Ernst-Ludwig Drayss and
Dr. Frederic Mirza Khanian
Join AGBU Germany’s
Advisory Board
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AGBU Germany is proud to welcome Ernst-Ludwig Drayss and Dr. Frederic Mirza Khanian to its Advisory Board. Two accomplished leaders with complementary backgrounds, they bring exceptional professional experience, an international outlook and a shared commitment to creating opportunities for Armenia, Armenians in Germany and the wider Armenian Diaspora. They join an already distinguished body of accomplished figures from public life, law, business and innovation.
Berlin – August 4, 2026
AGBU Germany continues to strengthen its leadership with the appointment of Ernst-Ludwig Drayss and Dr. Frederic Mirza Khanian to its Advisory Board, the Kuratorium.
Their appointments bring together two distinctive examples of leadership and responsibility: a German business leader whose connection to Armenia has developed into decades of sustained engagement, and an internationally recognised Armenian professional who wishes to place his experience and global perspective at the service of the community and its next generation.
Both embody an important principle at the heart of AGBU Germany’s mission: professional success carries its greatest significance when it is accompanied by a willingness to contribute, open doors and create opportunities for others.
Ernst-Ludwig Drayss: A Commitment Expressed Through Action
Ernst-Ludwig Drayss has been closely connected to Armenia for more than three decades. Although he is not Armenian by heritage, his commitment to the country and its people has been deep, consistent and expressed through tangible action.
A highly respected figure in institutional asset management, Ernst has held senior leadership positions in the international financial sector. His relationship with Armenia began in 1994, when he was entrusted with the management of part of the country’s currency reserves. He subsequently advised the Central Bank of Armenia on pension reform and has continued to contribute his financial expertise to Armenia through a range of professional and advisory roles.
His engagement, however, extends far beyond finance.
Ernst has been an active supporter of Armenian culture and of closer relations between Armenia and Germany. He initiated a cultural partnership between Geghard Monastery and Lorsch Abbey and has helped bring Armenian musicians, choirs and cultural initiatives to audiences in Germany. Through his involvement in cultural organisations and foundations, including as a founding board member of NOAH and as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Sevrugian Cultural Foundation, he has worked to ensure that Armenian culture and heritage receive the recognition they deserve.
His contribution has been recognised through several important distinctions, including the Surb Nerses Shnorhali medal of the Armenian Apostolic Church and a Certificate of Honour from the Matenadaran.
Ernst’s appointment to the Kuratorium reflects an essential idea: commitment to Armenia is not defined solely by heritage. It is demonstrated through dedication, consistency and service. His example shows how genuine affinity can develop into a lifelong responsibility—and how one individual can make a lasting contribution to the relationship between Armenia, Germany and the Armenian Diaspora.
Dr. Frederic Mirza Khanian: Global Experience for the Next Generation
Dr. Frederic Mirza Khanian is an attorney with long-standing experience advising international clients on complex corporate and business law matters and leading large-scale, cross-border projects.
His work focuses on helping organisations navigate major transformations, including restructurings, post-deal integrations and the design of efficient legal and governance structures.
Over the course of his career, Frederic has held various leadership roles in international law firms and professional services organisations. He currently holds a global leadership position at a leading international professional services organisation, with responsibility for a network of more than 4,000 lawyers and legal professionals across over 100 countries.
In his roles, he oversees multidisciplinary and multi-jurisdictional teams and drives initiatives at the intersection of legal practice, technology and business transformation. This combination of legal expertise, international leadership and strategic perspective has given him a deep understanding of how organisations – and the people within them – can successfully navigate change.
Frederic speaks German, English, Armenian and Persian/Farsi, reflecting the international outlook that has shaped both his personal background and his professional career.
He joins the Kuratorium because he believes AGBU Germany provides the right platform for internationally minded professionals to contribute their experience, perspectives and networks in a meaningful and lasting way. In particular, he wishes to support the next generation of Armenians as they develop their careers, build professional confidence and find their place in an increasingly interconnected world.
Through mentorship, career development and access to international professional networks, Frederic seeks to help young Armenians recognise and realise their potential. His appointment also reflects AGBU Germany’s ambition to connect established leaders with emerging talent and to create a community in which professional excellence and commitment to the Diaspora reinforce one another.
Frederic represents a powerful role model for a new generation: internationally successful, culturally connected and prepared to transform personal experience into opportunity for others.
Strengthening AGBU Germany’s Future
Ernst-Ludwig Drayss and Dr. Frederic Mirza Khanian bring different experiences and perspectives to the Advisory Board, but they are united by a shared understanding of leadership as service.
Ernst demonstrates the extraordinary impact of a commitment to Armenia sustained over decades. Frederic brings the perspective of an Armenian professional operating at the highest international level and a determination to support those who will follow.
Together, they strengthen AGBU Germany as a platform bringing together leading figures from Germany and the German-Armenian Diaspora: individuals who are prepared not only to lend their names, but also to share their judgment, experience and networks.
AGBU Germany warmly welcomes Ernst-Ludwig Drayss and Dr. Frederic Mirza Khanian to the Advisory Board and looks forward to shaping this next chapter together.
Headquartered in Berlin, AGBU Germany is the first German Chapter of the New York-based Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), the world’s largest non-profit organization devoted to upholding the Armenian heritage through educational, cultural, and humanitarian programs across the globe. AGBU has an active presence in 32 countries and 75 cities.
AGBU Germany was founded in 2020 in the awareness of its responsibility towards the Armenians in Germany, Armenia, Artsakh, and the Diaspora. Inspired by the unwavering determination of its mother organization AGBU founded in 1906, and in appreciation and recognition of its continuous achievements, the Chapter fits as a German link into the ranks of international AGBU Chapters as well as into the global Armenian nation.
