AVAS chairman's wife appointed to Ardaf management team

Laura Atanasiu, wife of Teodor Atanasiu, the chairman of AVAS (The State Assets Resolution Authority), was appointed to the position of deputy general manager of the insurance company Ardaf several months ago. Ardaf was taken over by the Czech investment fund PPF Investments, which now holds around 71% of the company. The Czechs purchased 56% of the shares from businessman Ovidiu Tender, with the remaining shares purchased from the market. Laura Atanasiu, 28, is now positioned number two in the Ardaf management team. The company’s top management also includes Daniel Tudor, president and general manager (the former owner of RAI Asigurari, a company which was also purchased by PPF Investments), Daniel Bordeanu, deputy general manager, and Daniel Barabant, deputy general manager. Teodor Atanasiu is the former Minister of Defence, appointed after the 2004 elections. Atanasiu resigned in October last year, after he was suspended by President Traian Basescu, following charges brought against him by the former presidential adviser Adriana Saftoiu. In the same month, Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu appointed Atanasiu as vice-president of AVAS, replacing Razvan Orasanu. Teodor Atanasiu is a member of the National Liberal Party (PNL) and, prior to being a government minister, was head of the Alba branch of the PNL. He married Laura Bijboaca, now Atanasiu, at the end of 2005.