Government approves composition of supervisory boards for defence agencies of the Ministry of Defence

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved the appointment of members of supervisory boards for two key defence agencies of the Ministry of Defence – the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) and the State Logistics Operator (SLO). This decision was made possible following a proposal by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov. This was reported by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

Minister Umerov noted that the establishment of supervisory boards is an important step towards the implementation of international standards in defence procurement. This not only ensures independent control over the processes, but also minimises the risks of corruption, which increases the level of trust in the system both in Ukraine and among international partners.

The formation of these supervisory boards marks the completion of the reform of the MoD procurement agencies, which was initiated in January 2024, and opens a new stage in the development of defence procurement aimed at increasing transparency and efficiency.

Composition of the Supervisory Boards

The supervisory boards of both agencies include both Ukrainian and international experts who were selected through open competitions. This makes it possible to integrate international experience into the reform process.

Supervisory Board of the Defence Procurement Agency:

• Patrick Auroy(independent member): has more than 30 years of experience in defence, worked in France and NATO, where he chaired the Conference of National Armaments Directors.
• Kateryna Kuznetsova (independent member): over 25 years of international experience in audit and finance, including at PwC in the UK.
• Lukasz Stoliarski (independent member): 18 years of experience in NATO, managing logistics and multinational teams.
• Yuriy Dzhyhyr (State representative): Deputy Minister of Defence, economist with experience in public finance reform.
• Taras Chmut (national): Director of the Come Back Alive Foundation, which supports Ukraine’s defence initiatives.

Member of the Supervisory Board of the State Logistics Operator:

• Simon Woodward (independent member): has extensive experience in international sectors such as pharmaceuticals, military goods and retail.
• Anna Demchenko (independent member): over 20 years of international experience in the financial sector.
• Mykola Roenko (independent member): expert in compliance and internal investigations.
• Nadiia Bihun (State representative): Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine responsible for public procurement.
• Yulia Marushevska (state representative): Head of the Defence Ministry’s Office of Change Support.

Selection process for members of supervisory boards

In March 2024, a selection of recruitment companies was announced through Prozorro for the selection of independent members of supervisory boards. The winners were Telent Advisors for JSCoH and World Execution Partners for DOT. After interviews with representatives of the Ministry of Defence, the final candidates were approved.

The move is part of a broader reform of the defence procurement system announced by Minister Umerov on 1 October. The changes will affect important state-owned enterprises such as Spetstechexport, AOZ and DOT, with the aim of improving their performance and efficiency.