Early Life
Sergei Katsiev was born in Moscow, Russia, around 1957/1958. Information about his early life and childhood is limited. He earned a bachelor's degree from the Moscow Institute of International Relations.
Rise to Success
After the fall of the Soviet Union, Katsiev worked in a government trade mission to the Netherlands. Upon returning to Russia, he headed Mercury Tobacco Corporation, a company owned by Igor Kesaev. In 1998, Katsiev founded Megapolis, which later merged with Mercury Tobacco Corporation in 2006, becoming the largest tobacco retailer in Russia. In 2022, Katsiev acquired a 15% stake in International Tobacco Group LLC, the former Russian subsidiary of Imperial Brands.
Key Business Strategies
Katsiev, along with his partner Igor Kesaev, built a significant presence in the Russian tobacco market. Megapolis controls a substantial portion of the cigarette sales market in Russia. In 2013, Philip Morris and Japan Tobacco International acquired a 40% stake in Megapolis.
Philanthropy
Details about his philanthropic activities are not publicly known.