Aivaras Abromavičius


Aivaras Abromavičius is a Lithuanian-born Ukrainian investment banker and politician. On 31 August 2019 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Abromavičius the Director General of Ukroboronprom. Previously he was Ukraine's Minister of Economy and Trade starting in December 2014. He did not retain his post in the Groysman Government that was installed in 14 April 2016.

Biography

Abromavičius was born in Lithuania, but lived in Estonia, Sweden, USA and Russia for many years. He was educated in Lithuania later obtaining a BA in international business from Concordia International University Estonia and Concordia University Wisconsin. He started his career in finance in 1996 at Hansabank. During 2002–2014, he co-owned and was at the core of building a Stockholm-based investment company East Capital, one of the largest and most reputable Investment companies from Western Europe investing in Eastern Europe.
After the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine, Aivaras, a Lithuanian national, was asked to serve as Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine.
In 2004 Abromavičius married a Ukrainian woman from Donetsk and in 2008 they settled in Kiev where their three children were born.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko granted citizenship to Abromavičius, Natalie Jaresko and Alexander Kvitashvili on 2 December 2014 to allow them to serve as ministers in the Second Yatsenyuk Government.
Over 1,5 years, he built and managed the strongest and reform-minded team in the entire government. Under his leadership a completely new Electronic Public Procurement System Prozorro was launched, which received multiple international awards and recognition and saved billions of UAH to Ukrainian tax payers.
He also kick started a major State Owned Enterprise reform that included totally new CEO selection process and helped form a new and first truly independent Board of Directors at Naftogaz.
He also helped start a Better Regulation Delivery Office with substantial EU funding to improve business climate in Ukraine.
Abromavičius speaks Ukrainian, Lithuanian, English and Russian.
On 3 February 2016, Abromavičius announced his resignation. He was finally relieved from his post when the Groysman Government was installed in 14 April 2016.
In 2019, he returned to the political arena of Ukraine, when he set up meetings for presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelensky. On June 12, 2019, President Zelensky appointed Abromavičius to serve as a Member of the Supervisory Board at Ukroboronprom. On 31 August 2019 Presidents Zelensky appointed Abromavičius as the Director General of Ukroboronprom.
Currently Aivaras holds positions of Chairman of the Board at Ukrainian Corporate Governance Academy, Founding Member at Global Blockchain Business Council, Chairman of the Board Riverside Development, Member of the Board in SUP.