Andrew Somers will step aside after 12 years as president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia.
Somers has informed the business association's board that this will be his last year at its helm, AmCham said Friday.
“He will move to the private sector and will begin an association in this transition year with Teneo Holdings, a global strategic advisory group,” AmCham said in an e-mailed statement.
Somers, who has served as president since November 2000, will assist the board search committee in identifying a successor to lead the organization from 2014 onward, it said.
AmCham, established in Russia in 1994, is the largest foreign business association in the country with more than 800 members, including major U.S. corporations and large European and Russian companies, according to its website.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.