Professional experience
Lachezar Tsotsorkov started his working activity in the Repairs Mechanical Shop of the Medet Mining and Processing Complex in 1971, as a scholarship student of the company.
During the period 1979-1985 he managed the construction of a new site of Oborishte factory – town of Panagyurishte /nowadays Yana factory/. In 1986 he took the position of General Director of Technological mining and processing complex Assarel-Medet. His personal initiative, professionalism, organizational skills and dedication in work were crucial for the successful building and commissioning of the new capacities of the Assarel Mine and Concentrator – one of the most outstanding industrial sites in the country in the determining year 1989. In 1991 he took the position of Executive Director of Assarel-Medet SJSCo.
In 1998, together with his colleagues from the company, he founded the investment company Assarel-Invest JSC in which later the majority share acquired the Austrian company Voest Alpine Intertrading /VAIT/, through the specially established company for participation in the privatization of Assarel-Medet SJSCo – VA Copper Invest. In 1999 following the extensive advertising campaign of the state in the whole world for the privatization of the company, it was investigated thoroughly by a number of leading world companies in the branch, such as: Phelps Dodge – USA, Noranda - Canada, Rio Tinto - Spain, Union Miniere – Belgium and others. Their conclusions were that Assarel-Medet was a risky project for the investors, due to insufficient volume of reserves, large debts to banks, less efficient equipment and technology, environmental problems and lack of environmental commitment of the state to the sector. In the competition with Union Miniere, the offer of the company with foreign participation - Assarel-Invest, was better for the state, and it was preferred. The company fulfilled before the term set all obligations on the contract for privatization, without using any provided by law privileges for the so called workers-managers companies.
In 1999, Lachezar Tsotsorkov Dipl. Eng. PhD. became Executive Director and a member of the Board of Directors of Assarel-Medet JSC.
Under his management the company has been successfully restructured and modernized, applying the best European and world practices. Today the company is among the leading Bulgarian industrial enterprises, leader in the Bulgarian ore mining, as it processes about 13 million tones of copper ore annually. Thanks to the far-sighted management and the support of the Austrian strategic partner, after the privatization more than 500 million BGN were invested in projects for modernization and development, as inclusive environmental projects were fulfilled for more than 50 million BGN.
In his capacity of Executive Director - Lachezar Tsotsorkov Dipl. Eng. PhD. initiated the implementation of an Integrated Management System in Assarel-Medet. In 1999 the company received the first in the Bulgarian mining branch certificate on the standard for quality management ISO 9001 and in 2002 it was awarded the first certificate in the country for environment protection, according to the ISO 14001 Standard. In 2003 the first in the Bulgarian heavy industry Integrated System for Management of quality, environment and occupational safety in compliance with the international standards ISO 9001, ISO 14 001 and OHSAS 18 001 was implemented in the mining and processing complex.
His manager’s vision for the future is the reason for the granted to Assarel-Medet Certificate in 2005 for First Class Investor - for the large-scale project for modernization of the production capacities at the amount exceeding 100 million USD.
In 2006 the company was honored with the Ikar prize for innovations by the Bulgarian Industrial Association, due to the implemented state-of-the-art equipment and technologies.
In 2007 the company was announced as Investor of the Year in the mining industry by the Bulgarian Investment Agency and was awarded as Investor in Environment by the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum.
Having been distinguished as one of the best Bulgarian employers in the national poll of Hewitt Associates in 2007, in 2008 the company was acknowledged as one of the best employers in their regional study for Central and Eastern Europe.
In the beginning of 2009 the company was awarded as Investor in Society by the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum, due to the sponsorship project “Support for the homeland”.
In 2009 Assarel-Medet JSC was awarded with the first branch award for a social responsible campaign of an enterprise from the mining industry, established by the Bulgarian Chamber of Mining and Geology. Assarel-Medet JSC was awarded in the same year with Prometeya award by the Confederation of the independent unions in Bulgaria – for health and safety labour conditions, and received the big award in the national competition of the newspaper „Pari” for a social-responsible company of the year.
Under the leadership of the Executive Director, based on the increased production efficiency options are developed for long-term development of the company, thus increasing the remaining reserves of ore, as well as the life of operation more than twice that of the project, which is crucial for the region and the country.
Social Activity
In 1991 Lachezar Tsotsotkov was among the founders of the Bulgarian Chamber of Mining and Geology and so far he has constantly been re-elected for its chairman.
Since 1992 he has been involved in the activities of the Managing Council of the Bulgarian Industrial Association and the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Club.
He is among the constitutors and the first chairman of the Alliance of Entrepreneurs - Panagyurishte. Since 2000 he has been a member of Rotary Club - Panagyurishte.
During the period 2005 - 2006 he was the first chairman of the newly established Srednogorie Med Industrial Cluster - town of Pirdop.
As an Executive Director of Assarel-Medet JSC and chairman of the Bulgarian Chamber of Mining and Geology, he is actively involved in the activities of Euromine, European Business Congress, UN Global Compact in Bulgaria, and a number of other business associations and non-governmental organizations.
In 2009 he published his autobiographical book “60 moments of my life”.
He was initiator for the establishment of Club Manager in 2010 and he was elected as its chairman.
Scientific Activity
Lachezar Tsotsorkov Dipl. Eng. PhD is a member of the International Organizing Committee of the World Mining Congress - Warsaw. He has participated in the Management Councils of the Scientific and Technical Union in Mining, Geology and Metallurgy and of the Bulgarian National Mining Committee since 1994.
He also published a book on company management and defended a doctoral thesis on topic “Foundations of Corporate Culture in Mining and Processing Complexes” in 2000.
He is an actual member of the International Academy of Mineral Resources - Moscow, of the International Academy of Environment and Labor Safety - St. Petersburg, foreign member of the Russian Mining Academy – Moscow, and of the Carl Duisberg International Foundation - Köln, Germany.
He has a lot of publications in Bulgarian and foreign scientific and technical issues, as well as registered patents and rationalizations.
Awards
Lachezar Tsotsorkov Dipl. Eng. PhD is a holder of a number of national and international awards.
In 2005 he received the title Honorary Citizen of Panagyurishte, due to his personal contribution to the development of the municipality.
By Decree No. 301 from July 19, 2006 of the President of Republic of Bulgaria, he was honored with the highest state award - medal Stara Planina – first grade for exclusive contributions to Republic of Bulgaria /see the motives for the award/.
In October 2009 Lachezar Tsotsorkov was announced for „Manager of the year” as a winner in the national competition, organized by the „Manager” magazine in partnership with Deloitte - Bulgaria. His recognition was awarded due to high results in the corporate management.
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Мotives for the award medal Stara Planina
The Executive Director of Assarel-Medet and Chairman of the Bulgarian Chamber of Mining and Geology - Lachezar Tsotsorkov Dipl. Eng. PhD. was awarded with a medal Stara Planina – first grade, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 301 dated 19.07.2006.
The main motives for awarding him with the highest state medal, result from his exceptional contribution to:
- New construction and modernization of Oborishte factory /nowadays Yana factory/ in Panagyurishte;
- Construction of the Mining and Processing Complex Assarel and utilization of the new capacities in short terms;
- Successful restructuring, modernization and implementation of European and world standards in the production, environment, safety and health in operations in the Mining and Processing Complex Assarel-Medet JSC - a company with structural-determinant significance for the Bulgarian economy;
- Development and implementation of the Bulgarian know-how in the area of the company culture and modern company management;
- Construction and development of new national and regional business and employers organizations, as the Bulgarian Industrial Association, Bulgarian Chamber of Mining and Geology, Association of Entrepreneurs, Industrial cluster Srednogorie Med;
- Sustainable development of the mining industry in terms of economic transition and lay the foundations for modern model of social dialogue with miners' unions, contributed to maintaining the social peace on the eve of the first democratic elections in the country after 1989;
- Raising the international prestige of Bulgaria, through active participation in the UN Global Compact - New York, Euromine - Brussels, the International Foundation Carl Duisberg - Cologne, International Organizing Committee of World Mining Congress - Warsaw, International Academy of Occupational Safety - St Petersburg, International Academy of Mineral Resources - Moscow, Russian Mining Academy, European Business Congress, Atlantic Club and others;
- Longtime manager of the company - the biggest sponsor in Panagyurishte municipality for the construction of major infrastructural projects, support to the health, education, culture, sport and tourism, helping to establish cooperation between Panagyurishte and leading European cities, support of national charities and community initiatives.