{
  "id": 5043710,
  "title": "UkrOboronProm defense conglomerate launches open search for new CEO",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/ukroboronprom-defense-conglomerate-launches-open-search-for-new-ceo",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-02T07:50:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Voice of Ukraine",
    "slug": "new-voice-of-ukraine",
    "url": "https://english.nv.ua/nation/ukroboronprom-competition-announced-for-position-of-ceo-following-smetanin-s-resignation-50637758.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 1, the supervisory board of UkrOboronProm, Ukraine's state-owned defense conglomerate, announced an open and transparent competition for the position of chief executive. The search for a new CEO will be conducted by the Ukrainian office of Amrop Partnership, an international executive search firm. Amrop Partnership was chosen following an open procurement process and specializes in executive search and leadership consulting.\n\nHerman Smetanin, the current CEO of UkrOboronProm, resigned on July 14. Smetanin had led the company for a second term, beginning in August 2025. Prior to that, he held the position from June 2023 to September 2024 and also served as Ukraine's minister of strategic industries. While Smetanin did not provide a specific reason for his resignation, it occurred following an ammunition depot explosion at a UkrOboronProm facility in Vyshneve, located in Kyiv Oblast. The explosion violated legal requirements and safety rules for ammunition storage.\n\nAs a result, the heads of two state-owned enterprises were dismissed due to violations of legal requirements and safety rules. Senior UkrOboronProm managers were suspected of negligence in connection with the ammunition detonation case, leading to the court ordering their pre-trial detention. Vyshneve was heavily impacted by a Russian attack overnight into July 6, with buildings destroyed, dozens of homes damaged, and infrastructure facilities affected. Eight people were killed, 29 injured, and approximately 600 people were temporarily evacuated due to the risk of secondary detonations.",
  "summary": "The supervisory board of UkrOboronProm (Ukrainian Defense Industry), Ukraine's state-owned defense conglomerate, announced an open, transparent competition for the company's chief executive position on Sept. 1.",
  "key_points": [
    "UkrOboronProm opens search for new CEO on September 1",
    "Current CEO Herman Smetanin resigned July 14 after ammunition depot explosion",
    "Explosion violated safety rules, led to pre-trial detention of managers"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}