Alexey Miller is the head of Gazprom and the most expensive Russian manager. He is a member of the board of directors of SOGAZ, Gazprombank, NPF Gazfond and OAO Russian Hippodromes. He has a PhD in Economics. He has been awarded several state orders. In this article you will be presented with his biography.
Childhood
Alexey Miller (photo below) was born in Leningrad in 1962. A boy grew up in the Nevsky district of the city. Alexey's parents worked at the Research Institute of Radio Electronics under the Ministry of Aviation Industry. Later, the enterprise was transformed into the NGO Leninets. The boy’s father died of cancer early, so his mother brought up Alyosha.
At school Alexey studied perfectly, but did not receive a gold medal. This was due to the fact that in the year of its completion, the regional quota for medalists was exhausted. Also, the boy was on the Komsomol committee. Miller did not remember something special for his classmates. He was not friends with anyone, but he did not give himself an insult. His former fellow practitioners were greatly surprised when they learned that the inconspicuous and quiet Alexey Miller led the most successful Russian corporation.
Education
In 1979, he easily passed entrance exams at the University of Finance and Economics. The young man studied as well as at school. Alexey specialized in the department of national economy. His mentor was Professor Igor Blekhtsin. He tried to instill in Miller a love of chess, but the young man loved football more.
At the institute, Alexei did not stand out anything special, except for his studies. The young man had equal relations with classmates. He did not attend student parties and did not “twist” vigorous novels with fellow students. Miller's only hobby was football. He passionately cheered for Zenit and did not miss a single game of his favorite club. Alex was just happy when his beloved team became the champion of the USSR in 1984. Now, thanks to his support, Zenit is the richest club in Russia.
KGB interview
The institute where Alexey Miller studied was supervised by KGB officers. The humble youth attracted their attention. But, unfortunately, the young man did not pass the first interview. The formal reason was health. In fact, Miller was refused due to the repression of German relatives on his paternal side. Alexei was very upset, since he almost did not remember his father, and from his relatives he only had a surname. But the KGB was irreconcilable and did not change its own decision.
First job
After graduation, Alexey Miller got a job in one of his planning departments - LenNIIproekt. Then Blekhtsin gave him a recommendation, and the young man went to graduate school, defending his thesis. Like at school and university, Alex did not stand out among his colleagues. He remained the same quiet and modest. True, he joined the Club of Young Economists as a junior researcher. At that time, it was headed by the still unknown Anatoly Chubais. But Miller practically did not perform there. For the most part, he listened. Among the speakers were Peter Aven, Mikhail Manevich, Yegor Gaidar, Sergey Ignatiev, Mikhail Dmitriev and Andrey Illarionov. Subsequently, all the lecturers of the club reached considerable heights.
Economic Reform Committee
In 1990, perestroika began, which led the country to collapse. All participants and lecturers of the Club of Young Economists had the opportunity to put their ideas into practice. Some of them went into business, and some into politics. Chubais went the last way. Anatoly Borisovich was elected to the Leningrad City Council and became deputy chairman of the executive committee. The chairman was Anatoly Sobchak. He trusted Chubais and allowed him to deal with all economic issues. Within the framework of the Leningrad City Executive Committee, Anatoly Borisovich organized an economic reform committee and put Alexei Kudrin at its head. And he, in turn, invited Mikhail Manevich and Alexey Miller to work.
Executive position
In 1991, the reform committee was liquidated. This happened due to the fact that Sobchak became mayor and was engaged in reformatting the apparatus of the Executive Committee of the City Executive Committee. And there was no place for this committee in the new structure. Anatoly Chubais continued to advise Sobchak on economic issues. Therefore, it was not difficult for him to organize a new Committee for the Management of the Free Enterprise Zone in Leningrad. Kudrin, already familiar to us, headed it. Alexey Miller, whose personal life is described below, also expressed a desire to work there, as he oversaw the project on the organization of a free economic zone in Leningrad. But Anatoly Chubais had other plans for him. He sent Alexei Borisovich to the Committee on Foreign Economic Relations (PIC) organized by the City Hall. Moreover, the future head of Gazprom immediately took the position of head of the market conditions department.
Career takeoff
Miller’s career went uphill at PIC. After 5 years, he was deputy chairman of the Committee on Foreign Economic Cooperation. Partly Alexei Borisovich got this place thanks to his hard work. But the main reason was that Miller liked Vladimir Putin, who was then chairman of the FAC.
The perfect performer
Alexei Borisovich quickly worked together with Vladimir Vladimirovich. After all, he, like Putin, did not like to be in the spotlight. The future head of Gazprom Alexey Miller was diligently engaged in his own business, was aware of all important matters and never talked too much. In a word, he "did not protrude." Alexei Borisovich helped St. Petersburg and foreign companies find each other. At the same time, Miller did not sign important documents and did not make sensitive decisions. His name never surfaced in connection with high-profile scandals or criminal cases. Alexei Borisovich tried to resemble his boss in everything. For example, he, like Vladimir Vladimirovich, did not attend noisy receptions and public events, which mayor Sobchak really liked to attend.
Job responsibilities
In the committee, Alexey Miller, whose nationality interests many because of, say, not quite a Russian surname, was responsible for the Pulkovo economic zones, where the Gillette and Coca-Cola companies were located. He also oversaw Parnas and Baltika. During his time at the PIC, Alexei Borisovich was remembered for bringing such foreign banks to St. Petersburg as Lyon Credit and Dresdener Bank. And on behalf of Vladimir Vladimirovich, he attracted foreign investment to the Northern capital. All issues were resolved by Miller quickly and competently. A. Miller represented the interests of the city in joint ventures and oversaw the hotel business - he was a member of the board of directors of the Europe Hotel.
Job loss
In 1996, Anatoly Sobchak lost the election and resigned. Putin and his team were also forced to leave the city hall. Vladimir Vladimirovich went to Moscow, where he took the post of deputy managing director of the head of the Russian Federation. And Miller remained in St. Petersburg, becoming deputy director of Sea Port OJSC. At the same time, he did not lose contact with the former chief. When in 1999, Putin headed the government of the Russian Federation, Alexei Borisovich became director of the Baltic Pipeline System.
New heights
With the advent of Vladimir Vladimirovich to the post of head of state, great career prospects opened up before Miller. In mid-2000, Alexei Borisovich was appointed Deputy Minister of Energy and oversaw the development of international cooperation in the fuel and energy sector. Everyone thought that he had an internship before taking the minister’s chair. But in May 2001, he headed not the Ministry of Energy, but Gazprom. Miller Alexey Borisovich replaced Vyakhirev R.I. at this post
Staff cleaning
For the management of a gas company, such a decision by the President of the Russian Federation came as a complete surprise. The management of the corporation learned this news only an hour before the next meeting of the board of directors. On it, Alexei Borisovich was introduced as the head of the company. In his speech, Miller mentioned that he would adhere to the “continuity” of Gazprom’s policy. But top managers guessed about an early cleaning of the Vyakhirev staff. A. Miller's beginning of work, it is worth noting, was rather sluggish, although the market took the news about the change of leadership enthusiastically - investors decided that it was time for reform. True, they themselves began far from immediately.
As a result, Gazprom chairman Alexei Miller not only changed most of the personnel, but also turned the corporation's treasury into an inexhaustible financial source for the Kremlin’s needs. Putin was pleased with the results of his work. The main merit of Aleksey Borisovich is that he was able to return to the state a controlling stake in the company, and Gazprom itself returned all the assets that were lost under R. Vyakhirev.
Miller also decided to reorient the corporation to the globalization of business. Under him, Gazprom acquired assets in the oil sector and the electric power industry, brought the share of gas in imports to 40% (deliveries to Europe), and also established contacts with Italian ENI and German BASF and E.On.
Gas pipeline construction
Miller initiated the construction of the North European Gas Pipeline. It was planned to conduct it in the Baltic Sea bypassing countries that provide gas transit to Europe. The date of construction was 2005. But due to the fact that the authors of the project did not manage to prepare a long-term business plan, pipe laying began only in 2010. It was also decided to give the project a new name - “Nord Stream”
In addition, Alexey Borisovich is actively working to lay the "South Stream" through the Black Sea. A number of contracts on gas supplies to the Asia-Pacific region were signed. Miller also pushed the decision to abolish state regulation of domestic prices. But the criticism of Alexei Borisovich does not subside.
Criticism
The head of Gazprom does not pay any attention to her. Even despite some health problems (due to kidney problems, Aleksei Borisovich was forced to abandon his beloved beer), he is not going to resign. And who voluntarily leaves such a highly paid post.
Nevertheless, attacks on Miller do not cease. So, his project on the construction of a skyscraper for Gazprom on the Neva was subjected to very harsh criticism. If the 396-meter building was erected, then it would completely disfigure the entire architectural style of the city. Petersburgers achieved the cancellation of construction, expressing a lot of unpleasant things to Alexei Borisovich.
Another criticism was Miller's love of luxury. In 2009, photos of his alleged estate, being built on the banks of the Istra Reservoir, were distributed on the Internet. Ostroslovy called her "Millergof". The experts modestly kept silent about the cost of construction. Miller himself categorically denies that he has anything to do with the estate. In addition, critics have no evidence. However, nothing surprising. As a rule, people of this level are constantly attacked by the yellow press, which ascribes to them all kinds of conceivable and unbelievable sins and deeds.
Personal life and hobbies
The head of Gazprom Miller Alexei Borisovich does not like to talk about his personal life. It is known that for many years he has been officially married. His wife named Irina is a non-public person. Since the wedding, she hasn’t worked anywhere and was only engaged in farming. Irina does not like to attend high-profile events, like Alexey Miller. Spouses also have children. More precisely, only one child - son Michael. But there is no information about him in open sources.
From a young age, Alexei Borisovich is fond of football and is a fan of the Zenit club. Miller also likes horse riding. The chairman of Gazprom owns two thoroughbred stallions. The parties are not alien to Alexei Borisovich, but only in the circle of relatives and relatives whom he entertains with playing and singing on the guitar.
Over time, Alexei Borisovich's interest in equestrian sports grew into labor activity. Vladimir Putin in 2012 appointed Miller to the post of head of Russian Hippodromes OJSC. The main task that was set by the president is the revival of domestic equestrian sport.
Two rules
There are two rules that Alexey Miller adheres to in life. He headed Gazprom only thanks to their observance. These rules sound like this: "the boss is always right" and "do not lean out." Here is the secret of Alexey Borisovich’s dizzying career. Despite criticism of Miller, Putin still fully trusts him. This suggests that in the near future nothing threatens the positions of the head of Gazprom.
