Cabinet dismisses head of Sense Bank supervisory board and initiates change of CEO
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has decided to suspend Mykola Hladyshenko from exercising his powers on the supervisory board of the state-owned Sense Bank. At the same time, the government initiated the suspension of the bank's CEO Oleksii Stupak. This was announced by Prime Minister Sergiy Koretskyi on the evening of August 19.
According to the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Finance, as the representative of the state shareholder, must ensure the implementation of the relevant personnel decisions. However, regarding the CEO, it is still about initiating the procedure, not a completed suspension.
According to the current charter of Sense Bank, the decision to suspend the chairman or another member of the management board is made by the supervisory board. If the CEO is suspended, the supervisory board must simultaneously designate a member of the management board to temporarily perform his duties.
Hladyshenko has not chaired the supervisory board since May
On May 6, Mykola Hladyshenko himself asked to temporarily suspend him from the duties of the supervisory board chairman for the period of clarifying circumstances around the bank. The supervisory board then accepted the request, and the duties of the chairman were transferred to an independent board member, Piotr Nowak.
Thus, the government's current decision is a separate step on the part of the state as the bank's owner. Previously, Hladyshenko formally remained a member of the supervisory board, although his functions as chairman were temporarily performed by Nowak.
Oleksii Stupak has headed the management board of Sense Bank since February 2024. His candidacy was approved by the National Bank of Ukraine after a competitive selection by the supervisory board.
The decision followed investigative actions
The government's personnel decisions came on the day of new investigative actions at Sense Bank. Earlier on August 19, the bank confirmed the work of law enforcement officers in its main office and stated that it was providing the investigators with the necessary information. The financial institution also emphasized that its services continue to operate as normal.
In June, the supervisory board also announced the completion of an internal audit initiated after publications and investigative materials related to the so-called "Mindich recordings." At that time, according to the bank's statement, the audit found no provision of preferences, non-standard service conditions, or violations of internal procedures to the mentioned individuals or companies associated with them. Thereafter, an independent external review was initiated.
Sense Bank has been state-owned since July 2023. The Ministry of Finance acquired 100% of its shares after the nationalization of a systemically important bank.
Based on materials from: Sergiy Koretskyi, Sense Bank, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
