After the successful completion in early 2022 of the pilot edition for Bulgaria of the ESG Academy of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" to over 35 employees of UniCredit Bulbank, including CEO Tsvetanka Mincheva, the bank and the Faculty jointly held a second ESG Academy and realized the first edition of the Academy in English. Three of the members of the Bank's Board of Directors joined them - Borislav Bangeev, Chief Risk Officer, Mario Kolari, Chief Operating Officer and Velko Dzhilizov, Chief Director of the Legal Department.

"We are happy that we had the opportunity to realize the second edition of the ESG Academy together with UniCredit Bulbank. The training of more and more experts in the field of sustainable development gives us the confidence that the corporate world is aware not only of the need for ESG transformation, but also strives to realize this transformation as efficiently as possible and with a long-term positive effect for society", said Assoc. Dr. Atanas Georgiev, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.

"In 2021, UniCredit Bulbank was the first bank to jointly launch the first ESG Academy with the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Sofia University. After its great success, we decided to implement a second one, and this time 50 of our employees got involved. We are extremely pleased with the employee's interest and desire to learn more about the topic. Today, we already have nearly 90 certified ESG specialists who support both colleagues and clients both in understanding and implementing sustainable development goals", commented Andrea Tognietti, Director of People and Culture at UniCredit Bulbank.

The Academy for Management of Social, Environmental and Organizational Aspects of Organizations' Activity (ESG Academy) is also the first national certification program for training specialists in sustainable management. Its holding at UniCredit Bulbank is a result of the bank's ESG strategy, which aims to support and develop employees' in-depth knowledge in the field of environmental, social and management factors.

The Academy is part of the bank's specially developed holistic "ESG Learning Journey" program, which also includes the partnership between UniCredit Bulbank and the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration regarding the first jointly implemented master's program "Responsible and Sustainable Management" of Sofia University. Among the future ESG masters are over 40 employees of the bank, whose training is again fully provided by UniCredit Bulbank.