Äset Isekeshev

Äset Örentaiūly İsekeşev (; born 17 August 1971) is a Kazakh politician and public figure, currently the Chairman of the higher council of the Alliance of technological companies "Qaztech" since 2024. He previously served as an aide to the President of Kazakhstan and the Secretary of the Security Council since January 2020. Before that, he served as the executive director of the Fund of the First President of Kazakhstan from March 2019 to January 2020, head of the Presidential Administration from September 2018 to March 2019, mayor of Astana from June 2016 to September 2018, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and New Technologies from March 2010 to August 2014, and Minister of Investments and Development from August 2014 to June 2016.

Biography

Early life and education Äset Isekeshev was born in 1971 in Qaraghandy. In 1994, he graduated from the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University with a degree in law and later graduated from the Higher School of Public Administration in 1998.

Career In 1989, he was a fitter-assembler of radio equipment at the Omega Ural plant. From 1995 to 1997, he worked as the assistant and senior assistant attorney in Medeu district of southeastern Almaty. In 1998, he became a chief specialist of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan. On 12 March 2010, Isekeshev was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan and Minister of Industry and New Technologies in Mäsimov's cabinet. He was reappointed after the Ministry was reorganized on 6 August 2014 as Minister of Investment and Development.

On 21 June 2016, Isekeshev became the mayor of Astana. Under his leadership, Isekeshev earned nickname by the residents of Astana as "most people's mayor" due to his feedback on social networks, in particular on Facebook. Isekeshev was seen replying to residents on the social media at 2am. Due to the large number of requests to the mayor, a joke "tag Isekeshev" even appeared in the Kazakhstan's social media. Isekeshev also warned residents and guests of the city on his pages about the upcoming precipitation and cheered up Astana residents with news about good weather.

From 10 September 2018 to 24 March 2019, Isekeshev was the head of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan, replacing the retired Ädilbek Zhaqsybekov. On 25 March 2019, he became the executive director of the Fund of the First President and then on 16 January 2020, Isekeshev was appointed as the secretary of the Security Council. Since 2024, he is the Chairman of the higher council of the Alliance of technological companies "Qaztech" since 2024.