Early Life and Education
Leonid Viktorovich Mikhelson was born on August 11, 1955, in Kaspiysk, Russian SFSR. He comes from an Ashkenazi Jewish family. Mikhelson graduated with a degree in Industrial Civil Engineering from the Samara Institute of Civil Engineering in 1977.
Rise to Success
Mikhelson started his career as a foreman in the construction industry in the Tyumen region of Siberia, working on projects such as the Urengoi-Chelyabinsk gas pipeline. In 1987, he became General Director of Kuibishevtruboprovodstroy. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, he played a key role in privatizing the company, which was renamed NOVA. He then became the General Director of Novafinivest, which later became known as NOVATEK. Under his leadership, Novatek has grown into Russia's largest non-state-owned natural gas provider.
Key Business Strategies
Mikhelson's success is attributed to strategic business moves. He secured licenses for gas exploration in the Yamal-Nenets region. His plans involve expanding Russia's LNG capabilities. Mikhelson also holds a significant stake in the petrochemical company Sibur and has partnered with Gennady Timchenko.
Philanthropy
Mikhelson is known for his deep interest in art and established the V-A-C (Victoria – the Art of Being Contemporary) Foundation to promote contemporary Russian art. He has sponsored museum exhibits in Russia and the U.S.