Petya Vladimirova is the new head of Kaufland Bulgaria after Mihail Petrov left the post with immediate effect, the company said.
Petrov quit after he compared the company's situation to the collapse of Corporate Commercial Bank (KTB). Kaufland distanced itself from his words. It apologised to customers, the Bulgarian public and the institutions for his tone and the inappropriate historical comparisons.
Before the change, the Commission for Protection of Competition (KZK) fined Kaufland Bulgaria nearly €76m. The company rejects the charges of unfair trading practices and will challenge the commission's decision in court.
Vladimirova has worked for the Kaufland group since August 2007 and has been a member of the management board of Kaufland Bulgaria since 1 December 2021. Until now she also headed the "Central Departments" division, which deals with construction and expansion, investment and processes, procurement and property management for the chain.
She was earlier the company's authorised signatory and held senior posts in the sales and expansion departments. She led the project to modernise the chain's stores, and under her leadership Kaufland began expanding and modernising its stores across Bulgaria.
Vladimirova has a master's degree in economics and in social and cultural history from Leuphana University in Lüneburg, Germany. She speaks German and English.