Summary

Having had careers as a professor of Physics, a senior diplomat, the Prime Minister of Armenia, and the President of the Republic of Armenia, Dr. Armen Sarkissian is a well-known and influential leader with over twenty-five years of experience in global diplomacy, deep practical and theoretical knowledge of transition economies and state-building processes in the Eurasia region. He always has his own clear-cut vision of the most difficult internal and external challenges facing policy-makers in a complex globalized world. In recent years he has focused on political economy, political and security risks, advanced technologies and cybersecurity, as well as leadership and geopolitics. However, the most interesting is President Sarkissian’s concept of “quantum politics”, i.e. modern politics in this changing world viewed within the principles of quantum physics. Here are some quotes of his ideas:

“Thanks to the advent of instant communication and the social media that leverage its power, politics has changed forever, and is no longer a linear pursuit. New leaders of the “quantum era” understand that.”

“Social media provide emotional connectivity that can spark revolutions.”

“Newsfeeds on Facebook, Google, and other platforms have become highly individualized, and thus serve up an array of different takes on any given event.
Thus, the act of observing changes reality.

“Political parties, institutions, and processes underpinned by logic have been replaced by popular movements that coalesce and dissipate quickly – and by beliefs not necessarily grounded in reason.”

“Just as the classic post-Newtonian world was predictable, so was politics, until quite recently. Contrast this to what we know about the quantum world – which is uncertain, yet interconnected, and changes depending on the vantage point of the observer.”

In his interviews, President Armen Sarkissian, a true patriot of his Homeland, has stressed on many occasions the essence of his mission as President of Armenia: to ensure the stability of the state, and create a national dialogue, and to lead with the word, the vision and the strategic direction.

Civic Leadership

Dr. Sarkissian is Founding President of Eurasia House International in London, which fosters critical dialogue and cooperation among civic and business leaders, bridge-building between the West and the East. He was the Founding Director of the Eurasia Centre at Cambridge University’s Judge Business School (2001-2011), with expertise in state-building structures and free market transition processes.

Dr. Armen Sarkissian is a member of the Global Council on Energy Security, World Economic Forum (WEF), and served as its first chairman. He is a frequent speaker at the Annual forum in Davos, WEF regional meetings, the Munich Security Conference and the annual St. Petersburg Economic Forum.

Dr. Sarkissian has served as a Member of the Euro-Atlantic Security Initiative (EASI) Commission; also he is Vice Chairman of the East West Institute, a global think-and-do-tank that devises innovative solutions to pressing security concerns.

He has held honorary and executive positions in many international organizations, including Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Harris School of Public Policy Studies, University of Chicago, International Economic Alliance, School of Mathematical Sciences, London University, the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, National Competitiveness Council of Armenia, and the Global Leadership Foundation.

He is a frequent speaker at high-level conferences, seminars, and gatherings on issues such as leadership, political economy, security, geopolitics and other developments in Eurasia.

The Sarkissian family is a significant investor in high-tech, food, real estate and venture capital industries. Dr. Sarkissian held a Chairmanship role in several of these business lines.

Corporate Leadership

Dr. Sarkissian was Senior Advisor (1998-2001) to the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Director of Eurasia Centre (2001-2011) at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.

In 2001-2013, Dr. Sarkissian has worked as Senior Advisor to CEOs, Chairman and Corporate Boards of large global companies, among them: Alacatel Lucent, Telefonica, Bekaerd, BP, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and other international corporations.

Armen Sarkissian