Andriy Yermak | |
|---|---|
Андрій Єрмак | |
.jpg) Andriy Yermak in 2023 | |
| Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine | |
| Assumed office 11 February 2020 | |
| President | Volodymyr Zelenskyy |
| Preceded by | Andriy Bohdan[1] |
| Member of theNational Security and Defense Council of Ukraine | |
| Assumed office 12 February 2020 | |
| Member of theHeadquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief | |
| Assumed office 24 February 2022 | |
| Preceded by | post established |
| Chief of staff of theCoordination Headquarters for Humanitarian and Social Affairs | |
| Assumed office 2 March 2022 | |
| Preceded by | post established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1971-11-21)21 November 1971 (age 54) |
| Political party | Independent |
| Relations | Denys Yermak, brother[2] |
| Education | Taras Shevchenko National University (Institute of International Relations)[3] |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Lawyer, film producer, civil servant |
| Known for | Time -100 Most Influential People (2024 nominee) |
| Cabinet | |
| Portfolio | The Line (2017 film),Rules of the Fight [Wikidata],Squat32, Forebodings [uk] |
Andriy Borysovych Yermak (Ukrainian:Андрій Борисович Єрмак; born 21 November 1971)[3] is aUkrainian politician and former film producer who has served as the Head of theOffice of the President of Ukraine since 11 February 2020, after being appointed byVolodymyr Zelenskyy.[1]
Yermak is also a member of theHeadquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the highest command and control body for theArmed Forces of Ukraine. He has been described asZelenskyy’s right-hand man and a "real power broker" in Ukraine.[4] In 2023,Politico called him Kyiv's "Green Cardinal."[5] In 2024,Time named Yermak to their annual list of 100 most influential people in the world.[6]
Andriy Yermak was born on 21 November 1971 inKyiv, Ukraine (then part of theSoviet Union).[3] Yermak's Russian mother Maria met his Kyiv native father Borys on a school trip of aLeningrad school to Kyiv.[7] Yermak's father is Jewish.[8] They met through mutual acquaintances.[7] The couple married in 1971, and she moved to Kyiv.[7] Yermak has a brother Denys, who is eight years younger.[7]
In 1995 Yermak graduated from Kyiv'sTaras Shevchenko National University's Institute of International Relations with a master's degree in international private law.[3][7] The same year he received his license for law practice.[3] In his second year of university, at the request of one of his professors, he started working for the "Proxen" law firm.[7]
In 1997, Yermak founded his own law firm and worked in the field of intellectual property and commercial law.[1] He also became a member of the Association of Lawyers of Ukraine during that time.[9] Between 2006 and 2014 he, in his profession as lawyer, aidedParty of Regions MPElbrus Tedeyev.[10][1] In 2009, he founded and headed the public organization "Association of Entrepreneurs of the City of Kyiv".[9] In the2010 Ukrainian presidential election, he was a proxy of candidateArseniy Yatsenyuk in Kyiv's 216th constituency.[7] In 2011 he became the head of the “Association of Small Business Owners”.[11]
He also founded the Garnet International Media Group in 2012[12] and is the producer of such films asRules of the Fight [Wikidata] andThe Line.[13] He is a member of the Ukrainian Film Academy, and a member of theEuropean Film Academy (2017).
Yermak became acquainted withVolodymyr Zelenskyy in 2011, when Zelenskyy was the general producer of the TV channelInter.[10] The two became friends.[10] He worked in Zelenskyy's election campaign team in the2019 Ukrainian presidential election.[7] On 21 May 2019, newly elected President Zelenskyy appointed Yermak as Presidential Aide for Foreign Policy Issues.[1] In this role he negotiated major prison exchanges with Russia during thewar in Donbas.[14] He was the point of contact forKurt Volker andRudy Giuliani on behalf of Zelenskyy during the buildup of theTrump–Ukraine scandal.[15] Yermak promised that, in response to their request, Zelensky would publicly pledgeto investigate Burisma, a company that employedHunter Biden. However, Zelenskyy never made such a public statement.[15]
President Zelenskyy appointed Yermak as Head of theOffice of the President of Ukraine on 11 February 2020.[1] He became a member of theNational Security and Defense Council the following day.[16] As the Head of the President's Office, he provides administrative, legal, consultative, advisory, media, analytical and other assistance and support to thePresident. Yermak was appointed chairman of theCoordination Headquarters for Humanitarian and Social Affairs on 2 March 2022.[17]
In 2023,Politico called him Kyiv's "Green Cardinal."[5] In 2024,Time named Yermak to their annual list of 100 most influential people in the world.[6]
Yermak has lived inKyiv his whole life. He is single and has no children.[7]
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| Preceded by | Head of thePresidential Office 2020– | Succeeded by Incumbent |
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