Martin Kolev
Martin Kolev | |
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| Born | Martin Radoslavov Kolev March 14, 1978 |
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| Title | Strategic Advisor at BILLNET, VP at Embla Medical, Co-author of “Brain Based Treatment”, Author of "Right Place - Real Power" |
Martin R. Kolev (March 14, 1978) is a Bulgarian-Canadian strategic advisor, corporate executive, and author based in the Netherlands, known for his work in international business leadership, transformation, and high-level advisory environments. He currently serves as Vice President at Embla Medical, advises through Billnet BV, and is the author of the forthcoming book “Right Place — Real Power”, an examination of influence, power, and decision-making among high-performing individuals, exploring the psychology of success and the dynamics of influence within elite circles.[1]
Kolev’s career has encompassed strategy consulting, corporate leadership, and independent advisory work throughout Europe, North America, and Asia. He has held senior roles within globally respected organizations, where his work has spanned corporate strategy, transformation, operational leadership, procurement, and business performance across multiple industries. He is fluent in English, Serbo-Croatian, Russian, Bulgarian, and Dutch.[2]
Early Life and Education
Born to Bulgarian parents and raised across several European countries, Kolev developed the cross-cultural fluency that would later shape his professional approach. Following high school, he undertook national service before pursuing studies in finance and international business.
He holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from the Academy of Economics in Svishtov, Bulgaria, and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Global Management from the University of Phoenix , where he graduated in the top ten percent of his class.
Business Career
Kolev began his professional career in banking before moving into operational and management roles across transportation, logistics, and international business environments in Canada.[3]
In 2013, he joined McKinsey & Company, where he worked on international strategic assignments across multiple industries and geographies. In 2016, he joined Scandinavian Tobacco Group in an extended executive leadership capacity, contributing to organizational transformation initiatives and strategic growth activities.
In 2021, Kolev founded Billnet BV, an independent advisory firm through which he advises private investment networks, , high-net-worth individuals, and corporations on transformation, operations, procurement, and corporate strategy, while also pursuing strategic public-sector and innovation-focused opportunities across Europe, North America, and Asia.
He later joined Embla Medical as Vice President of Global Procurement, where he leads global procurement strategy, enterprise transformation initiatives, supplier ecosystem optimization, and operational performance programs across the company’s international footprint. Embla Medical, listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen, is a leading global manufacturer of prosthetics, orthotics, bracing and supports, and patient care products.
Authorship
Kolev is the author of the forthcoming narrative non-fiction work “Right Place — Real Power”, written for senior executives, founders, investors, family offices, and political decision-makers. Drawing on interviews and conversations with dozens of high-net-worth individuals, senior political figures, and influential leaders across multiple industries, the book examines what success, influence, and power ultimately do to a person — particularly when achievement fails to deliver the sense of arrival once expected.
He is also co-author of “Brain-Based Treatment: A New Approach or a Well-Forgotten Old One?” Neuropsychology and Psychotherapy, which explores addiction and mental health through a neurological lens.
Network and Advisory Work
Over the course of his international career, Kolev has developed a network spanning senior executives, investors, policymakers, and influential figures worldwide. Having operated within globally respected institutions and high-level advisory environments, his work through Billnet focuses on cross-border transformation, strategic advisory, operational performance, and complex public-sector opportunities.
Philanthropy
Kolev has directed book profits and personal contributions toward improving conditions in foster homes across Europe, reflecting a personal commitment to the welfare of vulnerable children. He has described this work as rooted in the belief that meaningful long-term change begins with investment in the next generation.
Personal
Kolev lives in the Netherlands with his family on the historic Landgoed Heerenbeek estate in Oirschot,[4] a secluded estate residence surrounded by protected woodland in North Brabant. Known for its privacy and heritage, the estate serves as both a family residence and a discreet setting for selected advisory discussions and long-term strategic relationships.
Known for maintaining a highly private personal life, Kolev prefers confidential conversations and enduring relationships away from public attention and conventional corporate visibility.
References
- ↑ "Martin Kolev (Billnet): War in Ukraine — lives and livelihoods destroyed and lost". Life Voyageurs. Life Voyageurs. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
- ↑ "Raiffeisen Bank International in examination with Russia". Money Faction. Money Faction. 2022-04-20. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
- ↑ "ProcureCon Europe". ProcureCon Europe. WBR (Worldwide Business Research). Retrieved 2026-05-27.
- ↑ "Heerenbeek". Wikipedia (in Nederlands). Retrieved 2026-05-27.