Tanya Hristova has been the Mayor of Gabrovo since 2011 and is currently in her fourth term. Born on 19 July 1971 in Pleven, she holds a Master's degree in English Philology and a Master's degree in Finance, both from St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo. She began her career as an English teacher, later working as a freelance consultant in project management and external financing, before serving as Deputy Mayor for Sustainable Development of Gabrovo from 2008 to 2010. She then worked as Chief of the Political Office of the Minister of EU Funds and Secretary of the Council for Control and Management of EU Funds.
Since 2012, Hristova has been a prominent member of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), leading the Bulgarian delegation of local authorities. She serves as Chair of the Bulgarian delegation, First Vice-Chair of the SEDEC Commission, and is a member of the Covenant of Mayors Ambassadors. In her role at SEDEC, she leads EU regions' and cities' work on a wide range of topics including employment and social policies, education and training, culture, equality and youth policy, as well as research, innovation and artificial intelligence.
Under her leadership, Gabrovo has become a recognised model for sustainable urban development and energy efficiency in Bulgaria. The city holds the status of a UNESCO Creative City and has been certified as a Creative Friendly Destination, with a strong identity rooted in crafts, innovation, humor and satire, and a long tradition of industrial entrepreneurship dating back to the Bulgarian National Revival period.