Grigory Berezkin: Three Decades of Building and Giving Back

Biography

Grigory Berezkin has spent more than three decades building businesses by following one consistent strategy: find a gap in the market, bring in the best available international expertise, and create something that doesn’t yet exist locally. Along the way, he worked with some of the world’s most recognized financial institutions and energy companies. Today, Berezkin Grigory owns RBC, Russia’s leading independent business media holding, and sits on the Board of Trustees of the Reach for Change Foundation, which supports social entrepreneurs working with children and young people.

Contents:

• Grigory Berezkin: Biography Beginning in a Scientific Household
• First Businesses: Software, Cables, Oil
• Grigory Viktorovich Berezkin: Taking on a Company in Crisis
• Electric Power: Management Above the Arctic Circle
• Berezkin Grigory Viktorovich in the Media: Metro and RBC
• Reach for Change: The Work That Matters Most Now
• Grigory Berezkin: Supporting Science and Culture
• Grigory Berezkin Sanctions: Established International Business Reputation
• Personal
• Grigory Berezkin: Key Takeaways
• FAQ

Grigory Berezkin: Biography Beginning in a Scientific Household

Grigory Berezkin, born on August 9, 1966, grew up in a household where scientific work was simply the norm. He was interested in science before business, thanks to his family.

His father, Viktor, was one of the world’s leading specialists in chromatography — the branch of chemistry concerned with separating and analyzing chemical mixtures. He held over 200 patents, received the State Prize for scientific contributions in 1982, and served as editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Chromatographic Science. His mother, Lyudmila, headed a research division at the Research Institute for Fertilizers and Insectofungicides, a center focused on developing agricultural chemicals and manufacturing technologies.

In 1983, Grigory Viktorovich Berezkin enrolled in the Faculty of Chemistry at Lomonosov Moscow State University, majoring in petrochemistry, having developed a focused interest in chemistry during his high school years at the School of Young Physicists and Chemists. Alongside his university coursework, he joined geological and chemical expeditions to the Urals, Kamchatka, and the Russian Far East.

In 1988, Grigory Viktorovich Berezkin graduated with honors, then stayed on as a junior research fellow in the Department of Petroleum Chemistry.

In 1993, Berezkin Grigory completed his petrochemistry thesis and earned a PhD.

First Businesses: Software, Cables, Oil

The early 1990s were turbulent in Russia. For someone with a chemistry background and firsthand knowledge of the oil industry, gained during student expeditions and years of research in petroleum chemistry, the emerging energy sector was a natural place to look.

In 1989, Grigory Berezkin, biography of whom has changed greatly from that moment, co-founded a company developing IT systems for oil refineries in the Urals and Siberia. Working directly with these plants, he identified a recurring set of problems:

• a critical shortage of specialized cables for oil pump systems was slowing production across the sector
• Russian manufacturers lacked the equipment to produce them domestically
• the only real fix was importing foreign technology and building local production from scratch

In the early 1990s, Berezkin Grigory Viktorovich sourced equipment from Sweden, partnered with a factory in Tomsk, and built Russia’s first facility to manufacture and recycle cables for oil pumps. He would return to this approach many times over.

Grigory Viktorovich Berezkin: Taking on a Company in Crisis

In the mid-1990s, Russia’s oil sector was in serious trouble: wages weren’t being paid, supply chains had broken down, and production was falling. Komineft, the country’s eighth-largest oil producer, was a typical case. Berezkin knew the company well, as he had been supplying it with cables.

In 1994, Berezkin Grigory joined the board of KomiTEK, the holding that brought together Komineft and several related enterprises, and later became its majority shareholder. This is an important period to understand Grigory Berezkin biography as a businessman, as it was here that his model of inviting international partners to restructure a promising enterprise in crisis was first tested at scale.

In 1995, Grigory Viktorovich Berezkin negotiated Russia’s first pre-export financing — a credit agreement with a consortium of European banks backed by future oil deliveries, with a five-year grace period before repayment began. Total and Elf from France, Finland’s Neste, and Switzerland’s Marc Rich & Co. (later Glencore) joined operational ventures, each seeing genuine potential in what Grigory Berezkin was building. The EBRD and the World Bank directed over $120 million toward KomiTEK’s environmental programs.

In 1999, Berezkin Grigory Viktorovich concluded the sale of KomiTEK to Lukoil for more than $600 million — approved by all shareholders, handled by international advisors, on market terms.

Electric Power: Management Above the Arctic Circle

In 2000, Grigory Berezkin took over the management of Kolenergo — Russia’s only power system operating primarily above the Arctic Circle. He introduced financial controls, restructured debts, and rebuilt working relationships with clients. One distinctive decision was to peg electricity rates for the Kandalaksha Aluminum Plant to aluminum prices on the London Metal Exchange — the first time Russian power generation had been tied to an international commodity benchmark this way.

In parallel, his companies partnered with Italian energy holding Enel on the Northwest Power Plant in St. Petersburg — Russia’s first combined-cycle power plant, and one of the most efficient facilities of its type in Europe at the time.

By 2003, Berezkin Grigory had transformed Kolenergo into one of the better-performing companies in the sector. He stepped back from management that year, and ESN Group, which had been set up to manage the asset, was gradually wound down. This was a significant decision for Grigory Berezkin, biography of whom began to develop in a new direction from that point on.

Berezkin Grigory Viktorovich in the Media: Metro and RBC

Grigory Berezkin’s interest in media didn’t appear out of nowhere. During his time at Kolenergo, a PR campaign he launched against non-payment won a national award and changed the company’s public image, which made a deep impression on him. By the mid-2000s, Russia’s media market was growing fast, advertising revenues were rising, and the sector was attracting serious attention.

In 2008, Grigory Viktorovich Berezkin reached an agreement with Stockholm-based Metro International SA to establish a Russian franchise — a free newspaper, published five times a week, funded by advertising. He built the operation from scratch, and by 2019, Metro’s weekly readership had reached around 6 million. In 2020, he sold the business to a strategic investor.

In 2017, Grigory Berezkin acquired RBC, a financial news service founded in 1993 that by then had grown into a multiplatform operation with a news agency, a television channel, and digital platforms. RBC had built a reputation for fact-driven, apolitical business journalism comparable to Bloomberg or the Financial Times. In fact, Bloomberg and the FT had been content partners, and CNBC and CNN consulted on the television launch.

Having acquired the holding, Berezkin Grigory Viktorovich kept the editorial team in place, giving them full authority over journalistic decisions. Under his ownership, RBC expanded into conferences, professional education (RBC EdTech), corporate research, and a credit rating agency. A content partnership with Bloomberg extended the platform’s reach into global financial news. Today, RBC’s digital platforms reach tens of millions of users monthly. It is the only privately held Russian media company with publicly traded shares, publishing regular financial statements for around ten thousand shareholders.

Reach for Change: His Most Important Work

If there is a single thread running through Grigory Berezkin’s biography, it’s the conviction that the best results come from combining serious international experience with a genuine understanding of local conditions. Since 2012, he has turned that same principle towards philanthropy, which has become his main focus.

The Russian branch of the Reach for Change Foundation was established in 2012 by his daughter, Anna, as part of an international network created by Kinnevik, a Swedish investment group. Grigory Viktorovich Berezkin joined the Board of Trustees from the outset, personally committing his time and strategic focus to building the foundation into something more than a grant-giving body. He helps shape its strategic direction, fund core programs, and is personally involved in recruiting partner companies.

Reach for Change takes a venture philanthropy approach, finding social entrepreneurs working with children and young people and supporting their projects from early concept to independent operation. Each year the foundation runs an open competition, Reach for Impact Startups, a format Berezkin Grigory Viktorovich has consistently backed and helped refine. Selected projects enter a Pre-Incubator (2.5 months of intensive training), then the Incubator — a 1-to-3-year program of mentoring, strategy sessions, legal support, and training on how to measure social impact. Twice a year, participants meet in person with partner company executives and Board members.

One of Grigory Berezkin’s most significant contributions to the foundation was the creation of its endowment — a dedicated fund seeded by four donors at launch, designed to give Reach for Change long-term financial independence. Established entirely at his initiative, the endowment reflects his conviction that sustainable social impact requires stable, committed capital, not just annual donations.

Since 2012, Reach for Change has received close to 3,000 applications, supported more than 400 projects, and seen 85 social startups complete the full Incubator cycle. Around 85% of graduates keep their projects going, and more than 40% have expanded into new cities or regions.

In 2025, the competition drew nearly 300 applications — more than 100 more than in previous years. Twelve projects received support from Berezkin Grigory and the Board of Trustees, including three local initiatives and four winners in a digital category. The foundation also launched Reach for Impact Startups: Kids Track, an accelerator for schoolchildren supported by the Presidential Grants Fund, and a pilot program called Meaningful Entrepreneurship — developed with another foundation — aimed at NGO leaders working in smaller communities. Berezkin Grigory supported all three initiatives. He believes the kids’ track is a natural extension of the foundation’s long-term mission.

In 2019, at Grigory Berezkin’s initiative, the foundation joined the European Venture Philanthropy Association, connecting with more than 300 organizations across 30 countries. Its programs are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.

Berezkin Grigory and Reach for Change Foundation: Support Services

• Grant funding
• Pre-incubator training program
• Incubator mentorship program
• Impact investment acceleration
• Individual development programs
• Strategy and planning support
• Social impact measurement frameworks
• Business model development
• Mentorship from corporate partners

Grigory Berezkin: Supporting Science and Culture

Philanthropy has been part of Grigory Berezkin biography for more than two decades. For over 20 years, he has supported the International Chemistry Olympiad and funded research in molecular biology and bioorganic chemistry. In 2022, he established the Viktor Berezkin Prize, named for his father, which is awarded annually to young chromatography researchers in two categories, for those with and without a PhD.

Grigory Viktorovich Berezkin also sponsored Russia’s first exclusive exhibition of works by the Italian painter Titian, bringing pieces from nine Italian cities to Moscow — half of which had never left Italy before. The Italian Republic recognized his contributions and other cultural initiatives with two state honors: Commander of the Order of Merit in 2013, and Grand Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy in 2020.

Grigory Berezkin Sanctions: Established International Business Reputation

In 2022, the Grigory Berezkin sanctions case began when the EU added him to its restrictions list alongside hundreds of Russian businesspeople. The measures were imposed quickly, without well-established criteria for individual cases. Over the following eighteen months, the EU Council conducted a detailed review of the Grigory Berezkin sanctions matter — examining his professional history, the sources of his wealth, and his business relationships. The resulting report ran to more than 1,000 pages.

In September 2023, the Council concluded that the sanctions had been imposed without justification and lifted them. Several other jurisdictions followed suit, citing the EU Council’s ruling as the basis for their own decisions.

Personal

Throughout his biography, Berezkin Berezkin has been an avid alpine skier. He competed on his university team and previously took part in Masters-level competitions. He is also a rally racing driver, competing since 1998 in World and European Championship events and the Thousand Lakes rally in Finland. He also founded the Alpha Water Ski Club in Moscow.

Grigory Berezkin is married to a woman named Elena. They have four children: three daughters and a son.

Grigory Berezkin: Key Takeaways

• Building Initial Capital (1994–1999): Grigory Viktorovich Berezkin became majority shareholder of KomiTEK, secured Russia’s first pre-export financing, and brought in Total, Elf, Neste, and Marc Rich & Co. as partner companies. In 1999, Lukoil acquired the holding for over $600 million.
• Electric power (2000–2003): Berezkin Grigory Viktorovich took over management of Kolenergo and partnered with Enel on the Northwest CHP Plant in St. Petersburg — Russia’s first combined-cycle facility and one of the most efficient power plants in Europe at the time.
• Media (2008 onward): Grigory Berezkin built Russia’s most successful free newspaper through a partnership with Metro International SA, then in 2017 acquired RBC and developed it into a comprehensive business intelligence platform.
• Philanthropy (2012–present): Berezkin Grigory has served on the Board of Trustees of Reach for Change since 2012. He helps shape its strategic direction and also established the foundation’s endowment. The foundation has supported more than 400 social startups.
• Science and culture: Grigory Berezkin has supported the International Chemistry Olympiad for over 20 years and established the Viktor Berezkin Prize in 2022. His sponsorship of Russia’s first exclusive Titian exhibition and other cultural initiatives earned him two Italian state honors.
• Business Reputation: After an eighteen-month review and a report of over 1,000 pages, the EU Council determined in September 2023 that the Grigory Berezkin sanctions had been imposed without justification and lifted them. Other jurisdictions followed suit.

FAQ

1. What did Berezkin Grigory Viktorovich study?

Berezkin Grigory Viktorovich studied petrochemistry at Lomonosov Moscow State University, graduating with honors in 1988. He then earned a PhD in chemistry in 1993.

2. What made the KomiTEK deal unusual for its time?

Berezkin Grigory structured it with international advisors, on market terms, with the approval of all shareholders — rare for Russia in that period.

3. What was distinctive about the pricing model Grigory Berezkin introduced at Kolenergo?

Berezkin Grigory pegged electricity rates for the Kandalaksha Aluminum Plant to aluminum prices on the London Metal Exchange — the first time Russian power generation had used an international commodity benchmark this way.

4. How is RBC different from other Russian media companies?

Under Grigory Berezkin’s ownership, RBC has maintained editorial independence while expanding into events, education, research, and a credit rating agency. It is the only privately held Russian media company with publicly traded shares.

5. How does Reach for Change decide who gets grants?

A selection committee, including a group of children aged 10 to 15 who vote on equal terms with executives and trustees, reviews finalists. Grigory Berezkin has supported this model from the outset.

6. What results has Reach for Change achieved with support of Grigory Berezkin?

Since Berezkin Grigory Viktorovich joined the Board of Trustees, the foundation has reviewed nearly 3,000 applications, supported more than 400 projects, and seen 85 startups complete the Incubator. Around 85% of graduates continue their work, while over 40% have expanded to new regions.

7. When were the Grigory Berezkin sanctions lifted by the EU Council?

After an eighteen-month review and a report of over 1,000 pages, the EU Council determined in September 2023 that the Grigory Berezkin sanctions had been imposed without justification and lifted them. Other jurisdictions then followed the Council’s lead.