The two top prizes for Insurer of the Year 2025 went to DZI General Insurance and DZI Life Insurance, organizers announced at a ceremony at the Marinela hotel in Sofia on Wednesday evening. This is the 18th year the awards have been held, marking October 1, insurance workers' professional holiday.
In pension provision, Dоverie Pension Insurance Company won first place in mandatory supplementary pension insurance, while Allianz Bulgaria Pension Company took top honors in voluntary pension insurance.
Among brokers, SDI Group was named Insurance Broker of the Year in general insurance, and I&G Insurance Brokers won the title in life insurance.
The fastest-growing company awards went to Euroins Life Insurance in insurance, CCB-SILA Pension Insurance Company in pension provision, and General Broker Club among brokers. Amarant Bulgaria was recognized in the "sustainable development" category, and Winners Group for quality of service.
Ivo Gruev, a board member and executive director of Bulstrad VIG, received the national award "For overall contribution to the development of Bulgarian insurance," given by the Prof. Dr. Veleslav Gavriyski Foundation. The same foundation honored Rumyana Sotirova for her overall contribution to the development of Bulgarian pension insurance, while Lachezar Lekov received the national award for his contribution to developing insurance brokerage.
Uncertainty is rising, the climate is changing, and demographic shifts and new technology are creating new risks, said Nikolay Stanchev, chairman of the board of the Association of Bulgarian Insurers. He added that it's in times like these that insurance proves its worth most clearly.
Insurance in Bulgaria has a long history going back to the country's liberation, President Iliana Yotova said. She noted that the industry's role is growing more important amid shifting geopolitics, and thanked people in the sector for their professionalism.
The insurance and pension sectors play a major role in Bulgaria's economic stability, resilience and social protection, said deputy prime minister and finance minister Galab Donev. He explained that their reach spans everything from managing risk for individual households and businesses to safeguarding the stability of the whole economy.
Trust is a core part of insurance, and Bulgaria's sector has managed to build it, said Vasil Golemanski, chairman of the Financial Supervision Commission. He said the state, the regulator and the industry need to keep talking to each other.
Guests at the event included Bulgarian National Bank board member Ilia Lingorski, National Social Security Institute governor Vesela Karaivanova-Nacheva, and Venko Sabrutev, who chairs parliament's labor, demographic and social policy committee.
The awards are given out by the University of Insurance and Finance, the Association of Bulgarian Insurers, the Bulgarian Association of Supplementary Pension Insurance Companies, the Prof. Dr. Veleslav Gavriyski Foundation and the Bulgarian Association of Insurance Brokers. The event's media partner is BTA.