Early Life
Kostyantin Valentynovych Zhevago was born on January 7, 1974, in Iultin, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Magadan Oblast, in the former Soviet Union. He spent his childhood in Ukraine. Zhevago graduated with honors from school and later entered Kyiv National Economic University in 1991, specializing in accounting and analysis of foreign economic activity.
Rise to Success
Zhevago's career includes early roles as CFO and Chairman of the Board of Finance and Credit Bank. He is known for taking Poltavsky GOK public, now Ferrexpo, on the London Stock Exchange, making him the first Eastern European to achieve such a feat.
Key Business Strategies
Zhevago's primary source of wealth is mining, specifically iron ore through Ferrexpo. He owns 50.3% of Ferrexpo through his Luxembourg-based holding company. In 2012 the company realized sales of USD 1.4 billion with a net profit of USD 215 million. The company has invested over $3 billion in Ukrainian assets. Ferrexpo is the third largest exporter of iron ore pellets in the world and owns the largest iron ore deposit in Europe.
Philanthropy
Zhevago donates his annual salary of $250,000 to Ukrainian charities.
