Following the meeting of the AGBU Central Board of Directors on October 13, 2024, the newly elected executive officers of the AGBU are Sam Simonian, President; Arda Haratunian and Yervant Zorian, Vice Presidents; Ani Manoukian, Secretary; and Nazareth Festekjian, Treasurer.
The General Assembly held on October 12, 2024 approved the appointment of Berge Setrakian Honorary President who will now be joining the Council of Trustees along with former vice president Joseph Oughourlian and newly appointed member Elie Akilian. Akilian is the Founder of Kingsisle Entertainment and Co-Founder of Inet Technologies, Inc., where he served as its President and Chief Executive Officer from April 1999 to September 2004. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. S am Simonian will serve as Ex Officio member of the Council.
The following Board members have been reelected to serve for a term of four years: Eric Esrailian (US), Nazareth Festekjian (US), Vahe Gabrache (Switzerland), Nadia Gortzounian (France), Arda Haratunian (US), Yeghiche Manoukian (US), Levon Nazarian (US), Yervant Zorian (US), and Vasken Yacoubian (Armenia).
The AGBU Central Board is comprised of the following members, with one-third being non-US residents as per the bylaws: From the US: Haig Ariyan, Yervant Demirjian, Eric Esrailian, Nazareth Festekjian, Arda Haratunian, Sarkis Jebejian, Ari Libarikian, Ani Manoukian, Yeghiche Manoukian, Lori Muncherian, Levon Nazarian, Sam Simonian and Yervant Zorian. From Armenia: Vasken Yacoubian. From Canada: Lena Sarkissian. From Europe: Nadia Gortzounian (France), Vahe Gabrache and Vartkess Knadjian (Switzerland), Arnaud Attamian and Camilio Azzouz (UK).
The AGBU Council of Trustees is comprised of: Chairman Vatche Manoukian and members Elie Akilian, Eric Esrailian, Joseph Oughourlian, Armen Sarkissian, Berge Setrakian, and Sinan Sinanian.
For more information and board member profiles go to https://agbu.org/leadership.
Photo 2: Newly elected member to the AGBU Council of Trustees, Elie Akilian
The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is the world’s largest non-profit organization devoted to upholding the Armenian heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs. Each year, AGBU is committed to making a difference in the lives of 500,000 people across Armenia, Artsakh and the Armenian diaspora. Since 1906, AGBU has remained true to one overarching goal: to create a foundation for the prosperity of all Armenians. To learn more visit www.agbu.org.
