Galina Koleva has been appointed as the Senior Vice President of Insurance. Her mission is to elevate Sirma Insurance Vertical, drive digital transformation in the insurance industry, and establish Sirma as a leading insurtech provider on a global scale.
Bio: Galina Koleva joined Sirma Group recently as a Senior Vice President of the Insurance Vertical. With over 25 years of experience in the Insurance Industry leveraging innovative technology to create customer value, Galina brings a wealth of expertise. In her new role, she focuses on growing the business by becoming a leader in digital transformation in the Insurance industry, expanding partnerships and alliances and driving innovation and customer success.
Prior to Sirma Group, Galina held several leadership roles at Fadata Group, including in go-to-market strategy, delivery and operations, helping customers in their technology transformation journey and accommodating innovation to meet their business goals best.
Welcome, Galina, and congratulations on your new Senior Vice President of Insurance role at Sirma! Could you tell us more about your background and what led you to this position?
GK: Thank you! It’s an exciting time to be part of Sirma. My journey in the insurance industry spans over two decades, with roles at key positions predominantly in business development, operations, sales and marketing of core platforms and digital solutions for insurance companies at a global scale. I’ve always been passionate about leveraging technology to deliver customer value and ensure client success, which aligns perfectly with Sirma’s vision and strategic goals.
What excites you most about leading the insurance vertical at Sirma?
GK: The insurance industry is on the brink of a digital transformation and next-generation insurance, and Sirma’s goal is to be at the forefront of this change. What excites me the most is the opportunity to use technology to support our clients’ business strategies, helping them innovate and create solutions that redefine how insurance services are delivered. Our goal is to make insurance more accessible, efficient, and customer-centric.
Can you elaborate on your strategic priorities for the insurance vertical at Sirma?
GK: Our strategy revolves around three main pillars: innovation, customer experience, and a strong ecosystem.
- Innovation We are prioritizing the integration of cutting-edge technologies to streamline operations and foster product innovation. By emphasizing low-code/no-code platforms, we aim to accelerate the introduction of new insurance processes, enabling faster customization and greater flexibility to meet our clients’ evolving needs.
- Customer Experience Enhancing customer experience through personalized services and seamless digital interfaces is a top priority.
- Alliances We aim to forge strategic partnerships with other tech companies to expand our capabilities, drive improved business performance for our clients, and provide an end-to-end digital experience.
How do you plan to address the challenges in the insurance industry, such as legacy replacement, cloud transformation and digitalization?
GK: At Sirma, we recognize the strategic importance of addressing the insurance industry’s challenges, particularly in replacing legacy systems and advancing digitalization. Many insurers are grappling with outdated systems that are costly to maintain and slow to adapt to evolving market demands. As insurers shift to cloud-based solutions to enhance their strategies and operational efficiency, they are refocusing on the customer and transforming their businesses. These cloud-based systems enable insurers and brokers to streamline operations, improve customer experiences, and collaborate seamlessly in real time.
However, these transitions should not be viewed as the end goal. The true strategic objective is to enable seamless internal and external integration, accelerate time to market, and position continuous technological innovation as a key driver. Companies driven by innovation gain significant advantages in growth, agility, and efficiency while being better equipped to meet the growing demand for digital offerings and service excellence.
What sets Sirma apart from other technology and services vendors?
GK: What sets us apart is our thorough assessment of the client’s case. Our approach begins with a comprehensive evaluation of our clients’ existing infrastructure to identify areas where modernization can deliver the most significant impact.
To tackle legacy replacement, we are focused on developing and implementing modular, scalable solutions that allow insurers to gradually transition from old systems to new ones without disrupting their operations. This approach minimizes risk and ensures a smooth transition, enabling insurers to leverage modern technology without sacrificing stability.
On the digitalization front, we are committed to providing tools that streamline processes and drive exceptional customer experience. Integrating low-code/no-code platforms like Creatio within our InSuite solution enables insurers to develop and deploy new digital products and services rapidly. This flexibility is crucial in staying competitive in today’s fast-paced world.
Additionally, we are enhancing our offerings with advanced data analytics and automation capabilities. These tools will help insurers better understand their customers, enable personalized offerings, and make data-driven decisions. Our goal is to support the industry in its journey towards complete digital transformation, enabling insurers to operate more efficiently, reduce costs, and ultimately provide better service to their clients.
Could you share any upcoming projects or initiatives Sirma is working on in the insurance space?
GK: We have several exciting projects in the pipeline. A key focus is pushing further the innovation of our insurance broker solution, which will enhance efficiency and user experience. Additionally, we’re expanding our insurance product offerings within our InSuite solution, leveraging the flexibility of Creatio’s no-code platform. These initiatives are central to our strategy of delivering innovative, scalable solutions and superior services that meet the evolving needs of our clients in the insurance industry.
What is your vision for the future of Sirma’s insurance vertical?
GK: Our vision is to establish Sirma as a leader in insurance technology services in the CEE and SEE region and then expand further. We aim to set new standards in the industry by continuously pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with technology. Ultimately, we want to empower both insurers and their customers by providing tools and services that make insurance more straightforward and more effective.
Thank you for sharing your insights, Galina. We look forward to your leadership and Sirma’s continued growth and success.
GK: Thank you! I’m excited about the journey ahead and the positive impact we can create in the insurance industry.
©Photo credits Ivan Yordanov
