Farewell to the forest king. Success story of Zakhar Smushkina, founder of the largest pulp and paper company Ilim Childhood and Education

Zakhar Smushkin is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of OJSC Ilim Group, the founder and head of the construction company Start Development and the Domovoy supermarket chain.

Childhood and education

From a young age, he was distinguished by perseverance and perseverance, succeeded in school, which distinguished him from most of his peers and made him a good example for them. In 1984 he entered the Leningrad Institute of Pulp and Paper Industry, and this choice predetermined his future fate as a specialist. Having received a diploma of higher education, he decided not to stop there and continued his studies in graduate school. He successfully combined writing a PhD thesis with work in his specialty.

Labor activity

After defending his PhD thesis, he easily got a job at NPO Gidroilizprom as a research assistant.

In 1990, the young specialist, already having impressive work experience for his age, moved to the large international enterprise Technofirm-Engineering to the post of head of the technical department. In many respects, the company owes it to him for the introduction of innovations and further successful attraction of investments.

Having secured the support of the aforementioned Technofirm-Engineering and the Zingarevich brothers, colleagues and former classmates, in 1992 Smushkin founded the Ilim company. At first, it was engaged in exporting cellulose abroad in small volumes, however, thanks to the management skills of the founder, the company was able to accumulate impressive capital in a short time, retraining itself as a forest industry enterprise.

Ilim and the development of the Russian economy

Over the course of several years, the company acquired more than 30 pulp mills. The largest of them were the Kotlas Pulp and Paper Mill (purchased in 1994) and the Ust-Ilimsk Timber Processing Plant (in 2000).

Zakhar Davidovich played a big role in the restoration and development of the entire industry. In the 90s (after the collapse of the USSR), all acquired enterprises were in a deplorable state, actually on the verge of bankruptcy. Thanks to their joining the Ilim holding, it was possible to save not only jobs, but also the industry as a whole, and even increase its efficiency, which had a positive impact on the development of the entire North-Western District of Russia.

In addition, during the period of active development of the holding (from 1996 to 1998), the businessman was on the supervisory board of VTB (Vneshtorgbank). This experience allowed him to increase his knowledge in the field of economics and finance, which also had a positive impact on the management of the young and promising company Ilim. In 2001, he was included in the council of experts on economic development and investment under the plenipotentiary representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Northwestern Federal District.

About the holding

At the moment it is the largest cellulose production enterprise not only in Russia, but also in Europe. The annual harvest of raw wood amounts to more than 10 million cubic meters. And the volumes of boxboard, cellulose and raw wood harvested annually are 77%, 75% and 10%, respectively. Ilim, with its activities and innovative management mechanisms, had a huge impact on the formation and development of the economy in the Russian timber industry in the context of the transition from a planned to a market model.

The holding almost completely satisfies the demand for products on the domestic market, while it is also export-oriented: it actively cooperates with Asian countries, in particular with the People's Republic of China. The holding's export of bleached softwood and hardwood pulp satisfies one third of the country's total needs for this product (remember that the population of China in 2015 is more than 1.5 billion people).

In addition, Ilim is a leader in the introduction of innovations, not only of a technological nature, but also financial and managerial. Therefore, even despite the crisis, the holding successfully maintains and increases positive dynamics in all production and financial indicators, while remaining as transparent as possible for control: both environmental, civil and financial.

As the head of the largest forest industry enterprise, Mr. Smushkin understands the importance of compliance with international environmental norms and standards. As a member of the Council for the Development of the Forestry Complex under the Government of the Russian Federation, he actively contributes to its activities by making recommendations regarding the development and improvement of the state of forest resources of the Russian Federation. His company also contributes in every possible way to international initiatives regarding environmental protection, which is important for the largest timber industry holding. Thus, according to Smushkin himself, one of the company’s priorities is to achieve a positive balance between planting and deforestation.

It is noteworthy that in 2012, Ilim began cooperation with the International Fund for Conservation of Nature, known to most as WWF. On a voluntary basis, Mr. Smushkin took control of the enterprise over a huge territory in the Leningrad region, called the Verkhnevashkinsky forest area. This area is not protected from logging in any way at the legislative level in the Russian Federation, however, it is of great interest in the world community as it has virtually no analogues in the world. The company, on the personal instructions of Zakhar Davidovich and as part of charity, leases it, and the lease agreement contains a moratorium clause on logging of this territory. For such a large enterprise as Ilim, this is not just a gesture of goodwill, it is a conscious step towards achieving a balance between the resources people consume and its growth, which is very rare these days.

Expert and teaching activities

In addition to managerial and specialized skills, Mr. Smushkin has both a certain courage and a spirit of innovation. It was he who first applied the technology of vertical integration of enterprises on the territory of the Russian Federation, which had a positive effect on the economy, which was undergoing an emergency restructuring under the conditions of a market model. Now the manager shares the acquired knowledge and developed technologies that have proven their effectiveness through personal example.

As a member of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, he is engaged in the implementation of his own developed mechanisms of vertical integration as a tool to bring the industry out of stagnation, and as a member of the Council for the Development of the Forestry Complex under the Government of the Russian Federation, he actively forms and makes recommendations regarding the development and increase of the forest wealth of Russia. Dmitry Medvedev has repeatedly noted him as one of the most valuable specialists in the forest industry.

In addition, he participates in the education of young specialists in the timber industry. At the State Technological University of Plant Polymers and at the St. Petersburg State Forestry University named after S. M. Kirov, where he has the status of honorary doctor and professor, he acts as a lecturer on a permanent basis. As part of its educational activities, it contributes to the modernization of student training programs in accordance with the latest international requirements, and also provides students preparing to pass their final qualification work with places for internship at the enterprises of its group of companies.

Member of the Presidium of the Russian Entrepreneurial Society.

Other business projects

In 2007, the timber industry holding Ilim carried out a restructuring into OJSC Ilim Group, the chairman of the board of directors of which is still Zakhar Davidovich. Thanks to these changes in the structure of the enterprise, the businessman found funds for two more successful projects that he opened in the same year:
- Domovoy supermarket chain (7 branches at the moment), specializing in the sale of goods for the home, everyday life and light repairs.
- construction company "Start Development" , which is currently leading the largest construction projects in the Leningrad region.

The most famous project of “Start Development” is the satellite city “Yuzhny”, located in the Pushkinsky district of St. Petersburg and amazing in its scope. For construction, a territory with a total area of ​​more than 2,012 hectares was purchased on both sides along the Kyiv highway, also called the M-20 highway. The project plans to construct residential real estate (4.9 million sq. m.), designed for at least 170 thousand people, as well as commercial real estate (1.5 million sq. m.), which is designed to create at least 60 thousand jobs . Already at this stage, investment in the project amounts to more than 209 billion rubles.

The entire construction of the satellite city “Yuzhny” will take 19 years. In such a short period (by the standards of constructing an entire city) Smushkin plans not only to carry out the construction of residential and commercial space, but also to create a full-fledged innovative social and transport infrastructure. Thus, the construction of residential buildings will be accompanied by the construction of at least 60 kindergartens, 30 schools, and 10 wide-profile medical centers. And as part of the development of ITMO University, the “Foreign City of Science and Technology” will be built.

Zakhar Smushkin’s project is unique in its own way. The plan initially involves the creation of a full-fledged city: with its own infrastructure, jobs, recreational areas and even a “silicon valley” in miniature, which Inograd at ITMO is intended to become. Moreover, almost half of the territory - a thousand hectares - has been allocated for the location of a production cluster in the field of innovation. As the manager himself notes, the arrangement of the living space will not be complete without the introduction of innovations - it will be as comfortably integrated with the environment as possible. So, for example, part of the electricity that meets the needs of the city will be created by solar panels, and electric buses will become municipal transport, and their arrival can be tracked using mobile applications. Most of the living space is aimed at people with average incomes, and the projected population density will be half that of St. Petersburg.

In the summer of 2016, it became known that the first stage of development (an area of ​​200 hectares) would be sold to one developer, and not to a pool, as previously planned. This method of implementing the project was not chosen by Smushkin by chance and is due to some important points. For example, with one developer it will be much easier to agree on the concept of construction and sales, and the architecture of the buildings being built. On the allocated site, the selected developer will have to build a property with an area of ​​1 million square meters within five years. m.

In addition, he is involved in the implementation of several other projects. The second largest after the satellite city "Yuzhny" is the industrial park "Doni-Verevo". It is located in the Gatchina district of St. Petersburg. Manufacturing and logistics enterprises will be located on an area of ​​185 hectares.

In total, Start Development owns 40 million square meters. m. The company also has smaller-scale projects, for example, “Tayberry” and “Golden Keys”, intended for the development of summer cottages and the construction of low-rise residential buildings in the Gatchinsky and Pushkinsky districts of St. Petersburg.

The head of the company personally pays attention to solving and discussing issues and areas related to construction. At the II International Forum of Spatial Development, held on September 26-27, 2016 in St. Petersburg, Mr. Smushkin formed and voiced the concept of urban development, as well as the accompanying specific model for the development of economic centers. According to Zakhar Davidovich, the Northern capital is developing along the path of polycentrism. This is due to the active implementation of such large projects as the satellite city “Yuzhny” in the Pushkinsky district and the public and business complex “Lakhta-Center” in Primorsky, located in the south and north, respectively. This effect will be achieved, first of all, due to the presence in the plans of projects that will provide jobs for a huge number of people.

Zakhar Davidovich Smushkin is not just a successful businessman, an expert in his field and an effective manager, his activities help develop the economy of the region and the country as a whole, and at the same time he actively develops and modernizes the areas related to this activity: ecology, urban planning, entrepreneurship, education of young people generations - based on their own example.

In Russia, Smushkin ranks sixth in the ranking of billionaires, 37th in the ranking of the most successful businessmen and 52nd in terms of capital. The American magazine Forbes placed him in 114th place in the list of the richest businessmen in Russia.

Personal life: family and hobbies

As Zakhar Smushkin himself notes, when running a business, it is very important not to forget about your spiritual development. Thus, he collects paintings by Russian artists of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. On November 12, 2016, an exhibition of Japanese art from the Meiji era opened in the Small Hermitage, provided by the businessman himself from his personal collection, which he carefully collected over a long time. At the end of the exhibition, the collection will be moved to the museum of the satellite city "Yuzhny", where it will be on permanent display.

Despite such active and varied activities, he does not forget about the most important thing in life - family. Together with his wife, they are raising a son; family hobbies include chess and tennis.

Name: Zakhar

Surname: Smushkin

Surname: Davidovich

Job title: Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ilim Group

Zakhar Smushkin is one of the successful Russian entrepreneurs. First of all, he is known as the founder and chairman of the board of directors of JSC Ilim Group, the largest pulp and paper concern in Russia.

Biography of Zakhar Smushkin

Zakhar Smushkin was born in Leningrad on January 23, 1962. He also received his secondary and higher education in his hometown, and to this day lives in St. Petersburg.

In 1984, Smushkin successfully graduated from the Leningrad Technological Institute of the Pulp and Paper Industry and decided to continue his studies by enrolling in graduate school.

Zakhar Davidovich conducted his scientific activities in parallel with his work as a research assistant - the institute sent him to the NPO Hydrolizprom enterprise.

After completing graduate school, Smushkin received the status of candidate of technical sciences. In addition, today he is an honorary doctor and professor at two St. Petersburg universities: forestry named after S. M. Kirov and technological plant polymers, conducts academic activities, introducing new teaching methods and giving lectures to students of these universities. As an entrepreneur, Zakhar Davidovich Smushkin is actively interested in updating the human resources potential for his assets, providing students with places for practical training at the enterprises of the Ilim Group concern.

Smushkin managed to prove himself while working at Gidrolizprom, and as a result, in 1990 he received the position of head of the technical department at Technoferm-Engineering, a Soviet-Swedish company. Thanks to the effective work and professionalism of Zakhar Smushkin, the company began to attract large investments and actively modernize production.

The knowledge gained while working for an international company helped Smushkin successfully start working on his own business. In 1992, Zakhar Davidovich, teaming up with brothers Boris and Mikhail Zingarevich, classmates and colleagues at Technoferm-Engineering, founded Ilim Pulp Enterprise CJSC. In the new company, Smushkin took the post of CEO, and after restructuring in 2007, he became Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Initially, Ilim Pulp positioned itself as an exporter of pulp and paper products, however, it very quickly moved directly to production in the forest industry.

Key transactions that made it possible to expand the business in a short time took place in 1994 and 2000: Ilim acquires the Kotlas pulp and paper mill, the Bratsk timber industry complex, and later in 2002 the Ust-Ilimsk forestry complex became part of the company. It is important to point out that in the period after the collapse of the USSR and before integration into Ilim Pulp Enterprise, all of these enterprises were either in deep crisis or on the verge of bankruptcy. Zakhar Smushkin quickly managed to improve their technical and financial performance, since by that time he was already an experienced and competent manager who knew the specifics of the forestry industry well.

In parallel with the development of Ilim, from 1996 to 1998, Zakhar Davidovich was on the supervisory board of Vneshtorgbank, and in 2001 he joined the Expert Council on Economic Development and Investment under the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Northwestern Federal District.

The rapid development of the Ilim company was also due to innovative management. Smushkin Zakhar Davidovich was the first in Russia to use the technology of vertical integration of enterprises. As a result, at the beginning of the 2000s, Ilim became the largest company in the forest industry sector and entered the international market.

Zakhar Smushkin also promotes the possibilities and mechanisms for applying the principles of vertical integration, developed independently and tested on the example of Ilim, in the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

In 2007, management decided to change the structure of the organization by merging its subsidiaries. So, instead of Ilim Pulp Enterprise CJSC, Ilim Group JSC appeared, where Zakhar Smushkin currently holds the post of chairman of the board of directors.

By 2007, Ilim Group enterprises employed more than 17 thousand people. The company produces 75% of pulp, 20% of cardboard and 10% in Russia,

Ilim Group, under the leadership of Zakhar Smushkin, has made a great contribution to the development of the Russian economy. There are 3 branches, 2 corrugated plants and 3 representative offices of the company in the Russian Federation, and another one in China.

Representation in China is very important for the company, since most of its exports go to the Asian market. In particular, Ilim products cover 1/3 of the bleached pulp market in China, a country with more than one and a half billion people!

Zakhar Smushkin’s company is also in a leading position in the implementation of technical, managerial and financial innovations. This allows us to maintain and increase positive dynamics even during periods of crises and fluctuations in the global market.

Since Ilim is currently the largest timber company not only in Russia, but also in Europe, compliance with all kinds of environmental standards is very important for it. Zakhar Davidovich, occupying a leadership position, exercises strict control over this issue. Ilim maintains a positive balance when planting and cutting down forests.

For example, Smushkin is a member of the forestry complex development council under the government of the Russian Federation and actively promotes ways to preserve and improve forest resources. The company itself assists in the implementation of international and government initiatives for environmental protection.

The management of Ilim monitors compliance with standards, including at their own request; for this purpose, everyone is involved, including volunteers, employees of non-governmental institutions, students and students.

In 2012, Ilim entered into an agreement with the World Wildlife Fund, according to which it refused to develop in the territory of unique forest areas. In addition, the company leases the territory of the Verkhnevashkinsky forest area (Arkhangelsk region), without carrying out or allowing logging there. The unique natural monument itself is not protected by law, but in this way it can be preserved.

By 2007, in addition to restructuring the Ilim Group, Smushkin Zakhar Davidovich began running two more business projects.

At the end of 2006, in St. Petersburg, Smushkin opened a chain of construction hypermarkets in the do-it-yourself format, called Domovoy and later renamed Start. The stores specialize in selling goods for minor repairs, home and everyday life. At the moment, Start is a federal chain of seven stores in five regions of the Russian Federation.

Zakhar Smushkin pays attention to the problems of people with disabilities. The companies he heads provide such people with jobs and technical and social support.

Other projects of Zakhar Smushkin

Another company founded by Zakhar Smushkin in 2007 is Start Development. She is best known for the large-scale project to build the satellite city “Yuzhny” in the Pushkinsky district of St. Petersburg.

In a little less than 20 years, residential and commercial real estate with an area of ​​4.9 million square meters will appear on an area of ​​2012 hectares on both sides of the Kyiv highway (M20 highway). m. and 1.5 million sq. m. respectively. “Yuzhny” will become one of the largest projects for the integrated development of the territory in Russia. The project is based on the principles of “green development”, which provide the most favorable living, work and leisure conditions with the least impact on nature. The city will be a single eco-friendly space, and part of the electricity for street lighting will be generated by solar panels.

The residential real estate area is designed to accommodate more than 170 thousand people, and the commercial area will create at least 21 thousand jobs.

For the needs of new residents, about 100 infrastructure buildings will be erected: 10 medical centers, 30 schools, 60 kindergartens. The housing will be low-rise and priced at the middle class.

The comfort of residents will be ensured due to the environmental friendliness of the project - the integration of all its elements into the environment. For convenience, a number of applications will be developed - for example, to track municipal transport routes.

For convenient and fast communication with nearby St. Petersburg, it is planned to develop the transport network - various transport interchanges, increasing the number of lanes on highways, roads and trains.

The total investment volume is 176 billion rubles.

Another major project of Smushkin’s company is the Donny-Verevo industrial park in the north of the Gatchina district of St. Petersburg. An area of ​​185 hectares will house more than 30 enterprises specializing in production and logistics.

Zakhar Davidovich’s company is also involved in other projects. Among them we can note “Golden Keys” – low-rise suburban development, “Tayberry” – preparation of sites and communications for dacha construction, sites in the Gatchina and Pushkinsky districts. The company's land bank contains a total of more than 40 million square meters. m.

On behalf of the Start Development company, Zakhar Smushkin participates in investment projects.

Thus, near St. Petersburg, by decision of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, an innovation cluster will be created - laboratories, research centers, production and housing. The project operator is Highpark of the St. Petersburg National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics.

The innovation cluster will become part of the Yuzhny satellite city project and will occupy an area of ​​100 hectares. A campus will be located on the territory where 3.6 thousand ITMO students will study.

Highpark will specialize in information technology, quantum technology, photonics, robotics, biomedical technology, cyber-physical systems and smart materials. More than 3 thousand employees will work in the cluster. The project will make it possible to create promising developments, conduct research and test technologies in the areas of smart cities and urban planning.

Highpark infrastructure facilities will be used jointly with participants of the Innograd of Science and Technology cluster.

The total investment amount will be 41 billion rubles, of which 35% are private investments.

The entrepreneurial activity of Zakhar Davidovich Smushkin has a significant impact on stimulating the economy of St. Petersburg, the North-Western District and all of Russia as a whole.

Zakhar Davidovich’s circle of interests is not limited to entrepreneurial activity. As the owner of a large development company, he actively participates in events and discussions related to urban planning.

In September 2016, the II International Space Development Forum was held in St. Petersburg. At this event, Smushkin outlined the importance of the polycentric development of the northern capital, conditioned by the implementation of two large projects, referring to the Lakhta Center public and business complex in the northern part of the city and the “Southern” satellite city in the south, respectively. As Zakhar Davidovich noted, these projects are important not only because of their scale, but also because of their multifunctionality - in the future they will provide jobs for a large number of St. Petersburg residents.

In 2016, Zakhar Davidovich Smushkin exhibited his private collection of arts and crafts by Japanese masters of the Meiji era, “Perfection in the details. The Art of Japan in the Meiji Era (1868 – 1912)” in the Hermitage. The collection consists of more than 700 exhibits; it took the entrepreneur 7 years to collect it, and all of them were collected with his own hands at various auctions.

In an interview with one of the St. Petersburg publications, he noted that the city needs a non-state museum of contemporary art of Western level. Smushkin wants to open a museum in one of the buildings that would be vacated after the Smolny committees moved. On this topic he is negotiating with Georgy Poltavchenko, the governor of St. Petersburg. Smushkin notes that a museum is needed to display the private collections of entrepreneurs, because, in his opinion, it is unacceptable to look at them alone; cultural heritage must be presented to society.

It is also planned to open a museum in the satellite city of Yuzhny, where part of the collections of Zakhar Davidovich himself will be on permanent display.

Achievements and personal life

Smushkin Zakhar Davidovich helps to develop all areas that affect his entrepreneurial activities - environmental, economic, educational. All the concepts he proposes in various scientific and government communities work - which Smushkin demonstrates using the example of his own companies - Ilima and Start Development.

Zakhar Smushkin was born into an ordinary St. Petersburg family and was independently able to achieve heights in business, science and social activities.

Smushkin founded the largest pulp and paper enterprise in the Russian Federation and Europe, and during a difficult economic period he managed to effectively unite many enterprises in different parts of the country. He became an innovator in the management of large corporations, introducing vertical integration as a management tool.

In the ranking of successful businessmen, Smushkin is given 37th place, and 52nd place in the ranking in terms of capital. Forbes ranked the entrepreneur 114th in the ranking of the richest businessmen in Russia. The publication “Rating of Billionaires” placed Zakhar Davidovich in 6th place with a fortune of 108 billion rubles. According to the publication “City 812”, Smushkin takes 3rd place in the list of the most influential businessmen of St. Petersburg.

in 2014, the magazine “General Director” compiled the top 100 businessmen who changed the Russian economy. Smushkin was also included in this list.

Outside of work, Zakhar Davidovich is a quiet family man. He has a wife and son. The Smushkin family tries not to attract excessive media attention, does not shock the public, and leads a rather modest lifestyle. Therefore, journalists do not know much about the personal life of a businessman.

The Smushkins have several favorite hobbies. Among them are intellectual games, for example, chess, as well as sports - tennis. Zakhar Smushkin himself likes paintings by Russian artists of the 19th and 20th centuries; he collects them. Smushkin especially highlights the work of Mikhail Vrubel.

Smushkin Zakhar Davidovich was born on January 23, 1962 in St. Petersburg. Smushkin spent his childhood in St. Petersburg, where he attended high school and studied at a university. In his youth, the future entrepreneur was an example for many of his peers, distinguished by his cultural manner of communication, responsibility and extraordinary determination. Zakhar Smushkin studied excellently, without causing problems to his parents.

The biography of Zakhar Smushkin is a clear example of how a man from an ordinary family, thanks to patience and intelligence, achieved extraordinary heights in his life. Smushkin's main achievements are impressive:

• Founded the Ilim Pulp company, holds the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors,
• He is a member of the Presidium of the Russian Community of Entrepreneurs,
• He is an honorary doctor of the St. Petersburg State Forestry University named after S. M. Kirov,
• He is an honorary professor at the St. Petersburg State Technological University of Plant Polymers,
• He was included in the ranking of the most successful businessmen (Smushkin was given an honorable 37th place). In terms of capital, it is ranked 52nd.

Education

There were many alternatives for choosing a future profession, but Zakhar Davidovich Smushkin chose the Institute of Pulp and Paper Industry.

As a result, Zakhar Smushkin went to submit documents. Studying at this university predetermined the choice of future work. Smushkin was a capable student, so in 1984, upon completion of his studies, he decided to continue his studies in graduate school, from which he graduated with the status of a candidate of technical sciences.

It was during his studies that Zakhar Smushkin gained his first experience in the paper industry, as he combined his postgraduate studies with activities at the NPO Gidrolizprom, where he was a researcher. In the early nineties, he began to move up the career ladder at the Soviet-Swedish company Technoferm-Engineering, which became the impetus for his further success.

Business

The biography of Zakhar Smushkin as an entrepreneur started in 1992, when, at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union, he, in the company of his classmates Mikhail and Boris Zingarevich, created the company Ilim Pulp Enterprise, specializing in the export of paper goods abroad.

The strategy was successful and soon Smushkin Zakhar Davidovich earned his first capital by starting to invest in the development of his small enterprise at that time. Subsequently, he managed to turn it into a large timber industry holding, which gradually included thirty domestic companies involved in logging. During the first eight years, the entrepreneur was the head of the Kotlas pulp and paper mill, the Ust-Ilimsk timber industry concern and the Bratsk forestry complex. Due to his professional qualities and hard work, these enterprises began to develop rapidly. Over time, the tycoon became a member of the Bureau of the Board of the Union of Entrepreneurs and Industrialists of the Russian Federation, where he heads the Russian Forestry Commission.

However, Smushkin did not stop at creating the country’s largest timber corporation. Therefore, the talented entrepreneur at the same time decided to try himself in the retail sector, creating the Domovoy supermarket chain in St. Petersburg, which sells small household appliances and household goods.

In addition to the forestry industry, Zakhar Smushkin also specializes in construction. He runs the Start Development company, which is currently engaged in the construction of the satellite city “Yuzhny” in St. Petersburg. The buildings are located on 5.3 million square kilometers of area, four million of which will be allocated for residential buildings for 134 thousand people.

The key achievement of Zakhar Davidovich as a businessman was the stable development of the Ilim Pulp holding, which managed to maintain the scale of production despite the economic crisis. At the end of 2015, the corporation received revenue of two billion.

In 1996-1998, Zakhar Smushkin was a member of the VTB Supervisory Board. In 1997, he received a seat on the board of directors:

• Bratsk LPK;
• timber industry concern in Ust-Ilimsk.

In addition, he chaired the CPPM, and since 2001, the Ilim Group. In 2004, Zakhar Davidovich was elected to the leadership of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, and in 2007 he became the head of the board of directors of Ilim Group.

Like any prominent figure, a businessman has competitors. For several years he has been worthy of competition with Oleg Deripaska, not inferior to him in ratings. However, competition did not prevent Smushkin from taking the right course of management and leading his enterprise onto the right path of development, which would have a beneficial effect on the Russian economy. At the moment, OJSC Ilim Group is not only the largest Russian association of forest industry enterprises, but also the most technically developed and environmentally oriented.

How the billionaire's fortune changed in 2016

Zakhar Smushkin was given an honorable 6th place in the “Rating of Billionaires of the Russian Federation 2016”. His fortune is estimated at 108 billion rubles.

The businessman owns assets (as of 2016):

• Ilim Group
• “Start development”
• Retail chain “Domovoy”

Future plans

Smushkin considers optimizing control over companies and improving their financial performance to be his key areas of activity. Zakhar Davidovich also plans to restructure the holding by bringing it to the stock market. All of these ideas include maintaining openness and transparency. Smushkin Zakhar Davidovich firmly believes that the future of his companies is in good hands, and their purpose within the country is global and significant. A company's early entry into the stock market will help achieve new goals and is a very profitable prospect. Today we have already managed to prepare a plan for further development, which will lead to new changes in the company.

It seems to Zakhar Smushkin that the holding is expecting a reorientation from the geographical principle to product lines. In addition, the entrepreneur continues to develop all important areas, planning to buy some European trading companies. A huge number of goods are sent to Asian countries, so it is possible that subsidiaries will be opened there too.

Charity

Zakhar Smushkin has successfully established cooperation with the World Wildlife Fund. In 2012, his company entered into an agreement with the fund, according to which the Ilim Pulp enterprise voluntarily refused to harvest wood from unique forests, the number of which is rapidly declining on the planet. The parties to the agreement initially agreed on the boundaries of the territory (the Verkhnevashkinsky forest area, located in the Arkhangelsk region, cannot be used for industrial purposes). Today the company leases these lands. However, until the end of the agreement, a ban on logging in these places was introduced.

Personal life

In addition to the development of the timber industry in the Russian Federation, Zakhar Davidovich is interested in intellectual games such as chess. In addition, he really likes tennis.
Zakhar Smushkin’s passion for painting is also known. He owns a collection of famous artists from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, among whom the entrepreneur especially singles out Mikhail Vrubel. In 2016, in the Forbes ranking, the businessman was in 114th place among the richest domestic entrepreneurs. Zakhar Davidovich's fortune is estimated at $750 million.

Smushkin Zakhar Davidovich is a famous Russian businessman and developer. In 1992, he founded the pulp and paper company CJSC Ilim Pulp Enterprise, which as of 2018 is the largest in Russia and Europe in terms of product volume and exports.

In 2006, Zakhar Smushkin opened the federal network of construction hypermarkets “Start”, and as of April 2018 it operates in five regions of Russia.

In 2007, Zakhar Davidovich founded LLC “Management Company “Start Development”, which is engaged in the comprehensive implementation of construction projects, including the satellite city “Yuzhny” - the largest project for the integrated development of territories in the Russian Federation, which has federal significance.

Biography

Smushkin Zakhar Davidovich was born on January 23, 1962 in the city of Leningrad. He also received his education in his hometown, and his entrepreneurial activities are most closely connected with St. Petersburg and the Northwestern Federal District as a whole.

In 1984 he graduated from the Leningrad State Technological Institute of the Pulp and Paper Industry and entered graduate school. At the same time, the institute sent him to work at the Hydrolizprom Research and Production Association as a research assistant.

Upon completion of training, he received the status of Candidate of Technical Sciences. For 2018, Zakhar Davidovich Smushkin was also awarded the status of honorary professor at two universities in St. Petersburg: SPbGTURP and SPbGLTU. In them, Smushkin gives lectures on topics related to the forestry industry, shares his own experience and best practices in the field of managing such an enterprise, and also provides senior students with internships at enterprises that are part of Ilim.

In 1990, Zakhar Smushkin was hired by the international enterprise Technoferm-Engineering, to the position of head of the technical department. Thanks to his existing education and experience gained at his previous job, Smushkin modernized the production process at the enterprise. This allowed Technoferm to attract large investments in a fairly short time.

1992: Founding of Ilim Pulp Enterprise

Working for a large international company gave Smushkin the opportunity to study the features of the forestry industry in even more detail, and in 1992 he decided to found his own business. The company was named ZAO Ilim Pulp Enterprise, and Zakhar Smushkin took over as CEO.

At the very beginning of its existence, Ilim functioned as an exporter of pulp and paper products in small volumes. However, soon Smushkin decided to develop the company as a manufacturer. And already in the first few years of operation, large transactions were concluded that became key to the rapid growth of the company. So, in 1995, the Kotlas Pulp and Paper Mill was merged with Ilim, in 1997 - the Bratsk Timber Processing Plant, and in 2002 - the Ust-Ilimsk Timber Processing Plant.

In 1996-1998, Zakhar Smushkin was a member of the Supervisory Board of VTB Bank.

Since 1997 - member of the Board of Directors of OJSC Ust-Ilimsk Timber Industry Concern.

Since 1997 - Chairman of the Board of Directors of OJSC Kotlas Pulp and Paper Mill.

Since 1997 - member of the Board of Directors of OJSC Bratsk Forestry Plant.

Another important feature that allowed Ilim to develop quickly was innovative management. The enterprises that were part of Ilim were located in different parts of the country, but they were managed centrally. The management technology of vertical integration helps to carry out this management. It was Zakhar Smushkin who was the first in Russia to use it at his enterprises. In addition, vertical integration allows for control over all stages of the production cycle - from resource extraction to the delivery of finished products to the final consumer.

As a result of such effective management, a large number of enterprises were able to carry out coordinated work and actively increase financial indicators and technical equipment indicators. The above factors played an important role in the development of Ilim. Zakhar Smushkin’s company already at the end of the 1990s became a leader in the volume of products produced, and also began to develop international markets. Thus, the company's first representative office abroad was opened in 1996 in the city of Shenyang, People's Republic of China.

Since April 11, 2001, Zakhar Smushkin has been a member of the Expert Council on Economic Development and Investment under the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Northwestern Federal District.

In 2004 - elected as a member of the bureau of the board of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

In 2003, Ilim switched from a geographical principle to management along a system of business lines. In the same year, on the basis of the Kotlas pulp and paper mill, the IlimSeverLes enterprise was created, which united 12 logging enterprises in the Arkhangelsk region and the Komi Republic. Also in 2003, an enterprise for the production of corrugated packaging, Ilim Gofropak, was opened.

2006: Foundation of the network of construction hypermarkets "Start"

In 2006, Smushkin Zakhar Davidovich founded the Start chain of construction hypermarkets, which was opened in St. Petersburg. In 2018, the network consists of seven branches in five Russian regions - St. Petersburg, Voronezh, Chelyabinsk, Ufa and Samara. The hypermarket's assortment includes more than 55 thousand items. “Start” has everything for minor DIY repairs, as well as home and everyday life.

2007

In 2007, the Ilim company was restructured in order to improve the quality of management of a large number of enterprises included in its composition. In addition to the change in the internal structure, the form of ownership and name also changed - JSC Ilim Group. It was at this time that Zakhar Smushkin changed his position to chairman of the board of directors, which he currently holds.

In 2009, neutral sulfite cellulose production was opened in Koryazhma. As of 2018, this is the largest enterprise in the world producing this type of product.

Foundation of "Start Development"

In 2007, Zakhar Smushkin opened the development company Start Development. This company carries out complex implementation of construction projects. As of 2018, the volume of the land bank of Zakhar Smushkin’s company exceeds 40 million square meters. During its work, Start Development has already implemented several projects for the construction of suburban housing in the north and south of St. Petersburg.

Among the commercial construction projects, the largest was the Donny Verevo industrial park, in the Gatchina district of St. Petersburg. The area of ​​the industrial park is 185 hectares. As of 2018, it is planned that its area will soon be able to accommodate more than 30 enterprises involved in production or logistics. This project will also be able to positively influence the development of the city’s economy, since it will concentrate modern enterprises and create a large number of jobs.

The largest project implemented by Zakhar Smushkin’s company is the construction of the satellite city of Yuzhny. By decree of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, it has already been given the status of federal significance, since the southern one will become the largest comprehensive development of the territory in the Russian Federation. Investments in the construction of Yuzhny in 2018 reached 209 billion rubles. Read more.

2018: Pulp and paper mills in Bratsk, Koryazhma and Ust-Ilimsk are part of Ilim

In 2018, Zakhar Smushkin’s company includes 3 pulp and paper mills: in Bratsk, Koryazhma and Ust-Ilimsk, as well as two corrugated plants: in Kommunar and Dmitrov. In the Russian timber industry, Ilim is a key enterprise, as it produces 75% of commercial pulp, 20% of cardboard and 10% of paper produced in the Russian Federation. The total volume of products produced by Ilim exceeds 3 million tons annually.

Achievements

As of 2018, Zakhar Davidovich Smushkin is on the list of the richest businessmen in the Russian Federation according to Forbes. Zakhar Smushkin took 194th place in the ranking of the Russian-language version of Forbes "Russia's Richest Businessmen - 2011" and 62nd place in the ranking of the 100 richest businessmen in Russia - 2005. Zakhar Smushkin's fortune in 2011 was estimated at $500 million.

The St. Petersburg Internet portal “City 812” included Smushkin among the three most influential businessmen in the city.

In 2016, the General Director magazine compiled a list of the top 100 businessmen who changed the Russian economy, which included Zakhar Smushkin.

Family

Zakhar Smushkin has a wife and son. The Smushkin family leads a modest lifestyle, so not much is known about the businessman’s personal life.

Hobby

Smushkin Zakhar Davidovich has several hobbies, including chess and collecting paintings by Russian artists of the early twentieth century. Previously, he was fond of tennis.

Smushkin Zakhar Davidovich is a successful Russian businessman. In 1992, he founded the Ilim Pulp Enterprise company, which since the early 2000s has occupied a leading position in the production of pulp and paper products in the Russian Federation and Europe. In addition, Smushkin owns START Development Management Company LLC, which implements commercial, residential and country real estate projects. Currently, START Development is also implementing a federal project - the satellite city of Yuzhny. Zakhar Smushkin also owns the federal network of hypermarkets with goods for repairs and household “Start”.

Biography of Zakhar Smushkin

Zakhar Smushkin was born in St. Petersburg in 1962, on January 23. He also received his secondary education in his hometown.

In 1979, Smushkin entered the Leningrad Technological Institute for a specialty, and in 1984 he entered graduate school. Now Zakhar Smushkin has a scientific degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences.

After completing his specialty training, Smushkin was assigned to the Gidrolizprom research and production association. There he served as a research assistant.

Then, in 1990, Smushkin independently got a job at the international company Technoferm-Engineering, where, as the head of the technological department, he quickly modernized production. After this, the company began to actively develop, because it was able to attract large amounts of investment.

While working at Technoferm-Engineering, Zakhar Smushkin studied the timber industry even better, and already in 1992 he decided to start his own business.

Smushkin Zakhar Davidovich opens Ilim Pulp Enterprise CJSC, a company that exported products from the pulp and paper industry. In this matter, his assistants were Boris and Mikhail Zingarevich, former classmates and colleagues of Smushkin at Technoferm. Zakhar Smushkin himself served as CEO of the new company until the restructuring of Ilim in 2007. After 2007, he became chairman of the board of directors.

Initially, Ilim was engaged exclusively in exports, but quite quickly the management decided that it was necessary to produce pulp and paper products independently.

Subsequently, the company made several major transactions, acquiring large manufacturing enterprises. Among them are the Kotlas Pulp and Paper Mill, which became part of Ilim in 1995, as well as the Bratsk and Ust-Ilimsk Timber Processing Plants, acquired in 1997 and 2002. These transactions largely determined the rapid growth of Ilim.

Despite the fact that many enterprises were merged with Ilim, management remained centralized. One of the main features of Ilim management is vertical integration. This technology was first used in Russia by Zakhar Smushkin at his enterprises.

Vertical integration allows for control over the full production cycle - from resource extraction to retail sale to the final consumer, while maintaining central unified management.

This management technology made it possible to maintain the coordinated work of a large number of enterprises, and their financial, technological equipment and production indicators showed positive dynamics.

These factors led to the fact that already in the early 2000s, Zakhar Smushkin’s company became a leader in the production of pulp and paper products in Russia, and, in addition, began to develop international markets.

In 2007, company managers decide to change the structure of Ilim, which would allow more efficient management of a large number of production enterprises that are part of it. As a result, after the restructuring, the closed joint-stock company Ilim Pulp Enterprise was transformed into the joint-stock company Ilim Group. Zakhar Smushkin, in turn, moved to the post of Chairman of the Board of Directors from the post of General Director. He currently works in this position.

In 2018, 17 thousand people work at Ilim enterprises; the company produces 75% of the pulp produced in the Russian Federation. Ilim includes 5 large production enterprises, as well as 3 representative offices in Russia. Another representative office of the company is located in China, since products manufactured for export go mainly to Asian markets.

Ilim, being the largest Russian company in the forest industry sector, carefully complies with all necessary environmental standards - Russian and global. Smushkin, as the head of the company, exercises special control over this area.

In 2017, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment presented Ilim Group with an award “for active environmental policy in the Year of Ecology.”

Since 2012, Ilim has been collaborating with the World Wildlife Fund. According to the agreement concluded between the company and the fund, Ilim does not carry out logging in unprotected areas of unique forests.

In addition, Ilim not only takes part in planned environmental activities, but also organizes them independently - each individual enterprise implements its own targeted programs.

At all enterprises, a positive balance is maintained when developing territories - trees are planted. This ensures not only the preservation, but also the increase in Russia’s forest wealth.

Other entrepreneurial activities of Zakhar Davidovich

The year 2007 was marked by several important events in the entrepreneurial career of Zakhar Smushkin.

Thus, the restructuring of the Ilim Group led to a change in the form of ownership and the transition of Smushkin from the post of general director to the post of chairman of the board of directors.

In addition, Smushkin Zakhar Davidovich opens two more companies that are in no way connected with the timber industry.

The first was a company in the retail sector - at the beginning of 2007, Zakhar Smushkin opened a hypermarket of goods for the home, everyday life and minor self-repairs “Start” in St. Petersburg. In 2018, Start is a federal network consisting of 7 branches. Branches are represented in five Russian regions - St. Petersburg, Voronezh, Chelyabinsk, Ufa and Samara.

Also in 2007, Zakhar Davidovich opened LLC Management Company START Development.

The company carries out comprehensive implementation of development projects: forms an architectural concept, attracts investments, carries out the construction of residential, commercial and infrastructure facilities. "START Development" also carries out procedures accompanying the implementation of construction projects: prepares the necessary urban planning documentation, creates land banks, develops concepts for territorial development, and monitors the stages of project implementation.

At the moment, the START Development land bank contains about 40 million square meters. meters. The company has already implemented several commercial and residential real estate projects. Among them are projects for preparing sites for dacha construction in the Pushkinsky and Gatchina districts of St. Petersburg, as well as the “Golden Keys” and “Tayberry” cottage villages.

Among the commercial real estate projects implemented by Smushkin’s company, one can note the Donny Verevo industrial park. It is located in the north of St. Petersburg, in the Gatchina district. On an area of ​​185 hectares, about 30 enterprises will be located, specializing in production and logistics.

Zakhar Smushkin’s company is a member of the Russian-German Chamber of Commerce, the Russian Guild of Managers and Developers and the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In addition, the company has 11 awards, including the award for the best management company of the year, the best low-rise development project, the best cottage community and the best low-rise construction project in the Leningrad Region. Also, START Development LLC was awarded a nomination for providing assistance to children.

The largest and most famous project currently being implemented by Zakhar Smushkin’s company is the construction of the satellite city Yuzhny in the Pushkinsky district of St. Petersburg. It is of federal importance, as it will be the largest planned development project in the Russian Federation. In addition, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree according to which a scientific innovation cluster will be created in the city.

The total area of ​​Yuzhny exceeds 2000 hectares, it will be located along the Kyiv highway, on both sides. More than 176 billion rubles have already been invested in the project; the implementation period will be 20 years.

Another feature of Yuzhny is innovative design. When drawing up the concept of the city, experts were guided by the principles of so-called “green development”. The principles assume minimal harm to nature with the most effective integration of infrastructure into it and, as a result, comfort for residents. Smart city projects have been implemented abroad for 20 years; Yuzhny will be the first such project in Russia.

The city's population will be 170 thousand people, the area of ​​residential buildings will be 4.9 million square meters. m. The cost of the apartments is designed for the middle class budget. All the necessary infrastructure will be created for future residents of Yuzhny: kindergartens, schools, general medical centers, as well as green areas and bicycle paths.

The commercial construction area will be 1.5 million square meters. m., this will provide jobs for 21 thousand people.

In order for residents to quickly get to St. Petersburg, the number of lanes on the Kievskoye Highway will be expanded. In addition, there are several train stations within the city. Pulkovo International Airport is 7 minutes away by car.

Construction will be carried out by one investor. According to Zakhar Smushkin, this will allow maintaining a single architectural style. Leading world experts were involved in its development.

By decree of Dmitry Medvedev, an innovation cluster “Innocity of Science and Technology” will be created on the territory of the city on the basis of the Research University of Technology, Mechanics and Optics.

The cluster will occupy an area of ​​100 hectares, which will accommodate 4 thousand students and 3 thousand ITMO employees on campus. In addition, research centers, laboratories and production departments will be located on the territory of the cluster.

The cluster specializes in quantum, information, biomedical technologies, cyber-physical systems, photonics, robotics, as well as research, creation and testing of technologies in the field of town planning and urbanism.

According to the Governor of St. Petersburg, Georgy Poltavchenko, Innograd will be able to unite the efforts of city and federal authorities, as well as figures in the fields of business, education, science, and information technology.

Investments in Innograd amounted to 41 billion rubles, of which 35% were provided by private investors, including Zakhar Davidovich Smushkin.

Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications Nikolai Nikiforov notes that Innograd can become the best innovation center in the Russian Federation. In addition, he stated that annual federal funding for Innograd will amount to 1 billion rubles.

Achievements and personal life of Zakhar Smushkina

Smushkin Zakhar Davidovich is a successful businessman, industrialist and developer. The pulp and paper company Ilim, founded by him more than 20 years ago, occupies a leading position in production not only in Russia, but also in Europe. The company's success is explained by competent management and timely implementation of innovative technologies in the areas of management and production. Thanks to this, Ilim demonstrates positive performance even during periods of fluctuations in the global economy. In addition, the company complies with all necessary environmental standards, which is especially important given the scale of its activities.

Zakhar Smushkin has proven himself to be a competent entrepreneur in areas not related to the timber industry. Its management company, START Development, is engaged in the implementation of projects of federal significance, and the Start hypermarket chain operates in five different regions of Russia.

Newspapers and Internet portals have repeatedly assigned Smushkin significant places in their ratings.

Thus, according to the General Director magazine, Zakhar Smushkin entered the top businessmen who changed the economy of the Russian Federation. He is also among the three most influential businessmen in St. Petersburg, compiled by the publication "City 812".

Smushkin is also an active participant in discussions on topics that affect his areas of activity. He participated in the International Forum on urban planning issues, which is held in St. Petersburg. Smushkin is a member of the Forestry Development Council and the Expert Council for Economic Development and Investment in the Northwestern Federal District.

Zakhar Smushkin was awarded the status of honorary professor at the Technological University of Plant Polymers and the Forestry University named after. Kirov. At these higher educational institutions, Smushkin gives lectures in which he talks about the specifics of the forestry industry and shares with students his experience in enterprise management. It also provides internship opportunities for fourth-year students at Ilim-affiliated enterprises. At the same time, Smushkin has a scientific degree - he graduated from the Leningrad Technological Institute as a candidate of technical sciences.

Zakhar Smushkin is also interested in collecting art. Thus, in 2016, he presented his collection of Japanese art from the Meiji era at the Hermitage. The exhibition included more than 700 exhibits, all of which Smushkin collected at various auctions over the course of seven years.

In an interview with one of the St. Petersburg publications, Smushkin shared his idea of ​​​​creating a museum of modern art, where businessmen could exhibit exhibits from their private collections.

The press knows little about the personal life of Zakhar Smushkin, since the Smushkin family leads a modest lifestyle and does not shock the public. Zakhar Davidovich has a wife and son.

Smushkin has several hobbies, such as tennis and chess.