Zakhar Smushkin

Born in Leningrad in 1962. Graduated from the Leningrad State Technological Institute of the Pulp-and-Paper Industry. Following post-graduate studies, worked at a scientific research institute.

In 1992, together with a group of aspiring businessmen founded the forest industrial company Ilim Pulp. As its General Director, was involved in building Russia’s largest vertically-integrated forest industry corporation.

In 2001 was elected Chairman of the Board of Ilim Pulp.

Since July 2007 — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ilim Group.

Zakhar Smushkin is a member of the Bureau of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, serves on the Board of Trustees of the St. Petersburg State Technological Institute of Polymers.

In 2003 Zakhar Smushkin was awarded an honorary doctorate by the St. Petersburg Forestry Engineering Academy.