Bulgarian Energy Holding CEO Ivan Yonchev Leaves Office

Ivan Yonchev has officially pointed an urgent operation and following long recovery as a reason to step down. Photo by BGNES

Ivan Yonchev, CEO of the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH), has been discharged to undergo an operation, BEH has announced on his website.

Yonchev leaves the office on his own request, citing ill health and a medical intervention after which it will take long for him to recover, according to the message.

He was discharged by the Minister of Economy and Energy on July 9, 2014, but declared he is determined to continue his work on BEH projects after he is back on his feet.

He points the construction of a new nuclear capacity at the Kozloduy NPP (Unit 7) among BEH's top-priority projects.

Yonchev took the post in mid-December 2013, replacing Boyan Boev, who had resigned to take over the state energy watchdog DKEVR.

Jacquelin Cohen, who until now was in Kozloduy NPP's Governing Council, is to become BEH CEO following Yonchev's decision.

Website Capital.bg describes Cohen as close to co-ruling liberal Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS).

Capital, however, also alleges Yonchev is leaving not for his health problems, but for having refused to sign an agreement between Kozloduy NPP and US-based company Westinghouse on the construction of Unit 7.

Yonchev reporetdly said he needed official approval from Economy Minister Dragomir Stoynev to take the step.

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