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 Presidium of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, serves on the Board of Trustees of the St. Petersburg State Technological Institute of Polymers, and is a member of the Presidium of the Confederation of Timber Industrialists of North-Western Russia.

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