Early Life
Michel Litvak was born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) in 1951. His family, of Russian-Jewish heritage, immigrated to Belgium in 1962 after fleeing the Soviet Union. Litvak began his entrepreneurial journey in Belgium, securing financing for his first business venture, a chain of medical laboratories, in 1974.
Rise to Success
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Litvak returned to Russia in the early 1990s. He initially focused on consumer goods trading between Russia and China. He later pioneered logistics outsourcing services for Russian energy companies. Litvak founded the OTEKO Group, which became a leading owner of railway cargo tanks. In 2000, he began acquiring land for a deep-sea harbor on the Black Sea coast in Taman, which developed into a major port and industrial hub.
Key Business Strategies
Litvak's success is largely attributed to his strategic investments in port infrastructure and his ability to identify and capitalize on opportunities in the post-Soviet Russian economy. His expansion of the OTEKO Group and his focus on the Taman port reflect his long-term vision for the region's development. After selling the railroad business, Litvak focused on expanding his port and infrastructure companies.
Philanthropy
Litvak has been engaged in various charitable activities and programs. He is a supporter of Reichman University and the Herzliya conference. He established the Michel Litvak Family Foundation. His company also supports local communities and cultural initiatives in the Taman region.
