Irina Shtonova
Irina Shtonova | |
|---|---|
| Ирина Щонова | |
| Acting Minister of Economy and Industry | |
| Assumed office 19 February 2026 | |
| Prime Minister | Andrey Gyurov |
| Preceded by | Petar Dilov |
| Personal details | |
| Alma mater | Stanford University University of Sofia St. Olaf College |
Irina Rumenova Shtonova (Bulgarian: Ирина Руменова Щонова) is a Bulgarian economist and politician, acting Minister of Economy and Industry of Bulgaria since 2026. She previously served as Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry between 2022 and 2024.
Education
Shtonova got a degree in economics from St. Olaf College in the United States and a master's degree in business administration from Stanford University, before going on to obtain a PhD in economics from Sofia University.[1][2][3]
Career
She has spent her professional career as a manager in large companies such as McKinsey & Company in Bulgaria.[1] She has also worked in several American telecommunications companies as vice president of marketing and strategy at AT&T and as a director at DirecTV.[1][2] Between August 2022 and April 2024, she served as Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry.[1][3]
On 18 February 2026 Shtonova was announced as the new Minister of Economy and Industry of the caretaker cabinet of Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov and was sworn in on 19 February 2026.[2][4] She stated that one of her main objectives was to develop measures to curb price increases.[4]
References
- ^ a b c d "Irina Shtonova Minister". Ministry of Economy and Industry. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ a b c "Bulgaria: Who's Who in Andrey Gyurov's Caretaker Cabinet". Novinite. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ a b Karadzhov, Maxim (18 February 2026). "Коя е Ирина Щонова, предложена за министър на икономиката и индустрията" [Who is Irina Shtonova, nominated as Minister of Economy and Industry?]. Dnevnik (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ a b Malakchiev, Atanas (19 February 2026). "Caretaker Ministers Assume Posts". Bulgarian News Agency. Retrieved 21 February 2026.