Government approves Supervisory Board appointments for Defense Ministry procurement agencies

On October 11, 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers approved appointments to the Supervisory Boards of the "Defense Procurement Agency" and " State Operator For Non-Lethal Acquisition," as Defense Minister Rustem Umerov proposed.

"This ensures independent control, minimizes corruption risks, and increases trust domestically and internationally," stated Minister Umerov.

The boards include both Ukrainian and international experts selected through open competitions.

The Government has approved the appointment of the following individuals as independent members of the Supervisory Board of the Defense Procurement Agency:

(i)              as independent members:

(A)            Patrick Auroy: Over 30 years in French defense and NATO, former NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defense Investment.

(B)            Kateryna Kuznetsova: 25+ years in global auditing and corporate finance, including director at PwC UK.

(C)           Łukasz Stolarski: 18 years at NSPA NATO managing multinational teams and complex logistics.

(ii)             as state representatives:

(A)            Yuriy Dzhygyr: Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine, economist with 20+ years of experience in public finance reform, social policy, and fiscal decentralization.

(B)            Taras Chmut: Director of the "Come Back Alive" Foundation.

The Government also approved the appointment of members of the Supervisory Board of the State Operator For Non-Lethal Acquisition:

(a)            as independent members:

(i)              Simon Woodward: Broad experience across sectors in the UK and international markets.

(ii)             Hanna Demchenko: Over 20 years in finance with global companies.

(iii)            Mykola Roienko: Expert in compliance, auditing, and financial management.

(b)            as state representatives:

(i)              Nadiia Bihun: Deputy Minister of Economy, overseeing public acquisition policy.

(ii)             Yulia Marushevska: Head of Office for Support of Changes, Ministry of Defence.

The formation of these Supervisory Boards completes an essential stage in reforming the Ministry of Defense's procurement agencies, which was initiated by the Ministry's team in January 2024.