Fri, Feb 10 2012
Apparel retailer C&A, which manages some 1000 outlets across Europe, is hiring management staff for the launch of operations in Bulgaria, Dnevnik daily reported on March 12, quoting company sources. However, the first local C&A stores are not expected to roll out before 2010, the paper claimed.
C&A is one of the largest clothes retailers in Europe, managing outlets in Latin America and China as well. Set up in The Netherlands in 1841, its biggest trademarks include Clockwise, Westbury and Your Sixth Sense. In Central and Eastern Europe the company has outlets in Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Turkey and Slovenia.
C&A is part of the Swiss Cofra Group, which deals with real estate, financial services and renewable energy sources, as well.
Several major apparel brands, apart from C&A, have already announced plans to enter the Bulgarian market. The first of their outlets are expected to open for business in 2009, when several new shopping malls are scheduled to be delivered.
Rival fast-fashion retailers like Zara and H&M are expected to take out leases in mall properties under development in Sofia and in some of the regional cities. Greek company Marinopoulos recently announced the signing of a franchise agreement for the Bulgarian market with US apparel maker Gap.
Debate at the half-day event will cover what has been achieved so far and what further can be done by the Bulgarian Government to support development of the market.
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Under the terms of the agreement, Globul will offer the club’s fans in Bulgaria access to exclusive Manchester United news, interviews, special features and other content over its mobile network.

Lyubov Kostova was appointed country manager of British Council Bulgaria effective January 1, replacing Tony Buckby, who left in October 2011 to take a similar position at British Council Greece. Kostova has been with British Council Bulgaria for 11 years, as public communications manager and, since 2008, as the head of project and partnerships department. Prior to joining the British Council, Kostova was head of international activities at the National Academy for Theatre and Cinema Arts (NATFIZ). She has a degree in Indian studies from Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.

Stefan Apostolov is the new chief executive of CEZ Razpredelenie Bulgaria, the power transmission subsidiary of Czech energy company CEZ in the country. He replaces interim chief executive Ales Damm, who remains the chairperson of the CEZ Razpredelenie management board. Apostolov has 30 years of experience in the energy sector, joining CEZ in 2007 as director of customer service and was later appointed as head of business development. Apostolov has a master's degree in electric systems from the Belorussian National Technical University in Minsc, management diplomas from Open University London and New Bulgarian University, as well as a master's degree in business administration from Plovdiv University.

Valentina Dikanska is the new general manager of chemical industry giant BASF subsidiary in Bulgaria, taking over from Herbert Fisch, BASF vice president for Southeastern Europe. Dikanska, who started her career as an expert in the Finance Ministry, joined BASF Bulgaria as director of finance and administration in 2002. She becomes the first Bulgarian to hold the top management position in the company in its 40-year history on the Bulgarian market. Dikanska holds a master's degree in economics from the University for National and World Economy in Sofia.

Alexander Albin has been appointed chief executive of fuel distributor Rompetrol Bulgaria, replacing Nichita Sorin, who left to become chief executive of Rompetrol Gaz in Romania. Albin was previously chief executive of Rompetrol Georgia. He has more than 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry; prior to joining Romania's oil group Rompetrol in 2008 as an adviser, he oversaw operations at Atyrau refinery in Kazakhstan, owned by Rompetrol's parent company KazMunaiGaz. He previously held top management positions at two other leading Kazakh oil and gas companies.