Early Life
Zakhar Davidovich Smushkin was born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) in January 1962. His entire life has been connected with this city. He graduated from the Leningrad Technological Institute of the Pulp and Paper Industry in 1984 with a Master of Science degree, and later pursued postgraduate studies.
Rise to Success
Smushkin's career began with work at the Hydrolizprom Scientific and Production Association. In 1990, he became head of the technical department of the Swedish-Soviet company Technoferm-Engineering. In 1992, together with Boris and Mikhail Zingarevich, Smushkin founded Ilim Pulp Enterprise CJSC (later Ilim Group). The company initially focused on exporting paper products, but Smushkin and his partners soon shifted their focus to manufacturing.
Key Business Strategies
A key strategy was acquiring and developing pulp and paper mills. A significant milestone was the joint venture with International Paper in 2007. International Paper purchased 50% of Ilim Group. In 2023, International Paper sold its 50% interest in Ilim Group to the Russian partners. This strategic move strengthened Ilim Group's position in the market.
Philanthropy
Smushkin established the Ilim-Garant Foundation, which has implemented many charitable projects.
