Vekselberg Viktor Biography
Posted on 01. Dec, 2009 by admin in U - Z, Vekselberg Viktor
Feliksovich Viktor Vekselberg was born in 1957 in Drogobych Lviv region. The family had a strange building of relationships. It was my mother had from her uncles, aunts, Viktor had a lot of cousins, grandmother, large Ukrainian family, hospitable.
And there was Dad. Pope with the name Felix Solomonovich Vekselberg, and there was not a relative, or brother or sister or grandmother or grandfather. When he was little, everyone said that they died during the war. The whole tragedy of the story is that in Drogobych before the war (he was actually on the border with Germany) lived approximately around 15 thousand Poles, Ukrainians around 10 thousand and 15 thousand Jews. When the war began, almost no one left town. Fled units, including Felix Solomonovich. Until 1944 almost all the people living in normal conditions. But then they simply copied, distributed label stuck to the chest, and all were shot in 4 days. Such a small Babi Yar. Be shot buried in large pits dug in the woods near the city. Viktor Vekselberg, has lived in this city 17 years and did not know that 18 members of his family, grandparents, aunts, uncles, buried in the forest. There was no monument, but remained an isolated Jewish community was afraid to officially, publicly, to go to the graves and pay tribute to their relatives. And only in the early 90's there was erected a small monument, and Viktor Vekselberg, with his father made a small plate, which was listed 17 names of family members. Perhaps that is why he Vekselberg is not very fond of remembering their Jewish roots. In any case, on the passport he was Russian. In an interview, he explained the situation: "Jews do not consider me a Jew because my mother - Russian. For its part, Russian, too, did not see me as a Russian, because my father - a Jew."
Viktor Vekselberg, at school only to "good" or "excellent". Moscow Institute of Transport Engineers finished in 79-m with highest honors and special "systems engineer". Well in graduate school at the Computing Center of Academy of Sciences. In the design office of besshtangovym pump "Connah" to the top 90 rose to the Head of Lab.
In 1990, Vekselberg has established and led a number of commercial structures. NGO KomBek (the "Company Vekselberg"), and the company "KAM" engaged in research activities, LLP "OLIMP" - public education.
At sunset restructuring, Gorbachev gave a good co-operatives, and Victor did not miss his chance. At the time he got the idea to get out of waste aluminum cable and copper wire. They say that for the greater efficiency of processing was even coined a special unique machine, which was shown as an example of successful innovation. So, Vekselberg bought cheaply in copper and aluminum from the cables (at $ 100 per tonne), and sold it in Germany already at $ 3000. Perhaps because of science in business cooperation with its heavier than the "technique" Artyom Tarasov (at the time of "perestroika" was a first millionaire). Vekselberg has even called him his teacher.
Renova
In 1987, when the office staff, Viktor Vekselberg, went to the international oil exhibition in the United States. Arriving for the first time in America, Vekselberg has found his friend, Leonid Blavatnik, with whom he studied at the institute. Blavatnik emigrated to America v1978, with the 4-year student, has changed its name to "Leonard", and since then Vekselberg ever met him or corresponded. Nevertheless, schoolmates restored relations in 1990, creating the first cooperative, Vekselberg offered Blavatnik start a joint business. By the time the latter had already graduated from Harvard University, received his degree from Columbia University, and had a big enough business for themselves. He was engaged in commercial distribution, was co-owner of a sufficiently large transport company, which conducted the transportation of various cargoes across America.
In 1991, together with Vekselberg, Leonard Blavatnik established company, Renova, two thirds of the shares of which belonged to the NGO KomVek ", and one third - U.S. investment fund, Access Industries, owned by Blavatnik. CEO of the company became a partner of Vekselberg "Komveku, lawyer Vladimir Balaeskul.
On the "copper" money Vekselberg was using Blavatnik and their overall company Renova buy scarce in the West at that time in Russia, computers and change them on the vouchers.
By the mid-90 vouchers for Renova accumulated so much that it is time to start buying up massive factories. Vekselberg closest were familiar two industries: oil industry and nonferrous metallurgy. Big Business buddies decided to start with aluminum.
In 1991, Renova came to Irkutsk Aluminum Plant (IrkAZ). By general agreement made at this time, IrkAZ conveyed to rent Renova turned off earlier due to shortage of raw materials electrolyzers. The parties agreed that "Renova" to run these facilities. For third-party partner for the plant site wary. Muscovites won the sympathy of factory workers in different ways. For example, one of the top managers of the plant recalled that when in an acute shortage of cash and wages issue had nothing to representatives Renova bags of money were taken from Moscow to lease them to the cashier of the plant to give the workers a salary.
In the same 1991 IrkAZ been privatized by then a very common pattern: 51% of the plant staff received, 29% of the shares of state shares were immediately implemented to check auction and the remaining 20% were sold much later, at an investment in 1993.
It is clear that a controlling stake IrkAZa able to buy management. Especially even established company IrkAZ, Fininvest, which including been buying shares of the plant. And interest in the businesses become different people, for example, the authority of the nickname "Jelly". Then in February 1993 appeared at the factory security service.
Irkutsk Aluminum Plant was classified as a federal enterprise. Hence, and privatize state-owned package was Moscow. Once it became clear that the parcel will be privatized, the factory bosses, capital agreement to sell state-owned shares to be held in Irkutsk. According to the calculations of local experts, the volume of investment was to be no less than 120 million U.S. dollars. Trades were conducted twice, before he found willing to buy the plant. Between the first and third auction price investuslovy decreased almost by half. The winner, of course, become "Renova". Similarly, it was privatized and a number of other enterprises of the aluminum industry.
Private
With his wife Marina Dobrynin Vekselberg too familiar with the student pores. In the past, a scientist, Marina currently heads a charitable foundation "Good Age", which helps sick children. His 27-year-old daughter Irina graduated from Yale University and works in Renova, a 19-year-old son Alexander is studying in the United States.
Hobbies - books. He likes poetry, favorite poet - Boris Pasternak.