The number of female CEOs in public companies is growing by 10% annually in 2025, according to data from a survey by the Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE).
As of the end of last year, 23% of companies have a female CEO, and 64% have women in their management bodies. In 14% of the companies, the CEOs are only women, while the management bodies of 2.5% are entirely female.
70% of the BSE's market capitalization is due to companies with women in their management bodies. In 20% of the companies in the SOFIX index, the CEOs are women, and 66% of them have female representatives in the governing body.
The sectors with the largest presence of women in management positions are construction and transport, followed by finance and real estate.
Bulgaria ranks fourth in Eastern Europe in terms of the representation of women on the boards of public companies (25%). Ahead of us are Slovakia (33%), Ukraine (27%), and the Czech Republic (26%).
The survey was conducted on the occasion of International Women's Day and includes over 320 Bulgarian public companies. The BSE participates in the global initiative Ring The Bell for Gender Equality, supported by the United Nations Global Compact and UN Women. This year's official UN message is “Right. Equality. Empowerment. For all women and girls.”.
The Ring The Bell for Gender Equality ceremony was opened by Manyu Moravenov (BSE) and Denitsa Velichkova (FSC). Special guest lecturer was Krasimira Hadjiivanova, founder of the platform “Mayko mila” and the social enterprise “Ole Male”.