ARM VP, former general counsel for church in Canada to replace outgoing Kyte
The Seventh-day Adventist Church's Executive Committee yesterday voted Karnik Doukmetzian, a vice president of Adventist Risk Management with more than 25 years of legal experience, to lead its Office of General Counsel at the church's world headquarters.
"I'm looking forward to working with each of you and with President Jan Paulsen as we work to protect the interests of the church," he told the Executive Committee.
Doukmetzian replaces Robert E. Kyte, who served in the post for four years and has accepted the position of General Counsel for Healthwise, a nonprofit consumer health education company in Boise, Idaho. Kyte previously served as outside counsel for the company for 15 years while in private practice.
The Office of General Counsel currently employs five attorneys to offer legal advice for entities at the world headquarters. Major areas include tax, pension, religious liberty, employment, immigration law and litigation.
Doukmetzian, 54, was born in Greece and raised in Canada. He earned his law degree from the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada in 1982. He subsequently represented insurance companies in private practice and served as general counsel and director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada.
Doukmetzian has served Adventist Risk Management for 12 years, first as claims counsel, and the past eight as vice president, overseeing the church's insurance companies, claims services and captive brokerage.
"His impact within this company has been tremendous over the years," ARM president Robert Sweezy said. "This is a great opportunity for him to further serve the church and do what he likes best, and that is to protect the church in every way possible."
Kyte, the outgoing General Counsel, said Doukmetzian's experience has prepared him well for the new appointment.
"It was a pleasure working with him at ARM and I believe he will bring energy, focus and practicality through Christian principles to the office," Kyte said.
After college, Doukmetzian contemplated attending law school in the United States and sought advice from the most senior of the Canadian Adventist attorneys. "Go to law school and use your talents to serve the church," he was told. There were only four Adventist lawyers in the county at the time.
Doukmetzian is licensed to practice law in both Canada and the United States. He said he plans to transition to his new post in May.
He is married to Loida Cortez Doukmetzian, a school teacher in the Washington D.C. area. They have one son, Joseph.
The Executive Committee voted his appointment during Spring Meeting, one of two annual business meetings of the Adventist world church.