Oleksandr Scherba, who worked as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Austria from November 2014 to April 2021, starts working at NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy, Head of the company Yuriy Vitrenko has said.
“One of the best Ukrainian diplomats agreed to help the national company at the international stage. Naftogaz faces complex geopolitical challenges in Washington, Brussels and other capitals of the world. In order to put it simply, we need strengthening on our front,” he said on his Facebook page.
“I accepted Yuriy Vitrenko’s invitation to join the Naftogaz team. There was classical diplomacy, now it is energy diplomacy,” Scherba said.
According to the Naftogaz press release, Scherba joined the company as chief advisor to the head of the board for coordinating international activities. “In his new position, he will deal with issues of interaction between Naftogaz and foreign partners, as well as issues of protecting the interests of the company and Ukraine at the international level,” the company said.
The company’s press service said that Scherba has been in the diplomatic service since 1995. In 1996 to 2000, he worked as an attaché and third secretary at the Ukrainian embassy in Germany, in 2000-2003 he was first secretary, deputy director of the Secretariat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. In 2004 to 2008, he worked as an adviser at the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, in charge of relations with the U.S. Congress.
In 2008 and 2009, Scherba worked in the EU Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, in 2010 to 2013 he served as ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. In 2013 and 2014, he was an advisor to the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, a participant in negotiations with the IMF and the EU on preparations for the signing of the Association Agreement.
Naftogaz Ukrainy unites the largest oil and gas companies in the country. The group is a monopoly on the storage of natural gas in underground storage facilities and the transportation of oil by pipeline throughout the country.
