The Supervisory Board of Ukroboronprom has appointed Herman Smetanin as the interim head of the concern. The decision was made after the previous CEO, Oleg Hulyak, who had been leading the company since October 2024, moved to another position in the defense sector.
This is reported by Kyiv24
This decision was made based on a professional assessment of Herman Smetanin as a specialist with extensive experience in the defense industry, management competencies, and a strategic vision for the development of the sector.
Competition for the CEO Position
The Supervisory Board has announced an open competition for the position of CEO of Ukroboronprom. Herman Smetanin, along with other candidates with relevant competencies, will have the opportunity to participate in the selection process under the same conditions.
The selection and evaluation process for candidates has been entrusted to the Ukrainian office of the international company Odgers Berndtson, which specializes in executive search. The company will begin the search for candidates on July 28, 2025.
Professional Experience of the New Leader
Before his appointment to Ukroboronprom, Herman Smetanin served as the head of the Ministry of Strategic Industry. Following the reorganization of the government, this ministry was integrated into the structure of the Ministry of Defense. It is worth noting that President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously expressed hopes for Smetanin’s appointment to a leadership position in Ukroboronprom.