Professional Association of Corporate Governance

What Professional Association of Corporate Governance does

Professional Association of Corporate Governance (PAKU, Професійна асоціація корпоративного управління) is a Kyiv-based non-profit public union founded in 2009 that operates as Ukraine's leading expert community and reform center for corporate governance. The association serves corporate directors, supervisory and board members, corporate secretaries, compliance officers, joint-stock companies, state-owned enterprises, and private/family companies through a hybrid membership-and-services model. Its core offerings span three pillars: (1) professional certification programs — the flagship Corporate Director program, the Corporate Secretary training program (Levels 1 and 2), and a Compliance Officer program — delivered via the affiliated Ukrainian Institute of Corporate Governance LLC (UCGI, EDRPOU 38957274) at Pugachevskoho Street, Kyiv; (2) consulting services performed jointly with IFC using IFC's investment operations methodology, including corporate governance assessment, charter alignment to Ukraine's Joint-Stock Companies Law, governance code development, organizational-legal audits, and Corporate Secretary service implementation, priced at $20K-$50K per 2-3 month engagement; and (3) community and research products — the annual GovernancePRO+ subscription at 25,000 UAH per year (resource center, 10 webinars, bulletins, expert consultation), the National Registry of Corporate Directors, the Registry of Certified Corporate Secretaries (1,683 entries from 2006-2025), the ESG Transparency Index, and anti-corruption research. Supporting offerings include the Board Test Drive pilot, the Solidarity Fund for military-affiliated directors, the annual Corporate Secretary of the Year competition, two international forums (Directors and Secretaries), anti-corruption compliance handbooks, and a British Chartered Governance Institute (ICSA/CGI) qualification pathway operated via UCGI as an official exam center since 2017 (online since 2020).

PAKU is registered as a primary public union (EDRPOU 36620310, non-VAT payer) in Ukraine, with 11-50 employees and over 195 individual and collective members representing 90 leading Ukrainian companies. Its revenue mechanics come from membership fees, the GovernancePRO+ subscription, paid training programs, consulting engagements, and material support from international partners including IFC (sole partner in Ukraine since 2013), EBRD, CIPE, the British Embassy, the US Embassy, and the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine under a 2024 cooperation memorandum. PAKU does not develop proprietary software or technology products; its distribution is primarily direct sales with an online subscription layer for GovernancePRO+ and domestic-only geographic scope, while its international reach is mediated through partnerships with ecoDa (since March 2023), IFC, EBRD, CIPE, and bilateral relationships across the USA, UK, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and Moldova. Operating under wartime conditions in Ukraine, the association has added wartime-specific programming such as the Solidarity Fund and has accumulated a 16-year track record of governance reform advocacy and certification.

Name

Professional Association of Corporate Governance

Legal name

Громадська спілка «Професійна асоціація корпоративного управління»

Website

https://cgpa.com.ua

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Professional Association of Corporate Governance (PAKU) is a Kyiv-based non-profit founded in 2009 that certifies and trains corporate directors, corporate secretaries, and compliance officers in Ukraine, runs consulting engagements using IFC methodology, maintains national registries of certified governance professionals, and advocates for corporate governance reform with government and international partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Governance Professional Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (813920), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Government & Public Sector (EDABALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA), Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

Keywords

• Corporate governance training
• Board advisory services
• Compliance consulting
• Governance assessment
• Professional certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyiv

HQ country

Ukraine

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: PAKU generates revenue through individual and collective membership fees. Both individual professionals and legal entities can become members, with membership providing access to educational events, professional development, and the expert network.
2. GovernancePRO+ Information Package: Annual subscription product providing 24/7 access to the resource center, 10 specialized webinars, bulletins, express comments on regulatory documents, Q&A function, individual consultations, and free participation in two one-day paid seminars. Priced at 25,000 UAH per calendar year.
3. Educational Programs: Revenue generated from professional development programs including the 'Corporate Director' program, 'Corporate Secretary' training program, compliance officer preparation program, and various seminars. Programs are offered in both open and corporate formats.
4. Consulting Services: Corporate governance consulting services including assessment of corporate governance systems, charter and regulation alignment, corporate governance code development, organizational-legal analysis, and corporate secretary service implementation. Pricing varies based on project scope, with typical projects ranging from $20,000 to $50,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PAKU is a non-profit professional association that delivers corporate governance training programs (Corporate Director, Corporate Secretary, Compliance Officer), project-based consulting services (governance assessment, charter alignment, governance code development, organizational-legal audits), and community products (GovernancePRO+ subscription, professional registries, annual forums, research publications). It operates as a membership-based association with individual and collective members representing 90 leading Ukrainian companies.

Product overview

Professional Association of Corporate Governance (ПАКУ) is a leading Ukrainian expert community and reform center in corporate governance. Its portfolio is organized around three interconnected pillars: (1) Professional education programs — the flagship 'Corporate Director' and 'Corporate Secretary' programs delivered by the Ukrainian Corporate Governance Institute (УІКУ), alongside a Compliance Officer program; (2) Consulting services covering corporate governance assessment (jointly with IFC), charter alignment, legal audits, governance code development, and corporate secretary implementation; and (3) Community and research products including the GovernancePRO+ subscription (24/7 resource center + webinars + consultations), the National Corporate Director Registry, the Certified Corporate Secretary Registry, the ESG Transparency Index, and anti-corruption research. Supporting offerings include the Board Test Drive pilot program, the Solidarity Fund scholarships, annual competitions, international forums, professional standards publications, and anti-corruption compliance handbooks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Український інститут корпоративного управління (Ukrainian Corporate Governance Institute): Educational, research, and consulting organization established under cooperation agreement with ПАКУ to implement key statutory objectives. Provides training programs, research, and consulting services in corporate governance and business strategy.

Products and services

• Corporate Director Program (Програма «Корпоративний директор») Professional development program for board members and supervisory board members, delivered in two modules covering corporate governance best practices, fiduciary duties, board composition, strategy, and oversight responsibilities.
• Corporate Secretary Training Program (Програма «Корпоративний секретар») Certified training program for corporate secretaries covering corporate procedures, legal frameworks, shareholder relations, supervisory board support, information disclosure, and securities regulations. Offered at Level 1 (preparation) and Level 2 (advanced qualification). Over 1,300 specialists have been trained since 2006.
• Compliance Officer Training Program (Програма підготовки уповноважених за реалізацію антикорупційної програми) Training program for compliance officers covering anti-corruption program development, implementation, and monitoring. Delivered in partnership with EBRD and CIPE.
• GovernancePRO+ Information Package (Пакет послуг GovernancePRO+) Annual subscription package providing 24/7 access to a resource center with corporate governance materials and event recordings, 10 specialized webinars with newsletters, expert commentary on new regulations, a Q&A function, one-on-one consultation with the PAKU Chairman, and free access to two one-day paid seminars. Annual subscription costs 25,000 UAH.
• Corporate Governance Assessment (Оцінка системи корпоративного управління) Consulting engagement conducted jointly by IFC and PAKU experts using IFC's investment operations methodology to evaluate corporate governance levels in client companies. Covers board composition, shareholder rights, control environment, and transparency. Typical project cost $20,000-$50,000; duration 2-3 months.
• Charter and Regulations Alignment to the Joint-Stock Companies Law Consulting engagement to bring a company's charter, regulations on general meetings, supervisory board, executive body, corporate secretary, and information policy into compliance with Ukraine's Joint-Stock Companies Law. Delivered in 7 stages over 2-3 months.
• Review of Charter, Regulations, and Corporate Event Protocols of JSCs Expert review of a company's existing charter, internal regulations, and corporate event protocols with written feedback, comments, and suggestions for alignment with current legislation. Includes 2-3 hour consultation, written report, and 4 hours of follow-up support. Duration 1-1.5 months.
• Corporate Governance Code Development (Розробка кодексу корпоративного управління компанії) Development of a bespoke corporate governance code tailored to a company's shareholder agreements, decision-making mechanisms, and ownership structure, with an implementation guide for Ukraine and/or foreign jurisdictions. Delivered in 2-3 months.
• Organizational-Legal Audit of JSC Governance Bodies Audit and evaluation of the functioning of JSC governance bodies (general meetings, supervisory board, executive management, audit commission, corporate secretary) using agreed-upon criteria and methodology. Includes self-assessment, independent consultant review, and a recommendations program for governance improvement.
• Corporate Secretary Service Implementation (Впровадження служби корпоративного секретаря) Full-service implementation of a corporate secretary function within a company, including regulatory document drafting, staff recruitment support, training on the certified Corporate Secretary program, and 12 months of consulting support during initial operations. Duration 2-3 months plus one-year support.
• Individual Consultative Session for Business Owners One-on-one advisory session provided by PAKU experts to business owners on corporate governance matters, including supervisory board formation, governance optimization, and shareholder structure advisory.
• Board Test Drive (Тест-драйв Ради) Pilot program implemented by the Ukrainian Corporate Governance Institute and PAKU with EBRD support. Enables businesses to practically evaluate the benefits of advisory and supervisory boards in real conditions, while candidates gain hands-on board experience. Completed selection for the first 5 companies in 2025.
• British Qualification — The Chartered Governance Institute (ICSA/CGI) Partnership with The Chartered Governance Institute (UK) providing access to British professional qualifications for corporate secretaries. UCGI served as an official exam center from 2017-2020; exams have been held online since Spring 2020.
• ESG Transparency Index of Ukrainian Companies Annual research assessment of Ukrainian companies' transparency in corporate governance and corporate social responsibility, covering the top 100 taxpayers. Conducted by PAKU in partnership with the CSR Development Center and CIPE. Editions published for 2019 and 2020.
• Ukraine Anti-Corruption Research (Відновлення України на засадах доброчесності) Comprehensive research conducted by PAKU and Accountability Lab with support from the New Democracy Fund, assessing how Ukrainian companies develop integrity and anti-corruption compliance practices during wartime. Includes full report, executive summary, donor roadmap, and podcast.
• International Forum of Corporate Directors (Міжнародний форум корпоративних директорів) Annual international forum bringing together corporate directors, board members, and governance experts. Editions from I (2016) through IX (2025). Discusses corporate governance trends, regulatory changes, and best practices.
• International Forum of Corporate Secretaries (Міжнародний форум корпоративних секретарів) Annual international forum for corporate secretaries, held since 2013. Covers corporate governance developments, regulatory updates, and professional standards. Editions I (2013) through VI (2019) documented.
• Ukrainian Corporate Governance Institute (UCGI / УІКУ) Separate LLC entity (EDRPOU 38957274) operating as the educational and research center of PAKU. Provides training programs, research, and consulting services in corporate governance and business strategy. Holds registered trademarks for the Corporate Secretary and Corporate Director training programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,300 corporate secretaries trained since 2006
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministry of Economy of UkrainecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024In 2024, PAKU signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, laying the foundation for cooperation in preparing candidates for positions of supervisory board members of state companies. In 2025, the Ministry initiated collaboration with PAKU for updating remuneration policies for executives and supervisory board members of state-owned enterprises.
• European Confederation of Directors Associations (ecoDa)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023In March 2023, PAKU became the first director institution to join ecoDa as a candidate member. This provides PAKU with professional representation and access to a network of European directors. ecoDa represents approximately 55,000 board members through 20 national institutes across the EU, founded in December 2004 under Belgian law.
• US Embassy in UkraineminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022With support from the US Embassy in Ukraine in 2022-2023, PAKU experts translated and published the Ukrainian edition of the 'Resource Guide to the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)'. The US Embassy also supported PAKU through the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) for an anti-corruption compliance conference in 2016.
• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021EBRD partners with PAKU on multiple initiatives including corporate governance training for SMEs, anti-corruption compliance programs for state enterprises, and the 'Test Drive the Board' project for small and medium businesses. In 2022, PAKU implemented the 'Corporate Director' training program for women leaders of Ukrainian SME+ businesses with EBRD funding from the government of Sweden. In 2023-2024, PAKU conducted 4 anti-corruption compliance programs for the Ministry of Infrastructure and its enterprises (100 participants).
• British Embassy in UkraineminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017PAKU was the executor of the 'Increasing Professional Level of Corporate Directors in Ukraine' project financed by the British Embassy (2017-2018).
• Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014PAKU has implemented multiple CIPE-funded projects including anti-corruption compliance training for 40 Ukrainian companies (2015), 'Boosting Investment Through Improved Anti-Corruption Compliance' (2014-2015), 'Strengthening Anti-Corruption Compliance in Ukraine' (2015-2016 and Phase II 2017-2018), professional development programs for corporate directors and compliance officers (2019-2020), and 'Creating Enabling Environments for Constructive Capital' Phase III (2021-2022). Joint publications include the Anti-Corruption Compliance Handbook and Transparency Index.
• International Finance Corporation (IFC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Since 2013, PAKU has been IFC's sole partner in Ukraine for promoting and establishing proper corporate governance. In 2020, PAKU became IFC's local partner for implementing the Program of Integrated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Standards in Europe and Central Asia. PAKU uses IFC's corporate governance assessment methodology for its consulting projects and has published joint materials.
• Accountability LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAKU jointly conducted the research 'Restoring Ukraine on the Basis of Integrity: The Role of Ethical Business' with Accountability Lab, with financial support from the 'New Democracy' Fund. The project provides an evidence-based assessment of how Ukrainian companies develop integrity and corporate compliance practices during wartime.
• Ukrainian Institute of Corporate Governance (UCGI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUkrainian Institute of Corporate Governance (LLC) is the educational and research center of PAKU, established based on a cooperation agreement. UCGI implements key statutory tasks of PAKU and delivers educational programs including the 'Corporate Director' and 'Corporate Secretary' training programs. UCGI is registered at the same address as PAKU in Kyiv.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• European Confederation of Directors Associations (ecoDa): ecoDa is the European federation of national directors' institutes representing ~55,000 board members across 20 EU countries. PAKU is a candidate member of ecoDa, making it a direct peer in the same institutional category of national directors' associations, with similar training, certification, and policy advocacy missions.
• European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI): ECGI is a leading international research and policy forum on corporate governance based in Brussels. It is comparable to PAKU as a governance-focused organization producing research, policy recommendations, and thought leadership, though ECGI's mandate is research/policy rather than professional certification.
• The Chartered Governance Institute (ICSA/CGI): CGI is the UK-based global qualifying body for governance professionals and chartered secretaries. PAKU is an official exam partner with CGI (UCGI served as exam center 2017–2020), making them direct peers in the corporate secretary qualification and registry space, with overlapping curriculum and credentialing standards.
• Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance (IBGC): IBGC is the leading Brazilian corporate governance association offering director certification (CGE), training programs, governance codes, and advocacy. Comparable to PAKU as a national governance association in an emerging market with similar certification, code-development, and policy advocacy missions.

Regional players

• African Corporate Governance Network (ACGN): ACGN is a regional network promoting corporate governance reform across African markets, with member institutes in multiple countries. Comparable to PAKU as a regional governance network partner pursuing similar emerging-market reform and capacity-building missions in a different geography.

Others

• Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE): CIPE is a core US-funded partner of PAKU, jointly implementing anti-corruption compliance training and Transparency Index research in Ukraine. It is an ecosystem peer — a donor and program partner whose anti-corruption and governance programming overlaps with PAKU's portfolio.
• International Finance Corporation (IFC) Corporate Governance Group: IFC's Corporate Governance Group is both PAKU's exclusive partner and a functional peer — it develops the global governance assessment methodology, ESG standards, and board training curricula that PAKU delivers locally. PAKU uses IFC methodology in its consulting engagements, creating strong operational alignment.
• Vasil Kisil and Partners: Vasil Kisil and Partners is a leading Ukrainian law firm whose partner heads PAKU's board and whose corporate practice addresses overlapping topics (board advisory, JSC compliance, corporate governance). Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant offering overlapping professional services in the same Ukrainian market.

Broad incumbents

• Institute of Directors (IoD) UK: IoD UK is the long-established UK directors' membership organization providing board training, policy advocacy, and director development. Comparable to PAKU as a national directors' institute with training, events, and policy engagement, though at far greater scale and a more mature market.
• National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD): NACD is the leading US membership association for corporate directors and board members, providing education, certification, and a director registry. It is comparable to PAKU as a country-level directors' association with training, certification, and advocacy offerings, though at much larger scale and operating in a mature US market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmt
• Facebookfacebook.com/cgpa.com.ua

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Professional Association of Corporate Governance