Public Board

Professor Nikolay Mihaylov, Ph.D. (Ec.Sc.), Dipl. Eng. is a Chairman of the Supervisory Board of “Trace Group Hold” PLC and majority shareholder of the company. He is Head of “Road “(UACEG).
Nikolay Mihaylov was born on 3 November, 1955 in Madretz, Stara Zagora County. After he graduated from „Lubor Bayer“ Professional high school of civil engineering in Stara Zagora, he continued his education in the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy (UACG) with subject “Road Construction” – “Design and construction of Roads and Highways”. He received additional management qualifications from the University of Economics – Varna and from the Austrian Chamber of Commerce.
His professional career started from the General Roads Administration – Stara Zagora, where he held positions of specialist, head of design department and chief engineer. Between 1993 to 2002, he was Executive Director of “PSI” – Stara Zagora. In 1998 he took the lead of “Holding Company Roads” PLC as Chairman of its Supervisory Board. From 2003 to present he is Chairman of the Board of Directors of “Trace Group Hold” PLC.
Professor Nikolay Mihaylov, Ph.D. Eng. is a Chairman of the Bulgarian forum of transport infrastructure, member of the Bulgarian Branch Association Road Safety, member of the Bulgarian Construction Chamber and member of the Bulgarian Branch Chamber Roads. He is also Assistant Chairman of the „Investment Projects and Infrastructure“ Committee to the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria. Professor Nikolay Mihaylov, Ph.D. Eng. is a Chairman of the Managing Board of “Trace for people” foundation, member of the Managing Board of „Atanas Burov“ foundation, member of he Board of Trustees of “Krastyo Sarafov” National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts and member of the Board of Trustees of Trakia University – Stara Zagora.
Professor Nikolay Mihaylov, Ph.D. Eng. was award winner of “Burov Prize” for industrial management in 2012. He was awarded the Russian Order of „Prometheus“ for outstanding contribution to science and education. He was distinguished with the Prize of the Federation of Highway Engineers – „Engineer of the Year 2012“.
Nikolay Mihaylov is married and has three sons and a daughter.

Acad. Stefan Vodenicharov is the chairman of the Bulgarian Academy of Science. He is also the director of the Institute of Metal Science, Equipment and Technologies “Acad. Angel Balevski” at BAS Sofia.
Mr. Vodenitcharov graduated from the Technical University with a major in Mechanical Engineer.
In 1998 he received the title: “Doctor of Technical Sciences” and in 2012 he was elected as “Academician”.
Acad. Stefan Vodenitcharov is the head of the following: 207 projects and contracts under programs of the EU, NATO and the International Atomic Energy Agency; contracts with the Bulgarian governmental and business organisations (The Ministry of Defense, The Ministry of Interior, The Ministry of Education, The Agency for Atomic Regulation and Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant).
He is an active participant in National and International bodies such as: The Board of Education and Science of the President of Republic of Bulgaria; Commission of Nuclear Safety at the Nuclear Regulatory Agency; The Training centre of NPP „Kozloduy“; Evaluator III and IV EU Framework Programmes; Expert of the International Atomic Energy Agency; A representative of Bulgaria in the activities of NATO.
Acad. Vodenitcharov was awarded the honorary sign “Marin Drinov” for outstanding contribution to the Bulgarian Academy of Science. He has been listed in the “ Golden Book of Inventors “of the Patent Office. He has also been awarded the honorary title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the Technical University in Varna. Acad. Vodenitcharov has been also given the “Honorary Badge” by the Ministry of Economy for his contribution as an inventor and with a plaque by the Minister of Defense for his contribution. He is also the winner of the Grand Prize of the Bulgarian Industrial Association for inventing a series of high-tech products ensuring national security.
Acad. Stefan Vodenitcharov is a member of the American Society of Metallurgy; American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; American Society for Testing of Materials and Aerospace and Defense Industries Association of Europe.

Acad. Anton Donchev is a world known writer who writes mostly historical works.
His first independent novel „Story of the time of Samuel“ was published in 1961. The novel was awarded best novel of the year by the Union of Bulgarian Writers. The book has been republished 12 times and more than 500,000 copies have been sold.
His second book „Time of Parting“ written in just 45 days still remains the most famous Bulgarian novel in world literature. It has been translated into 30 languages with a circulation of 2 million copies. During the 70’s – shortly after the premiere of „Time of Parting“ in the United States, the book has been included as a part of the Slavic faculties curriculums at universities worldwide. The book was also nominated for best historical novel in America. In 1987 the novel was brought to the screen by the director Lyudmil Staykov.
The publishing house “Zahari Stoyanov“ publishes collected essays of Anton Donchev from which 12 volumes have been already released.
Acad. Anton Donchev has established two scholarships called „Time of Parting“ for students from the Rhodopes Mountains who are studying history and Bulgarian literature. The international foundation “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” is responsible for giving the scholarships out.
Since 2003, he is academician of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Acad. Donchev was awarded the prize for Balkan literature „Balkanika“, he is also honered with the order of merit – „Stara Planina“ and the order of merit „Sv. St. Cyril and Methodius „. Moreover, he won the“ Grand Prize for literature “ – the National Literature Prize“ Yordan Yovkov „and others.

Dessislava Lyubenova, PhD is Executive Director of „Trace for People“ Foundation. She is founder and executive director of the hospital for active treatment “Spinal Centre”, Sofia. She graduated from the University of National and World Economy with two majors in Economics and Human Resource Management Theory and in Methodology of Mass Information. She specialised in London at several international consulting firms such as KPMG, Ernst & Young and D. G. Jones & Partners. She has participated in a know-how exchange and technical expertise between Bulgarian and Greek consulting firms. She also specialised in capital markets and management in the US. She is a licensed appraiser of the Privatisation Agency.

Mrs. Lyubenova commenced her professional career in 1991 as a coordinator at „Mack 89“ LTD. In 1992 she became a consultant at „Mac Consult Ltd“, and later on was promoted to a manager and partner in the firm. From 1996 to 2006 she was the executive director of „Roads Holding Company“ JSC. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the following companies: “ Moststroi-Engineering “ SA – Sofia, „Pytnostroitelna tehnika“ AD – Sofia, „Burgas Road Construction“ JSC – Burgas. Mrs. Lyubenova is Chairman of the Management Board of ‘Trace Group Hold“ PLC since October 2018.

She is a member of the Managing Board of the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria, also a member of the Managing Board of the Bulgarian Industrial Association and the Supervisory Board of the National Institute for Conciliation and Arbitration, and a member of the Board of the Social Investment Fund.
Dessislava Lyubenova was awarded „Young Manager“ in 2001 by the foundation „Eureka“.