Early Life and Career
Leonid Viktorovich Mikhelson was born on August 11, 1955, in Kaspiysk, Russian SFSR, to an Ashkenazi Jewish family. He graduated from the Samara Institute of Civil Engineering in 1977 with a degree in Industrial Civil Engineering. Mikhelson started his career as a foreman in a construction company, working on projects like the Urengoi-Chelyabinsk gas pipeline. He advanced to Chief Engineer of Ryazantruboprovodstroy in 1985 and became General Director of Kuibishevtruboprovodstroy in 1987.
Rise to Success
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Mikhelson obtained a stake in a privatized pipeline construction company, which he transformed into Novatek. He served as the Managing Director of NOVA (formerly Kuibishevtruboprovodstroy) until October 1994, and then as the General Director of Novafinivest, later known as NOVATEK. Under his leadership, Novatek became Russia's largest privately owned natural gas producer.
Key Business Strategies
Mikhelson's success is attributed to his ability to capitalize on large-scale energy projects and his long-term vision for Russia's natural gas exports. He formed key partnerships with global investors and expanded into LNG (liquefied natural gas) projects, including the Yamal LNG project, which positioned Novatek as a major player in the global energy market. He also acquired a substantial stake in Sibur, a leading petrochemical company in Russia, further diversifying his investments.
Philanthropy
Mikhelson is known for his interest in art and has established the V-A-C Foundation, named after his daughter Victoria, to promote contemporary Russian art. The foundation has international ties with institutions like the New Museum in New York and the Tate in the UK.
