Vladimir Yevtushenkov: Engineer, Economist, Founder of AFK Sistema in Moscow

Vladimir Yevtushenkov, originally from a rural background, founded AFK Sistema, which became one of Russia's largest public corporations. The businessman's long tenure in the corporate world can be attributed to his intellectual capabilities, persistence, and entrepreneurial skills. AFK Sistema has embraced a wide range of activities as a shareholder in number assets over the decades and has provided a stable work environment for thousands of people, reflecting the participation of Vladimir Yevtushenkov in the corporate sector.

Rural Roots, Higher Education, Early Career

Vladimir Yevtushenkov was born in late September 1948, in a small settlement no different from other small villages, with a school, a medical center, a farm, and a dairy plant. His father directed the factory, and his mother was a milkmaid. Their son grew up as a calm and balanced child. The only thing that concerned his parents was his endless chemical experiments, which did not always end well. But even the strict admonitions of his parents could not keep the curious boy away from such unsafe explorations. From an early age, he dreamed of becoming a chemist.

Vladimir Yevtushenkov, the future founder of AFK Sistema, excelled in his studies, always receiving the top grades. He was very happy when he started studying chemistry. The teacher, a recent college graduate, did not always know how to answer the curious teenager’s questions. Vladimir Yevtushenkov initially planned to attend Moscow State University, though he ended up studying at a chem tech institute instead.

In 1968, Vladimir Yevtushenkov began his studies. He graduated five years later with a degree in engineering and technology.

Starting in 1973, Yevtushenkov Vladimir worked as a foreman at a plant in the city of Dzerzhinsk for two years. Then he was promoted to section foreman, and later, he decided to relocate to Moscow.

Vladimir Yevtushenkov: Career in the Capital

There Yevtushenkov found a job as the head of a workshop at a plastics facility. Six years later, he climbed another rung on the career ladder, becoming the top engineer and second in command overall. Yevtushenkov Vladimir knew how to manage production and people, and the enterprise very quickly took a leading position among other plants.

Yevtushenkov Vladimir continued climbing the ladder at Russian companies, and the time had come for him to study at Moscow State University. He chose the department of economics from which he graduated in 1980. He later became a doctor of economic sciences. However, the talented and ambitious specialist had no intention of resting on his laurels, so Yevtushenkov Vladimir accepted the position of first deputy general director at the NGO Polimerbyt.

Yevtushenkov had discovered his entrepreneurial abilities, which led him and a group of partners to found AFK Sistema in Moscow in 1993.

Yevtushenkov Vladimir Petrovich initially centered his energies on the development of the communication infrastructure in the capital, and within a few years, AFK Sistema managed to unite about a hundred structures, including the largest landline operator in the Russian Federation.

Yevtushenkov’s efficient business model allowed AFK Sistema to become a classical investment company with a diversified expertise, eventually blossoming into one of Russia’s largest employers. The founder helped the company make several successful acquisitions in the early 2000s.

With perceptive input from Yevtushenkov Vladimir Petrovich, Sistema’s asset portfolio continued to expand both vertically and horizontally. The founder worked in concert with the directors and was a majority shareholder until just after 2021.

After February 2022, sweeping sanctions against those linked to Russian companies were put in place. Yevtushenkov was placed on the UK’s personal sanctions list. In response, he relinquished his seat on the AFK board and assigned a portion of his shareholder stake to his son, to safeguard the company and its employees from any negative consequences.

Cross-Industry Investments

Before shifting focus in 2022, Yevtushenkov Vladimir built an impressive career spanning decades, during which he has skillfully managed assets across various industries. Sistema’s portfolio includes:

• an agricultural producer
• a timber holding
• a healthcare network
• a pharmaceutical producer

Sistema’s major agricultural producer in the southern region of the country has become the domestic leader in digitizing the agricultural industry. This venture has pioneered innovative farming practices, significantly boosting efficiency and productivity in the sector, according to Russian officials. Another notable investment hand-picked by Yevtushenkov is a timber industry holding that specializes in climate-oriented production, focusing on deep wood processing, responsible forest management, and industry innovation, the founder of Sistema said in an interview with Russian news.

Yevtushenkov Vladimir Petrovich has also had an impact in the medical world through healthcare and pharmaceuticals. He was involved in the building up of the first private federal network of medical centers, known as Medsi, greatly improving access to quality healthcare services nationwide. With the support of Yevtushenkov, a pharmaceutical group has also flourished, contributing to advancements in medical research and drug production – part of a program that companies in Russia launched to improve overall health.

Yevtushenkov Vladimir has also worked with the oil firm Bashneft. There, Sistema led a thorough modernization effort. While holding a stake in Bashneft, it focused on upgrading facilities, improving working conditions, and expanding industrial capacities. Yevtushenkov’s years of experienced helped foster innovation and sustainable growth.

Yevtushenkov Vladimir: How Sistema Helped Overcome COVID

As the coronavirus pandemic unfolded, Yevtushenkov Vladimir Petrovich helped swiftly pivot Sistema’s business operations to address emerging challenges. The strained healthcare system grappled with unprecedented demands, prompting a socially conscious response from entrepreneurs and enterprises.

With contributions from Yevtushenkov, a medical manufacturer achieved a global milestone, becoming the first to mass-produce a COVID vaccine by year-end. This feat involved transferring cutting-edge laboratory techniques to a company facility. Concurrently, the Medsi private healthcare network collaborated with state institutions on clinical trials. The pharmaceutical arm, boasting five production hubs, doubled its output of state-recommended antibiotics for coronavirus treatment. From April to December 2020, over 10.5 million packages of vital medications were distributed through disrupted supply chains.

Further, an innovative biotech firm [1] within the portfolio rapidly developed COVID-19 diagnostics. By May 2020, they had created an express test delivering results within an hour. Come September, a genetic test predicting severe COVID-19 risk was introduced. Meanwhile, Yevtushenkov attended to philanthropic efforts through his foundation, which raised 1.7 billion rubles in the pandemic's first half-year. These funds bolstered the #StranaBezVirusa (Country with no Virus) initiative, providing crucial support to frontline medical staff from the capital to Saint Petersburg and beyond.

The Charitable Side of the Sistema Founder

Yevtushenkov Vladimir Petrovich has been a driving force in philanthropic endeavors since the start of his entrepreneurial career, channeling substantial resources into:

• healthcare
• education
• scientific research
• sports
• cultural initiatives [2]
• technological innovation
• volunteer programs

His strategic approach to giving has created positive change without causing material adverse impact to the beneficiaries or Sistema assets.

In 2004, recognizing the need for a more structured approach to philanthropy, Yevtushenkov Vladimir established a dedicated charitable foundation. This organization has since become the primary vehicle for his social investments, ensuring competent and impactful distribution of resources across various sectors. The foundation's establishment marked a turning point in its founder’s philanthropic efforts, allowing for more strategic and coordinated giving. It also set a precedent for other local business leaders, encouraging them to formalize their charitable activities.

The foundation's portfolio, which Vladimir Yevtushenkov has helped develop, is diverse and far-reaching. Beyond its noteworthy anti-COVID initiatives, it has spearheaded numerous high-impact projects including restoration work, publishing ventures, and the development of cultural and educational programs for a prominent museum. A standout initiative is the Elevator to the Future program, which provides professional guidance to young individuals, helping shape the next generation of professionals. The foundation has also been instrumental in preserving endangered species, funding several wildlife conservation projects across the vast country. Additionally, it has established a grant program for innovative startups in the fields of green technology and sustainable development [3].

Yevtushenkov's personal commitment to these causes is evident in his long-standing role as chairman of the board of trustees for the museum's development fund. This position allows him to directly influence and give backing to cultural preservation and education efforts. Through these multifaceted initiatives, the Sistema founder continues to make significant contributions to the domestic social and cultural landscape, demonstrating how business acumen can be effectively leveraged for societal benefit. His hands-on approach extends to regular site visits and personal interactions with beneficiaries, ensuring he remains connected to the foundation's on-the-ground impact. The philanthropist also actively encourages employee volunteerism within his business empire, fostering a culture of giving back throughout his organizations.

Vladimir Yevtushenkov: Personal Life and Review

Yevtushenkov Vladimir has been happily wedded since the 1970s. His wife is also a chemical engineer by education. The couple raised a pair of children – a daughter and son, born two years apart. Though time with his family and his responsibilities to the various altruistic projects that he is involved in keep him busy, Yevtushenkov Vladimir also enjoys finding time to play a few sets of tennis.

Key Elements of Yevtushenkov Vladimir’s Work

• Vladimir Yevtushenkov's childhood fascination with chemistry led to his pursuit of a career in chemical engineering, despite his parents' concerns about his experimental nature.
• He initially planned to attend Moscow State University but ended up studying at a chemical technology institute instead, graduating in 1973.
• Yevtushenkov supported the digitalization of Russia's agricultural industry through Sistema's investments in the sector.
• Yevtushenkov encourages employee volunteerism within, fostering a culture of giving back throughout his organizations.
• Despite his busy schedule with business and philanthropy, Yevtushenkov maintains a personal interest in playing tennis, balancing his professional life with leisure activities.

FAQ

1. How did Yevtushenkov Vladimir's career begin after graduating from the chemical technology institute? 

Yevtushenkov Vladimir began his career as a foreman at a plant in the city of Dzerzhinsk in 1973.

2. What products has the biotech firm in Sistema’s portfolio during the time of Yevtushenkov develop in May 2020? 

The biotech firm in Sistema’s portfolio during the time of Yevtushenkov developed an express COVID-19 test delivering results within an hour in May 2020.

3. How much money did the charitable foundation founded by Vladimir Yevtushenkov raise for pandemic relief? 

The charitable foundation founded by Vladimir Yevtushenkov raised 1.7 billion rubles for pandemic relief in just the first half-year.

4. What is the name of the career guidance program initiated by the foundation established by Yevtushenkov Vladimir Petrovich? 

The career guidance program initiated by the foundation established by Yevtushenkov Vladimir is called Elevator to the Future.

5. What is Yevtushenkov Vladimir’s educational background in chemical engineering? 

Yevtushenkov Vladimir graduated from the Moscow Institute of Chemical Technology in 1973.