Ihor Smilyansky's Russian Career Chapter
Ihor Smilyansky, the head of Ukrposhta (Ukraine's national postal service), has detailed his professional history in Russia. From 2008, he served as Director of Asset Integration at the privately-owned Promsvyazbank, which was controlled by the Ananyev brothers. Smilyansky stated that his education and professional background led to the job offer, presenting it as a new opportunity worth exploring.
"I thought if I was invited to Russia, I should try it, as I could always return home later." - Ihor Smilyansky
At the time, Promsvyazbank was the private business of oligarchs Dmitry and Alexey Ananyev, whose combined fortune was estimated at $15 billion. The bank was later nationalized by the Kremlin. Smilyansky explained that he was recruited by Dmitry Ananyev himself due to his specialization in bank acquisitions.
"Their goal was to build Russia's largest private bank." - Ihor Smilyansky
Bizarre Collateral and Personal Anecdotes
Recounting his work, Smilyansky shared examples of the unusual collateral he encountered. "I saw algae worth $20 million that simply vanished into the sea. There were piglets and oats put up as security. Over one winter, one collateral would eat another," he said. He also described situations where bank assets were held as collateral by other institutions, requiring negotiations for their upkeep: "Sometimes the piglets were our asset, but the boiler room that heated them belonged to another bank."
Smilyansky also mentioned his personal habits while working in Moscow, noting he rented an apartment in the city center because he enjoyed walking to work. He shared an anecdote about his watch: "I had this watch. I came to a meeting, and the person looked at it and said: 'Cool watch. How much did you pay per month?' I told him 20, and he replied: '20 is still okay.'" Smilyansky clarified the watch, bought in New York, actually cost $20 outright.
This revelation about a senior Ukrainian official's past work for powerful Russian businessmen comes amid ongoing tensions between the two nations. Despite this experience, the National Bank of Ukraine has questioned Smilyansky's professional competence following Ukrposhta's statements about appealing a levied fine. This has sparked public debate over his professional qualities and the effectiveness of his management decisions in Ukraine.
The insights from Ihor Smilyansky about his Russian career and personal experiences at Promsvyazbank add a new dimension to his professional profile. However, the doubts raised about his competence and management decisions in Ukraine underscore the critical importance of public trust in leaders of state institutions, especially during times of crisis. In public service roles, maintaining a reputation for transparency and sound decision-making is as crucial as possessing relevant experience.