Ex-lawmaker Mustafa Nayyem appointed UkrOboronProm’s deputy director general

Former lawmaker, journalist and EuroMaidan Revolution firestarter Mustafa Nayyem has been appointed the deputy director general for interaction with government authorities of UkrOboronProm, Ukraine’s state-run defense production giant.

The appointment was made as far back as Nov. 11 and became known late on Nov. 21.

Nayyem confirmed his new role on his Facebook page and added that, apart from working with the country’s state bodies, he would be responsible for liaising with defense-related non-governmental organizations and UkrOboronProm’s foreign partners.

The appointment was expected by some since August, when Nayyem also became an adviser to Aivaras Abromavicius, the current UkrOboronProm chief who is pushing for anti-corruption reforms and the full renewal of the defense concern’s top management.

In a conversation with the Kyiv Post, Nayyem stated he is far from a stranger to the country’s defense production industry. As a journalist, he exposed high-profile corruption at UkrOboronProm and in the industry in general for years.

Besides, since joining the Abromavicius team this summer, he has been surveying the concern’s business mechanisms.

“I am not going to manage enterprises because I am not an expert in manufacturing,” Nayyem told the Kyiv Post.

“But we have enough new people with huge experience in production, one of the concern’s brightest minds. Things I will be busy with (things that) include communicating with state regulators, with the Cabinet of Ministers, with the Ministry of Economy — all committees responsible for our activities, including arms exports and development programs.”

He also says his duty will be to build firm ties between UkrOboronProm and law enforcement agencies, both foreign and domestic clients, and defense experts.

One of the burning issues Nayyem aims to resolve is that UkrOboronProm bureaucracy has historically siphoned resources from its more than 130 enterprises rather than working as an effective managing core.

“In fact, the concern…was rather a machine sucking money out of the system without rendering assistance in return. Besides, the system itself is rather ineffective. We’re now preparing a big plan to reform the concern, to corporatize it and to transform it from being a quasi-Soviet machine…into a normal arms business that would be primarily driven by its income, increasing its efficiency, innovations and providing our army and foreign clients with weapons.” 

Another goal is to eliminate the everlasting dependence of UkrOboronProm’s management on the country’s ruling political elites, which has long been a fruitful mechanism for overwhelming corruption in the sector. In an effort to fix the problem, director general Abromavicius now selects top managers with no conflicts of interest and no direct ties with politicians, but with experience executing reforms, Nayyem added.

His dream is to enshrine changes so profound that old, corrupt practices would be impossible, Nayyem also said.

At the same time, he has no ambitions to become the UkrOboronProm’s director general, since he considers himself not fully qualified for the top position.

“I have experience in regulatory policy,” he said.

“I generally understand how state bodies work and have a notion in legal affairs. I would love to have experience in managing a large business, but one should understand that (UkrOboronProm) is not a toy. Eighty thousand people work here at 137 enterprises engaged in the heavy defense industry. So I wouldn’t be so bold, and if I ever got such an offer, I would not accept it, of course. Such a post must be occupied by a real professional with expertise in production and business — and with enough experience. But I will be part of the team to help.”