Lviv IT Cluster announced personnel changes in the organization's leadership. Mykhailo Lemak, who has headed the association since July 2026, has decided to leave the position of CEO due to deteriorating health. The Supervisory Board has already approved a new head.
Lviv IT Cluster announced personnel changes in the organization's leadership. Mykhailo Lemak, who has headed the association since July 2026, has decided to leave the position of CEO due to deteriorating health. The Supervisory Board has already approved a new head.
From November 16, the former head of the Ukrainian Startup Fund (USF) Pavlo Kartashov will take up the position, reports Lviv IT Cluster.
During the work of Mykhailo Lemak, the association's team implemented all the projects planned for 2026. In particular, the thirteenth IT Arena technology conference took place in September, during which a joint gathering with the "Return Alive" foundation was held for the first time. The Cluster also began the process of forming a new community development strategy and is conducting the 11th annual IT Research Ukraine 2026 study, the results of which will be published in December.
"This decision was not easy for me. The organization is currently going through an important stage of transformation, and to implement everything planned, we need a person who can fully focus only on work. Circumstances have developed such that at this stage I cannot provide the level of involvement and pace of work that this role requires. This is my decision, and it will be honest and responsible on my part to qualitatively transfer all the work to the new CEO," commented Mykhailo Lemak.
The Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Lviv IT Cluster, Sviatoslav Kavetsky, noted that the organization had time to properly prepare for the change of leader, since Lemak announced his intention to leave the position in advance.
"We are sorry that cooperation with Mykhailo is ending prematurely, as it was a good example of the effective work of the CEO with the Supervisory Board. At the same time, we respect and understand this decision. It is fundamentally important for us that during this period we managed to preserve the team, carry out the necessary operational work, and ensure the implementation of the plan," emphasized Svyatoslav Kavetsky.
The new CEO of the Lviv IT Cluster, Pavlo Kartashov, has over 20 years of experience in public administration, innovation development, and investment attraction.
Key stages of his career:
Ukrainian Startup Fund (2018–2024): headed the fund, where he developed a support system for technological entrepreneurship, participated in the creation of the BRAVE1 defense technology platform and the implementation of the Seeds of Bravery project at the initiative of the European Innovation Council.
Diplomatic and civil service: worked as an advisor on economic issues, technologies and innovations at the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States, and also held the position of Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Climate Office: most recently worked as a co-head of the organization, where he dealt with issues of industrial decarbonization, European integration, and attracting financing for green recovery.
The Supervisory Board considered Kartashov's candidacy during the preliminary selection for the position of CEO.
