Patrick Fragman — an engineer with over 30 years of experience at Alstom and ABB, former president and CEO of Westinghouse Electric Company — joined the updated supervisory board of Energoatom in February 2025 as one of four independent international experts. Less than three months later, he left it.

Two versions of one departure

The company's official position is laconic: a new job offer in a full-time format does not allow combining it with the level of involvement currently required by Energoatom.

«The decision to terminate powers prematurely is related to Patrick Fragman's new professional obligations, in particular a full-time job offer»

— Energoatom press service

MP from the "Voice" party Yaroslav Zheleznyak adds another detail on Telegram: Fragman and his colleague Brice Bbuyon left, among other reasons, because they were not paid compensation for three months. Bbuyon — a lawyer with experience at EDF International and the French State Council — also submitted a resignation statement. Energoatom publicly confirmed only Fragman's departure.

Context: why restart the board at all

The new composition of the supervisory board was formed after a scandal: Prime Minister Svyrydenko announced an Energoatom restart amid a corruption investigation — the "Midas" case, which affected the company's management. Involving international experts was meant to signal transparency — both to partners and to the IMF, which monitors corporate governance in state-owned companies as one of the conditions for tranches.

The nomination committee approved four independent members on January 2, the Cabinet formally appointed them on February 25. That is, between Fragman's appointment and resignation — less than three months.

What's next

Energoatom announced that a search for a new board member has already been initiated based on the results of the previous competition. The procedure seems to exist — but the question of payments and real working conditions remains open.

If Zheleznyak's version is confirmed documentarily, the government will face a concrete problem: no serious international expert will agree to a position in a state company where basic financial obligations to the supervisory board are not fulfilled. The next candidate for Fragman's seat will likely check this point even before signing a contract — and this will be the first test of whether the Energoatom "restart" has actually changed anything substantively.