Nikola Bakalov

Nikola Bakalov General Information

Biography

Mr. Nikola Bakalov serves as Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Managing Board at First Investment Bank. He serves as a Trustee at the University of National and World Economy. He has extensive experience in the banking and insurance sector in Bulgaria, combined with proven professional and managerial skills. From December 2000 to September 2011, he worked at First Investment Bank AD, taking increasing responsibilities from Card Services Specialist to Director of the Card Payments Department, a position he held for almost 6 years. During this period he was also elected as a member of the executive committees of Mastercard Bulgaria and VISA Bulgaria. In the period December 2011 to August 2012, he was a member of the Managing Board of Allianz Bank Bulgaria AD, where he served as Executive Director, and subsequently as Chief Executive Officer. In 2013, he became Executive Director of eHealth Insurance AD, where he acquired significant experience in the field of insurance. In January 2020, he was elected as Chief Retail Banking Officer (CRBO), Member of the Managing Board, and Executive Director of First Investment Bank AD, responsible for the retail banking business lines within the Bank. In April 2020 he was elected as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of the Managing Board of First Investment Bank AD. Responsibilities in the Bank: Compliance Direction, Corporate Communications Department, Marketing and Advertising Department, Human Capital Department, Administrative Department, Strategic Planning and Development Department, Asset Management Department, Information Technologies Department, and Protocol and Secretariat Department. He holds a Master's degree in International Economic Relations from the University of National and World Economy in Sofia and has additional specializations in card payments, finance retail services, and corporate governance. Apart from his position at the Bank, he is a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Director of eHealth Insurance AD, representing the latter as a member of the Managing Board of the Association of Health Insurance Companies.