New Secretary-General of Euro Coop

Todor Ivanov is the new Secretary-General of Euro Coop

The Board of Euro Coop is pleased to announce that Todor Ivanov (27) has been appointed Secretary General of Euro Coop – the Community of European Consumer Co-operatives. Mr Ivanov will join Euro Coop on 6 January 2014.

Prior to this, Mr Ivanov was the Director of Co-operative Policy at the Central Co-operative Union (CCU) of Bulgaria. He holds a BA in International Affairs from Vesalius College, Brussels, and an MA from the University of Sofia. He is also working on his PhD thesis at the University of Sofia.

A native Bulgarian speaker, he also speaks English, Spanish, Greek, Russian and French.

Duncan Bowdler, President of Euro Coop said: ‘In seeking a replacement for Rodrigo Gouveia, the Board was looking for a candidate with excellent leadership and communication skills and empathy with the Co-operative Values and Principles that form the bedrock of consumer co-operatives as businesses owned and controlled by their members.

In Todor Ivanov we have found those qualities we were searching for. I am delighted that we have appointed a new Secretary-General from CCU Bulgaria – one of Euro Coop’s newer members’.

Rodrigo Gouveia, currently Euro Coop Secretary-General, said: ‘I have worked with Todor since 2009 and I am confident that he has the drive and enthusiasm to take Euro Coop forward over the coming years.’

Mr Gouveia, who has led Euro Coop since 2006, will leave at the end of December 2013 to take up the role of Director of Policy at the International Co-operative Alliance, based in Washington DC.

Mr Ivanov will also become Secretary-General of Consumer Co-operatives Worldwide (CCW).

Todor Ivanov said ‘I am grateful to the Board for giving me the opportunity to lead Euro Coop. 2014 will see many changes in the European Institutions and I want to make sure that Euro Coop continues to represent effectively the interests of consumer co-operatives in Brussels.

I have already worked together with many Euro Coop members and I look forward to strengthening and deepening my relationship with all members’.

In order to strengthen Euro Coop’s management, Ms Rosita Zilli is appointed Deputy Secretary-General. Prior to this, Ms Zilli was a Senior Policy Adviser at Euro Coop.

Euro Coop ID number in the European Commission register of interest representatives: 3819438251-87