No Ukrainian citizens among candidates for business ombudsman

MOSCOW. Dec 8 (Interfax) - Another foreigner will become Ukraine's business ombudsman as a result of the contest announced in summer, said Alexei Dolgikh, managing partner of Boyden Ukraine, which specializes in the recruitment of top managers and has been chosen by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to operate the contest.

"There are zero candidates for business ombudsman among Ukrainians. They have no trust," Ukrainian media said, citing Dolgikh's statement at the International Forum of Corporate Directors in Kiev.

Three strong candidates have been chosen, and all it takes is the government's decision to confirm the winner, he said.

Dolgikh said he was hoping that the decision would be made in December.

As reported, the Ukrainian government confirmed incumbent business ombudsman, former Canadian ambassador to Ukraine Roman Waschuk as business ombudsman on December 9, 2021. His office expires in December. Waschuk succeeded to former Warsaw mayor Marcin Swiecicki, who was appointed business ombudsman in 2019.

Boyden is an international major in the recruitment of top managers and leadership consulting. It operates a network of 75 offices in 45 countries and is headquartered in New York in the United States.

The Business Ombudsman Council (BOC) was established in accordance with the memorandum of understanding on the Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Initiative, signed in 2014 by the Government of Ukraine, five business associations, the EBRD, and the OECD. Since 2015, the BOC has operated as an independent, permanent government advisory body. The Council's team includes over 30 specialists.

The Council's mission is to promote a transparent business environment by reviewing company complaints about violations or corruption by officials. Led by the business ombudsman, the BOC serves as a neutral, non-judicial mechanism and facilitates constructive dialogue between businesses and government.

Funding for the BOC is provided by the multi-donor account, managed by the EBRD. Donors include Austria, Denmark, the EU, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Contest requirements included a minimum of ten years of management experience, preferably in roles that combine public accountability, institutional development, and reform, as well as a high level of public relations and communication skills and fluency in English, although a working knowledge of Ukrainian was considered an advantage.

The candidate must not have financial or investment interests in enterprises, institutions, or organizations conducting business in Ukraine.

Documents could be submitted for the contest until August 31, 2025.