Avetik Chalabyan

Avetik Chalabyan (Armenian: Ավետիք Չալաբյան; born November 21, 1972 in Yerevan) is an Armenian management consultant, social entrepreneur, and public figure.[1]

Early life

Avetik Chalabyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia, in 1972. He is the first son of Mkrtich Chalabyan and Hasmik Petrosyan, both professors of physics. In 1989 he began his studies at Yerevan State University where he received a Diploma in Physics with highest distinction in 1994, and was enrolled in postgraduate studies until 1997. From 1997 to 1999 he served at the Ministry of Economic Development of Armenia, where he was in charge of leading service sector negotiations and internal market liberalization within the framework of Armenia’s WTO accession. In 1999, he moved to the USA, where he received his MBA with Honors from the University of North Carolina in 2001.[2]

McKinsey career

Avetik Chalabyan joined McKinsey & Company in 2001, and became a partner in 2008. Since joining McKinsey, he has led strategy development, organizational change, and operational performance improvement work for major Russian and CIS companies in the metallurgical, mining, petroleum and advanced equipment industries.[3] He has also advised several CIS governments on economic policy and administrative reforms, in parallel structuring innovative public-private partnerships to improve interactions between governments and a wide range of stakeholders. He has also been involved in designing and launching several large-scale sectoral reform programs in Ukraine and Kazakhstan during the period of 2009-2011, in close collaboration with the government leaders of those countries.[4][5]

Since 2011, his work was mostly focused on supporting leading metals & mining, petroleum and aerospace companies in Russia and CIS to achieve optimal performance, through large-scale transformational programs and strategy building. Since 2012, he has led the Metals & Mining practice of McKinsey in CIS, assumed the leadership of the broader heavy industries sector in 2014, and has become the leader of McKinsey’s global Metals practice in 2015.[6][7] He has also been a contributor of strategic perspective in these areas, frequently speaking and moderating key panels at multiple industry conferences.[8][9][10][11] In recognition of his professional achievements, Avetik Chalabyan was elected senior partner of McKinsey in 2013.

Social entrepreneurship

While primarily working in Russia and abroad, Avetik Chalabyan has devoted a significant portion of his time and resources to social entrepreneurship and public activism in Armenia. His vision of developing Armenia into a globally competitive, advanced nation has led to undertaking and supporting multiple initiatives in and around the country.[12][13][14]

Armenia 2020

Armenia 2020 was launched in 2002 by several prominent Diaspora Armenians to explore what can mobilize Armenia to become globally competitive. In 2003, Avetik Chalabyan initially led the research conducted by McKinsey & Company,[15] to identify those sectors which have the highest potential for productivity growth and achieving global competitiveness. This work developed the original fact base, which became the foundation for further research activities and multiple initiatives.[16] In ensuing years, Chalabyan was part of Armenia 2020 team, promoting the research findings, and interacting with the government and other stakeholders in Armenia to translate research findings into specific initiatives.[17]

5165 Club

Following the initial mobilization through Armenia 2020, Avetik Chalabyan was one of the co-founders of the “5165 Club” in 2006. The Club brought together Armenian professionals from various spheres, who had the collective goal of creating both a strong intellectual platform, and a network of influential individuals through which positive changes could be effected in Armenia. Since its inception, the Club has become a springboard for several initiatives, such as Repat Armenia and Arar Foundations, as well as supported multiple other social entrepreneurship projects in Armenia, such as Ayb Educational Foundation, Sarkis Khachents Publishing, and Sahman. Chalabyan was a speaker in several of the open discussions and lectures organized by the Club on topics such as national identity, cultural transformations, geo-political, and economic developments.

National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia

The National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia was established in 2008 in collaboration between the government of Armenia, and several leaders of the Armenia 2020 initiative, as a public-private partnership to mobilize strategic investments in areas, which can achieve accelerated growth and regional competitiveness. Avetik Chalabyan was a member of the Foundation Council from 2008 to 2011, and led the development of Armenia’s tourism strategy, which was adopted by the government of Armenia in 2009. Armenia has seen a steady rise in tourist flows, and has become a popular tourist destination in the region.[18][19][20]

Reforming educational system in Armenia

Avetik Chalabyan has also taken part in several initiatives aimed at reforming Armenia’s educational system and re-building its globally competitive position.[21] In 2009, at the request of AGBU Board, he led the development of a new strategy for the American University of Armenia (AUA). This work led to instituting of AUA’s first undergraduate programs, and helped to re-establish AUA as the leading institution of higher education in the country.[22]

He has also contributed to the modernization of Armenian high-school education through his involvement in Ayb Educational Foundation. Joining the initiative in 2007, he has been and remains a member of Ayb Club and has taken part in promotional and fundraising activities in Ayb’s founding years. In addition he has helped build the structure of Ayb Foundation by improving operational and financial guidelines, and institutionalizing strategy formulation process.[23] Taking Ayb concepts to Russia, he has also become one of the co-founders of Aybik (Russian: Айбик), an educational center in Moscow providing a six-year weekend educational program in Armenian language and culture for children.[24]

Repat Armenia Foundation

In early 2012 Avetik Chalabyan, along with several members of the 5165 Club, established Repat Armenia Foundation. As a member of the Board of Trustees,[25] he has been in charge of the Foundation’s strategy development and major fundraising efforts, annually participates in number of conferences and forums both in Armenia and with various audiences in the Diaspora, addressing the need for repatriation to become a firm item on the country’s national agenda, as well as outlining emerging opportunities for repatriates in Armenia.[26][27][28] Since its inception, the Foundation has become a focal point of repatriation to Armenia, supporting potential repatriates with quality advice, and helping recent repatriates to integrate successfully into the Armenian society. In various interviews and published articles Avetik Chalabyan has helped build the ideology of repatriation in modern times.[29][30][31]

Published articles:

Arar Foundation

In early 2014, Avetik Chalabyan, along with a core group of members of the 5165 Club, established Arar Civilizational Research Foundation. On the backdrop of heightened regional instability, the Foundation has focused its initial efforts on the mobilization of Armenian society to withstand intensifying external security threats, as well as supporting the Armenian government on number of issues specifically in the juncture between the army and society. Chalabyan was elected Arar’s Chairman of the Board, and in that capacity has worked with government leaders, civil society organizations, and the expert community to develop and implement innovative solutions in various areas of its core focus.[32] [33] [34]

Supporting Armenia's civil society

With his engagements and contributions in Armenia stemming from both his career at McKinsey and multiple individual initiatives, Avetik Chalabyan is considered a subject matter expert (SME) in many areas of Armenia’s development. In multiple publications and interviews he has addressed large audiences regarding Armenia’s development challenges and perspectives, as well as privately advised various influencers of public opinion in Armenia.[35] Leveraging current events, he has offered his perspective on issues such as political diversification, the need for a competitive multi-party democracy, the rule of law through fair elections, separation between government bodies and political parties,[36] pursuing multi-polar and assertive foreign policy, transforming the struggle for Genocide recognition into quest for building a strong nation state,[37] etc. He has also spoken out on Armenia’s possible avenues for economic development,[38][39] various sectoral reforms, and on repatriation.[40][41][42][43]

Personal and Family life

Avetik Chalabyan met his wife, Anahit Adamyan, during their student years. Later they continued their studies together in the United States, and married in Yerevan in 2001. They have three children, and have been known for jointly engaging in many of the philanthropic initiatives, notably Anahit has played important roles within Ayb Educational Foundation. In recent years, Chalabyan and his wife have also began to promote healthy lifestyle in Armenia by joining forces with several partners and starting the Yerevan Half Marathon initiative in 2015. Since then, the first international half-marathon has been successfully held in Yerevan in October 2015,[44] as well as number of other smaller races, with major organizational and financial backing from the couple. Chalabyan is also known for practicing various sports, such as boxing, aikido, swimming, at various points in his life, as well as mountain hiking and skiing as his life-time hobbies.[45]

References

  1. ↑ "Avetik Chalabyan - Armeniapedia.org". www.armeniapedia.org. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
  2. ↑ "Avetik Chalabyan | McKinsey & Company | ZoomInfo.com". ZoomInfo. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  3. ↑ "Avetik Chalabyan". www.mckinsey.com.
  4. ↑ "Аветик Чалабян". 2014.forinnovations.ru. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  5. ↑ "Reviving Ukraine's economic growth October 2009" (PDF).
  6. ↑ "Edge of Tomorrow". Kommersant.
  7. ↑ "Sberbank CIB holds Metals & Mining and Fertilizer Conference in Moscow". Sberbank.
  8. ↑ "MGIMO Houses "Business Spring" Forum". MGIMO University.
  9. ↑ "Сегодня в Киеве - дебаты в стиле "Оксфордского клуба"". www.unian.net. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  10. ↑ "Эксперт: Из-за "утечки мозгов" в Украине некому будет учить будущих специалистов". delo.ua. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  11. ↑ ""B20-G20 Partnership for Growth and Jobs" June 20, 2013" (PDF).
  12. ↑ "Repat Armenia - Armenia Now". www.repatarmenia.org.
  13. ↑ "Armenians in 2115 Strategic Directions for the Twenty-first Century" (PDF).
  14. ↑ "Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian - Armenians in 2115 Strategy Seminar". www.gulbenkian.pt. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  15. ↑ Armenia, Committee on Science and Technology in; Cooperation, Office for Central Europe and Eurasia Development, Security, and; Affairs, Policy and Global; Council, National Research (2004-11-23). Science and Technology in Armenia:: Toward a Knowledge-Based Economy. National Academies Press. ISBN 9780309165624.
  16. ↑ "The Armenian Center for National and International Studies" (PDF).
  17. ↑ "Armenia 2020 - Eldis". www.eldis.org.
  18. ↑ "National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia". The Global Federations of Competitiveness Councils.
  19. ↑ "World Travel & Tourism Council" (PDF).
  20. ↑ "Tourist visits to Armenia grow 11.3% to 1.2 million in 2014".
  21. ↑ "The Government of the Republic of Armenia - National Competitiveness Fund (NCF) Board of Trustees meeting".
  22. ↑ "American University of Armenia Strategic Plan 2011-2017" (PDF).
  23. ↑ "Ayb Quarterly Report_2015 Jan-March" (PDF). www.aybschool.am.
  24. ↑ "Новый образовательный центр в Москве - "Айбик"".
  25. ↑ "Repat Armenia - Board of Trustees". www.repatarmenia.org.
  26. ↑ "RepatArmenia - "Imagine Armenia" Forum and Job Fair Took Place in Beirut". repatarmenia.org. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
  27. ↑ "RepatArmenia - "Repat Armenia" Forum in Russia". repatarmenia.org. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
  28. ↑ "Հարցազրոյց` "Վերադարձ Հայաստան" Կազմակերպութեան Ներկայացուցիչ Րաֆֆի Գասարճեանին Եւ Աւետիք Շալապեանին Հետ". Aztag Daily - Ազդակ Օրաթերթ (Armenian Daily Newspaper based in Lebanon). Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  29. ↑ "Վերադարձ Հայաստան հիմնադրամը". Voice of America. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  30. ↑ "RepatArmenia - Introducing RAF at Armnews". repatarmenia.org. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
  31. ↑ "RepatArmenia - RepatArmenia’s Annual Interview at Banadzev". repatarmenia.org. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
  32. ↑ "Avetik Chalabyan: "Three keys are needed to open the door"". mediamax.am. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  33. ↑ "Ադրբեջանի ռազմական նպատակները ձախողվել են". CivilNet.
  34. ↑ "Avetik Chalabyan: “The unlimited power of the oligarchy is over”". Mediamax.
  35. ↑ "Իրավիճակի տարբերությունը 2008-ի համեմատ հսկայական է". Civilnet.
  36. ↑ "Երկրի զարգացումը սկսվում է քաղաքացու ազատությունից - CIVILNET". www.civilnet.am.
  37. ↑ "Հաջորդ 100 տարին՝ նոր էջից". Civilnet.
  38. ↑ "Ինտեգրվելով՝ չկորցնել ազատությունը". Civilnet.
  39. ↑ "Կեղծ դրույթ է, որ Մաքսային միությունից ավելի կշահենք…". Civilnet.
  40. ↑ "Տեղի է ունենում ոչ միայն արտագաղթ, այլև մնացողների աղքատացում". Civilnet.
  41. ↑ "Avetik Chalabyan: "It is important to reassess the national trajectory"". www.mediamax.am.
  42. ↑ "Խնդիրը պետք է տեղափոխել քաղաքական մակարդակ - CIVILNET". www.civilnet.am.
  43. ↑ "R-Evolution Interview with Avetik Chalabyan". Hayojax Armenian Entertainment Portal.
  44. ↑ "Interview: The Inaugural Yerevan Half Marathon in Armenia".
  45. ↑ "Ayb Club" (PDF). Ayb School.
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