Kolev (AbbVie Bulgaria); Peter Velev (Ecopharm); Tanya Koseva-Boshova (Lion’s Head).
Controller – Gilbert McCaul.
