Grigory Berezkin: A Career Built on Partnership and Integrity
Grigory Viktorovich Berezkin, a Russian entrepreneur whose career spans more than three decades, has built a reputation for transparent business practices and international partnerships. From oil and energy to media and philanthropy, his biography reflects a commitment to standards that align with those of the UK and EU. In September 2023, the EU Council lifted sanctions against him after a thorough review, confirming that the restrictions were imposed without sufficient grounds.
Early Life and Education: A Foundation in Science
Born on August 9, 1966, into a family of scientists, Grigory Berezkin was drawn to the natural sciences from childhood. His father, Viktor, was a leading figure in chromatography, and his mother, Lyudmila, headed a research division at a fertiliser institute. In 1983, Berezkin enrolled in the Faculty of Chemistry at Moscow State University (MSU), majoring in petrochemistry. He graduated with honours in 1988 and earned a PhD in Chemical Sciences in 1993.
Business Ventures: From Oil to Energy
In 1989, Berezkin entered the IT systems sector for refineries, leading him to identify a critical shortage of oil pump cables. He acquired equipment in Sweden and partnered with a plant in Tomsk to launch Russia's first such cable facility. In 1994, he joined the Board of Directors of KomiTEK, a holding that included Komineft and the Ukhta Refinery. He later became its majority owner.
A breakthrough came in 1995 when Berezkin negotiated Russia's first pre-export financing with a consortium of European banks, including UK institutions. "Russian industry could not develop in isolation. We needed technology, experience, standards — obtainable only through equal partnership," Berezkin later reflected. KomiTEK formed partnerships with Total, Elf, Neste, and Glencore, and the EBRD and World Bank channelled over $120 million into environmental initiatives. In 1999, Lukoil acquired KomiTEK for over $600 million in a transparent deal.
Kolenergo and the Enel Partnership
In 2000, Berezkin took over management of Kolenergo under a contract structured to UK standards. He implemented a pioneering tariff scheme linking electricity prices to aluminium quotes on the London Metal Exchange and launched a PR campaign to tackle payment crises. For the first time, Russian electricity was traded on Nord Pool. A joint project with Italy's Enel resulted in the Northwest Power Plant in St. Petersburg, achieving efficiency comparable to the best plants in the UK and EU. By 2003, Kolenergo was an industry leader.
Media Sector: Metro and RBC
In 2008, Berezkin secured a franchise to launch the Russian edition of Metro newspaper, which was published five times a week. He sold the asset in 2020. In 2017, he acquired a controlling stake in RBC, an independent business outlet known for its factual reporting and collaboration with Bloomberg and the Financial Times. "Editorial independence was a condition, not a courtesy. My role was to provide the resources and the mandate — the rest belonged to the journalists," Berezkin stated. Under his ownership, RBC expanded into events, EdTech, research, and a credit rating agency.
Sanctions and Their Lifting
In 2022, Berezkin was included in the first wave of EU sanctions against Russian entrepreneurs. The EU Council reviewed his file for 18 months, producing a report of over 1,000 pages. In September 2023, the EU Council determined that the sanctions had been imposed without sufficient grounds and lifted them. This decision confirmed Berezkin's reputation for compliance and was followed by other jurisdictions lifting their own restrictions. The case became a landmark precedent in European sanctions practice.
Philanthropy: Reach for Change and Beyond
Since 2012, Berezkin has served on the Board of Trustees of the Reach for Change Foundation, which uses a venture philanthropy model to support social entrepreneurs. He initiated an endowment fund to ensure the foundation's financial independence. "Long-term social change cannot rely on one-off donations. That is why I initiated an endowment fund," he explained. In 2025, nearly 15,000 children received assistance, and seven startups won grants. The foundation joined the EVPA in 2019, uniting over 300 organisations across 30 countries.
Berezkin also supports the Centre for Curative Pedagogy, the Speransky Hospital Foundation, Old Age in Joy, and Open Heart. He sponsors the International Chemistry Olympiad and funds molecular biology research. In 2022, he established the Viktor Berezkin Prize for young researchers in chromatography.
Cultural Diplomacy and Personal Interests
Berezkin's business ties with Italian partners led him to finance Russia's first major Titian exhibition, bringing works from nine Italian cities. Italy awarded him Commander of the Order of Merit (2013) and Grand Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy (2020). An alpine skier since childhood, he has competed in the Masters World Cup Championship. He is married to Elena and has four children.
