site.btaTeam
Kiril Valchev
Director General
Kiril Valchev was born on 24 May 1973 in Sofia. Graduated from the Saint Constantine-Cyril the Philosopher National School for Ancient Languages and Cultures. Got his PhD in Law from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. Completed a professional radio management course at Deutsche Welle in Cologne, Germany, in 1995. Received a grant in 2000 from the European Leaders programme with the German Marshall Fund in the US. Interned at the Bulgarian editorial office with the BBC in London in 2003. Wrote for and anchored the Darik Radio news bulletins The Week (since 1994) and The Year (since 1996). An avid traveller, Kiril Valchev has visited all continents and all 193 UN member states.
A part-time assistant professor of civil law at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski’s Faculty of Law from 2000 until 2004. A managing partner at a law firm specializing in media and intellectual property since 2005. Consulted various media outlets, theatres, opera houses, philharmonic orchestras, museums, galleries, individual creators and artists. Served since 2005 as secretary of the management board and permanent legal counsel for setting up and operating the Union of Bulgarian National Electronic Media, an association of BTA, the Bulgarian National Television, Bulgarian National Radio, bTV, Nova TV, and Darik Radio. A member of an expert group with the Parliamentary Culture and Media Committee on revisions to the Radio and Television Act between 2019 and 2020. Won numerous prizes and awards for his work in the media field.
As a lawyer specializing in intellectual property and media, Kiril Valchev worked actively for BTA as a legal adviser. In 2003 and 2011, legal advisor in the drafting of a new Bulgarian News Agency Bill, which was adopted by the legislature in 2011. Worked at BTA’s English Service Department between 1993 and 1995. Participated in and moderated the World Meeting of Bulgarian Media forums organized by BTA and the Association of Bulgarian Media Worldwide.
On January 27, 2021, he was appointed BTA Director General by Bulgaria’s 44th National Assembly without a single vote against or abstention.
Evgenia Drumeva
Deputy Director General
After a competition, Evgenia Drumeva was appointed BTA Deputy Director General for Information Policy in September 2021. Prior to that, she used to head the Home News Department.
Editor-in-chief at Vesti.bg between 2008 and 2021, a part of the NetInfo digital media company.
Prior to Vesti.bg, she worked at BTA for more than 17 years, starting in 1987 as an intern reporter. In 1990 she was hired as a reporter at the English Service Department. Rose to deputy editor-in-chief there, then editor and head of the Bulgaria department.
Also worked for Radio Free Europe between 1991 and 1993.
Earned a Journalism degree from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. Took a Management class in Amsterdam in 1995 and another one in 2013 at the Business Institute Sofia.
Julia Sokolova
Secretary General
Julia Sokolova was appointed BTA Secretary General after a competition on September 17, 2020. Directly responsible for all matters related to finance, administration, marketing, HR, and IT.
Joined the BTA team in 2019 as a commercial director. Her position meant she was responsible for the overall information-products-and-services sales strategy. Directly organized several international forums of Bulgarian media.
Headed the Advertising and Publishing department of the Bulgarian National Radio where her duties included organizing, coordinating, and selling advertising time, finding broadcast sponsors and media partners.
Proved her organizational and leadership skills, as well as her ability to be a team-player even before joining BTA, while working as an advertising manager for several different companies.
Has a master’s degree in Advertising Management and Marketing from the University of National and World Economy.
Genka Ivanova
Head of Home News
Genka Ivanova started working for BTA in 2003 as a reporter with the Home News department. Was tasked with reporting on the Council of Ministers, on ministers and deputy prime ministers. In 2017 transferred to the editors’ team of Home News. Her journalistic career began as a reporter in 1993 at the Plovdiv-based Channel Comm radio station.
Earned her master’s degree from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski.
Petko Azmanov
Head of International News
Petko Azmanov has been working for BTA since 1989. Started as a reporter, got promoted to editor, head of World News and Deputy Editor-in-chief of International News.
Graduated from the Faculty of Journalism at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski (1981 – 1987).
Creator and anchor of the weekly NATO broadcast on the Military TV Channel (2004-2008).
Intern at Fondation Journalistes en Europe in Paris (1991 – 1992), reporter and author of articles for the Europ magazine.
Intern at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) press secretariat in Brussels (1998), Deputy Head of the NATO PA press secretariat during the Annual Sessions in Edinburgh (1998), Prague (1999), Sofia (2002) and Varna (2011), Head of the Annual Session in Bucharest (2011).
Intern at the Western European Union PA press secretariat in Paris, Deputy Head of the press secretariat (1999).
Speaks French and English, also fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and Russian.
Mina Dimitrova
Head of Balkan News
Mina Dimitrova has been working at BTA since 2002, when she was appointed as a reporter in the "Balkans" department of the International Information Directorate. In 2008, she became an editor in the department, and in 2022 she was appointed deputy director of the newly created "Balkans" directorate.
She graduated from the specialty "Turkology" at the Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" with a master's degree.
Participated in the compilation of the Academic Turkish-Bulgarian Dictionary under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Ivan Dobrev, ed. 2009 from "Riva" publishing house.
Mina Dimitrova was awarded an individual Certificate of the Union of Bulgarian Journalists (SBJ) in 2007 for a series of articles about Turkey and was part of the team of the "Balkans" department, which won the annual award of the SBJ for Agency Journalism for 2014-2015 d. for the professional and objective coverage of the crisis in Greece and the wave of refugees in Europe.
Tsvetomira Marinova
Head of Economic News Directorate
Tsvetomira was born on 30 September 1983 in Sofia. Graduated from the First English Language School, earned a bachelor’s degree in European Studies (Economic Management and Law) and master’s degree in Business Administration – Strategic Management from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. A member of the Union of Bulgarian Journalists (UBJ).
Tsvetomira has been working for BTA since 2007. A reporter until 2012, then editor (2012-2021) at Economic News with the International News department. As part of the team that reported on the global economic crisis, she won the UBJ annual award for 2009-2010 in the Information Agencies category.
Head of the newly-formed BTA Economic News department since October 2021.
Antoaneta Markova
Head of LIK: Culture, Science, Education Directorate
Antoaneta Markova has been working at BTA since 2020 as an editor at LIK: Culture, Science, Education Directorate. She has graduated from the Faculty of Journalism at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski.
Journalist with long experience as a reporter and editor in print media covering European and international events and processes as well as European policy in the field of research, science and innovation.
Nadezhda Filipova
Head of English Service Directorate
Has been with the BTA English Service since she was in her fourth year at the university, first working as a translator. Earned a master’s degree in English and American Studies and continued working for BTA: being a translator for long years, then editor, editor-in-chief and director.
In her present capacity as director, she is responsible for the work of the directorate, coordinating the work process and liaising with the other teams at BTA in the interest of the fast, precise and quality reporting of events in the English service of the news agency.
Dimitar Velyov
Head of Sports News
From late 2009 until October 2021 Dimitar Velyov was head of Sports News. Rose to his current position of Director of Sports. Responsible for organizing the department reporting on domestic and international sporting events.
Started working for BTA in February 1998 as a contributor to the Sports news service. Worked as a reporter, editor, deputy editor-in-chief, and editor-in-chief.
Has a master’s degree in Social Work from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski.
Bulgarian Media and Communities Abroad
The activities of Bulgarian communities around the world are the main focus of the work of the News desk "Bulgarian Media and Communities Abroad."
Every day, the section publishes news from Bulgarian schools, cultural institutes, churches, folklore dance and singing groups, associations, and organizations operating on six continents – Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, North, and South America.
The News desk "Bulgarian Media and Communities Abroad" works in close cooperation with fellow journalists from Bulgarian media abroad.
In this context, the team participates in organizing the World Meetings of Bulgarian Media.
The section also covers the activities of all Bulgarian diplomatic missions.
Desislava Sevova
Head of Archives and Reference
She graduated from the Language High School in Pravets, studying French and Italian. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Information Funds of Cultural and Historical Heritage from UNIBIT. She also holds a Master's degree in National Security and Defense from the Military Academy "G.S. Rakovski."
She started working at BTA in 2020 as a technical assistant in the "Reference" department and briefly worked as an editor in the same department. In March 2022, she was appointed head of the "Historical Archive" department within the "Archives and Reference" directorate, and in July 2023, she assumed the position of director of the directorate.
Ioana Petrova
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Ioana Petrova has been BTA’s Financial Officer since October 2021. Directly responsible for the overall financial activities of the Agency, also for the Marketing, Projects and Planning departments.
Became the BTA Deputy Chief Accountant in 2015, and later Chief Accountant.
Some 20 years of experience in the economy sector, working in various business areas.
Has a master’s degree in Accounting and Audit in Non-Financial Enterprises from D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics.
Georgi Nikov
Head of Administrative Activities and Property Directorate
Directly responsible for the administrative work and the property of BTA.
Joined BTA in 2019.
Has served as head of Administration and Property unit of the Bulgarian National Radio where he coordinated and controlled all administrative work.
Has experience as manager at international companies where his organizational skills, leadership qualities and capacity to work in a team were proven.
Has a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of National and World Economy.
Penka Kefalova
Head of Legal Services and Human Resources Directorate
In October 2021, Penka Kefalova joined BTA's team as a Senior public procurement expert and since October 2023, she is also Head of the Legal Services and Human Resources Directorate.
Studied at “St. St. Kiril and Metodii” humanitarian School of Kazanlak. Earned a master's degree in Business economy from the “Paisii Hilendarski University” of Plovdiv and a master's degree in Management of tourism business from the New Bulgarian University of Sofia.
She has many years of experience as a manager of a private company. She has experience in the public procurement, creation, management and report of EU-funded projects and experience in organization of events and trainings.
Krastyo Zarev
Head of Information Technology Directorate
Krastyo Zarev joined BTA in 2008 as a system administrator in the Information Technology Directorate. He is responsible for the technological support and normal functioning of the in-house computer systems. In 2022, Zarev was appointed Head of BTA's Information Technology Directorate.
Earned a master's degree from the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy in Sofia.
Liliya Ninova
Financial Controller
Holds a Master's degree in "Accounting, Control, and Corporate Analysis" from the University of Insurance and Finance in Sofia.
Long-standing banking employee with nearly 20 years of experience in the banking sector.
Joined the team of BTA in the "Finance" Directorate in 2017.