Ion Sturza

Education

Born in Pîrjolteni, Călărași district to the Sturdza family of Moldavian boyars, Ion Sturza graduated his studies in economics at the Moldova State University.

Career

Not to be confused with Ioan Sturdza, the 19th century Prince of Moldavia. On 21 December 2015, President Nicolae Timofti nominated Ion Sturza to occupy the position of prime minister for a second time. However, Ion Sturza gave up the mandate, after the meeting in which his cabinet should receive the investiture vote was not held due to lack of quorum.

Before the fall of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics in 1991, Sturza worked for the country’s Exterior Commerce Company.

In 1991, he founded the Incon Company, based in Chisinau, which soon became one of Moldova’s largest industrial groups, operating in the food and beverages industry. He worked as the president of “FinComBank” in Chisinau and, from 1996, as the chairman of the Bank’s Steering Board.

Ion Sturza gained broad political experience as he was a prominent politician in Moldova. He served as Prime Minister from February 19, 1999 to November 12, 1999.

As former Prime Minister of Moldova he signed in 2011 the Soros open letter calling for more Europe in the single currency turmoil.

Achievements

• Currently, Sturza is the founder and chairman of Fribourg Capital, a private equity and venture capital fund. Among others, he is the founder of the Family Sturza Foundation, which has a wide range of support programmes that include giving educational grants and scholarships, supporting orphanages, and sponsoring cultural events.

Membership

He was selected as a member of the Parliament in 1998, and he subsequently became the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy. Ion Sturza is involved in various civic activities, being an active member of several organizations and charities.