By KYIV. Nov 14 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The global digital operator VEON Ltd, the owner of the largest mobile operator in Ukraine PJSC Kyivstar, announced that VEON Group CEO Kaan Terzioglu has been appointed as Chair of the Kyivstar Board of Directors, and former U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will join the Board of Directors of Kyivstar as an independent non-executive director.
“Former U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will join the Board of Directors of VEON’s wholly-owned Ukrainian subsidiary Kyivstar as an independent non-executive director. Secretary Pompeo joins in his capacity as a Partner of Impact Investments, a newly established US-based strategic and financial advisory and investment firm which seeks to develop long-term partnerships with the world’s leading companies across a range of industries and geographies… VEON Group CEO Kaan Terzioglu has been appointed as Chair of the Kyivstar Board of Directors,” VEON said in a press release.
These changes to Kyivstar’s Board of Directors reflect VEON’s commitment to Ukraine and to the recovery and reconstruction of the country.
“VEON has made the clear choice to serve Ukraine through its wholly owned subsidiary Kyivstar, whose heroes have kept Ukraine and Ukrainians connected through the darkest days of war and who continue to serve Ukraine by maintaining 94% mobile network availability,” Terzioglu said.
He welcomed Secretary of State Pompeo to the board of “this outstanding company” that has “strong support from our various US stakeholders.”
“We look forward to the knowledge and experience that Secretary Pompeo will contribute to Kyivstar as an active and independent member of the Kyivstar Board,” Terzioglu said.
“I proudly join VEON and Kyivstar in their extraordinary service to the people of Ukraine by providing essential connectivity and digital services in health, education, business growth and entertainment. I also applaud Kyivstar’s parent company VEON for its leadership in investing in Ukraine with their own long-term commitment and their ‘Invest in Ukraine NOW!’ initiative,” Pompeo was quoted as saying.
It is through private enterprise and investment that Ukraine will ensure its economic future and success, he said, assuring that he is looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to “this laudable effort.”
VEON recalled that VEON has committed $600 million in investments in Ukraine over the next three years alongside the launch of its “Invest in Ukraine NOW!” initiative. With a commitment to providing services in Ukraine, VEON has exited Russia, announcing the completion of the sale of its Russian subsidiary on 9 October 2023.
Kyivstar President Oleksandr Komarov, whose words are also quoted in the press release, welcomed Pompeo to the position of an independent non-executive director of the Kyivstar Board of Directors, which, in his opinion, is a powerful signal of Kyivstar’s dedication to improving the investment climate in Ukraine.
This appointment underscores the key role of Kyivstar’s parent company VEON and its unwavering commitment to progress in the Ukrainian digital landscape, Komarov said.
According to the press release, Secretary Pompeo served as the 70th U.S. Secretary of State from 2018 to 2021 and the sixth Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2017 to 2018. Secretary Pompeo also represented the state of Kansas in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017 and was the CEO of Thayer Aerospace from 1996 to 2006. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Pompeo is a Partner of Impact Investments, a newly established US-based strategic and financial advisory and investment firm which is dedicated to advising, investing in and partnering with the world’s leading strategic companies across a range of industries and geographies. Impact will be supporting the management of Kyivstar and its parent company VEON in a number of key strategic initiatives regarding Ukraine.
