Our Core Team

SGCM team members have many years of professional experience investing and developing businesses. In addition to the personal experience, knowledge and expertise that each member of the team brings to SGCM, the team can also draw on the wealth of expertise of Severstal Group, especially in its core markets and sectors.

The team includes:

Vladimir Yakushev

Vladimir Yakushev is the Managing Partner of S-Group Capital Management.

Starting his career in FMCG companies, Vladimir worked for Wrigley, Mitsubishi and Mars. In 1998 he joined McKinsey & Co. where he served industrial and FNCG clients; he was elected an Associate Partner of the company in 2002. The following year Vladimir was appointed Executive Director of Joint-Stock Company Severstal-Resurs, where he played an active role managing and developing the company’s mining assets. As Executive Director of Severstal-Resurs, Yakushev conducted extensive business development projects, aimed at increasing output of the company’s major subsidiaries.

Vladimir Yakushev is the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Metallurgical Commercial Bank, Spectralus, a US laser-optics company, and Nano-optic Devices, a US optics company. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of TUI AG.

Vladimir graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and holds an MBA degree from the INSEAD Business School (France).

Aidar Gabidoullin

Aidar Gabidoullin is a Partner of S-Group Capital Management, with responsibility for financial and high-growth technology companies. Aidar has extensive experience both in acquisitions and in strategic and operational management of high-growth companies in the financial and high-tech industries. Prior to joining S-Group Capital Management, Aidar worked as a Senior Consultant for where he was responsible for developing IT and operations solutions to improve costs and the efficiency of operations. After this he was an Engagement Manager for McKinsey & Co. (Russia), where he was responsible for developing strategies for high-growth companies. Before joining SGCM, he was Director for Strategy and Operations at Capital One (USA) where he developed business strategies that enabled the bank to grow at 25% per year, through organic growth and via the acquisition of a number of regional banks.

Aidar is on the board of directors of five companies located in Russia, the US and Europe.

Aidar graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and holds an MBA degree from the INSEAD Business School (France).

Vitaly Belik

Vitaly Belik is a Director of S-Group Capital Management, responsible for deal sourcing, execution and portfolio management of venture investments. Vitaly’s career began at the investment banking department of Credit Suisse First Boston in Moscow and Kiev (Ukraine), followed by various positions at Alfa Capital, Strategic Alliance, Delta Capital and Intel Capital.

Before joining SGCM in 2007, Vitaly worked as a Senior Investment Manager at Intel Capital where his primary focus was on wireless telecommunications, as well as the IT and software sectors. At Intel, Vitaly sourced and successfully executed several M&A deals and equity investments. Vitaly is a member of the Boards of Directors of three companies.

Vitaly graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology with a specialization in Applied Mathematics. He also attended the American Venture Capital Institute (Atlanta, USA) and Suffolk University (Boston, USA).

Alexander Yakushev

Alexander Yakushev is a Director of S-Group Capital Management, with responsibility for business development and portfolio management. Alexander started his career at Russian Funds. In 2003, he joined Severstal-Resurs as an investment manager. In 2005 Alexander became a deputy-director at the Russian Ministry of Transportation, before he rejoined Severstal-Resurs in 2006 as the CEO of the metal scrap division, Severstal-Vtormet. While heading this division Alexander has made several successful acquisitions and initiated some green-field projects. Alexander has considerable experience in various sectors of the economy from both an organizational and investment standpoint.

Alexander graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology with a specialization in Physics and Applied Mathematics. He also holds a Management Degree in Organizational Management from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and an MBA from Manchester Business School (UK).

Vladimir Smolianinov

Vladimir Smoliyaninov is a Director of S-Group Capital Management, responsible for business development and portfolio management. Vladimir started his career at Morgan Stanley (London) as a financial analyst in the investment banking division. He continued his career as an associate at UBS Corporate Finance (Zurich), and as a vice-president of the investment banking department of Renaissance Capital (Moscow). Vladimir was a co-founder and Managing Director of LV Finance, where he worked on the formation of MegaFon, the merger of MMT and Rostelecom, and the merger of regional telecom operators in the Central and Ural regions.

Before joining SGCM, Vladimir successfully created and sold the electronic payment system venture, KreditPilot.

Mr. Smoliyaninov graduated from Moscow State University, where he specialized in Contemporary History. He holds an MBA degree from the European School of Management (France) and a Kaufmann Diploma from the EuropaeischeWirtschaftshochschule (Berlin).

Andrei Zabulonov

Andrei Zabulonov, is a Director of S-Group Capital Management responsible for business development and portfolio management. Andrei’s career began in the strategy and business development department at LUKOIL. Prior to joining SGCM, Andrei was Head of the strategy group at Severstal-Resurs, where he was responsible for strategy and internal business development projects. He worked on all Severstal’s major mining deals, including optimization of the company’s asset portfolio in coal and Severstal’s IPO. Andrei also took part in major environmental initiatives at Severstal-Resurs — and was the project manager for the Vorkuta (a Kyoto-protocol initiative of Severstal-Resurs that sought to efficiently utilize coal-mine methane at Vorkutaugol mines).

Andrei graduated from Volgograd State University, where he specialized in finance. He also holds a doctorate degree in finance from Saratov State Social-Economic University.

Maxim Shemetov

Maxim Shemetov is the Vice president at S-Group Capital Management, with responsibility for the travel and leisure sector, both in Russia and abroad. Maxim started his career at Trust Investment Bank, where he analyzed the consumer goods sector. Prior to joining SGCM, Maxim worked for A.T. Kearney, in Moscow, advising international and leading Russian corporations on strategy, operations and finance in the consumer goods, retail, financial institutions, pharmaceuticals and telecommunications sectors. In 2007 Maxim was named among the Top-10 finance professionals in Russia (under 27 years of age) by Finans Magazine.

Maxim graduated from the Finance Academy (Moscow) in 2004, after being awarded an MA, with distinction, in Finance. In 2005, he graduated from Cass Business School (London), with an MSc in Finance, with distinction.

Alexander Lakhov

Alexander Lakhov is the General Counsel of S-Group Capital Management. Before joining SGCM, Alexander worked as an associate in a major international law firm and in Severstal Holdingl, focusing on mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures.

Alexander graduated from the Moscow State University, with a specialization in civil law.

Irina Monina

Irina Monina is the head of legal department of S-Group Ventures.

Before joining SGCM Irina was the head of securities department of a Russian insurance company, then as a senior lawyer and as a consultant in a major Russian law firm, participated in M&A transactions, represented and consulted foreign and Russian clients on Russian corporate law, securities law, labour law and antitrust regulations.

Irina graduated from University for Humanities (Moscow, Russia), Faculty of Law, Qualified as Lawyer.


Our team consists of experienced professionals, whose unique personal and professional attributes, both as investors and entrepreneurs lend the team its strength in selecting and nurturing successful businesses.	Our Core Team SGCM team members have many years of professional experience investing and developing businesses. In addition to the personal experience, knowledge and expertise that each member of the team brings to SGCM, the team can also draw on the wealth of expertise of Severstal Group, especially in its core markets and sectors. The team includes: Vladimir Yakushev Vladimir Yakushev is the Managing Partner of S-Group Capital Management. Starting his career in FMCG companies, Vladimir worked for Wrigley, Mitsubishi and Mars. In 1998 he joined McKinsey & Co. where he served industrial and FNCG clients; he was elected an Associate Partner of the company in 2002. The following year Vladimir was appointed Executive Director of Joint-Stock Company Severstal-Resurs, where he played an active role managing and developing the company’s mining assets. As Executive Director of Severstal-Resurs, Yakushev conducted extensive business development projects, aimed at increasing output of the company’s major subsidiaries. Vladimir Yakushev is the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Metallurgical Commercial Bank, Spectralus, a US laser-optics company, and Nano-optic Devices, a US optics company. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of TUI AG. Vladimir graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and holds an MBA degree from the INSEAD Business School (France). Aidar Gabidoullin Aidar Gabidoullin is a Partner of S-Group Capital Management, with responsibility for financial and high-growth technology companies. Aidar has extensive experience both in acquisitions and in strategic and operational management of high-growth companies in the financial and high-tech industries. Prior to joining S-Group Capital Management, Aidar worked as a Senior Consultant for where he was responsible for developing IT and operations solutions to improve costs and the efficiency of operations. After this he was an Engagement Manager for McKinsey & Co. (Russia), where he was responsible for developing strategies for high-growth companies. Before joining SGCM, he was Director for Strategy and Operations at Capital One (USA) where he developed business strategies that enabled the bank to grow at 25% per year, through organic growth and via the acquisition of a number of regional banks. Aidar is on the board of directors of five companies located in Russia, the US and Europe. Aidar graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and holds an MBA degree from the INSEAD Business School (France). Vitaly Belik Vitaly Belik is a Director of S-Group Capital Management, responsible for deal sourcing, execution and portfolio management of venture investments. Vitaly’s career began at the investment banking department of Credit Suisse First Boston in Moscow and Kiev (Ukraine), followed by various positions at Alfa Capital, Strategic Alliance, Delta Capital and Intel Capital. Before joining SGCM in 2007, Vitaly worked as a Senior Investment Manager at Intel Capital where his primary focus was on wireless telecommunications, as well as the IT and software sectors. At Intel, Vitaly sourced and successfully executed several M&A deals and equity investments. Vitaly is a member of the Boards of Directors of three companies. Vitaly graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology with a specialization in Applied Mathematics. He also attended the American Venture Capital Institute (Atlanta, USA) and Suffolk University (Boston, USA). Alexander Yakushev Alexander Yakushev is a Director of S-Group Capital Management, with responsibility for business development and portfolio management. Alexander started his career at Russian Funds. In 2003, he joined Severstal-Resurs as an investment manager. In 2005 Alexander became a deputy-director at the Russian Ministry of Transportation, before he rejoined Severstal-Resurs in 2006 as the CEO of the metal scrap division, Severstal-Vtormet. While heading this division Alexander has made several successful acquisitions and initiated some green-field projects. Alexander has considerable experience in various sectors of the economy from both an organizational and investment standpoint. Alexander graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology with a specialization in Physics and Applied Mathematics. He also holds a Management Degree in Organizational Management from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and an MBA from Manchester Business School (UK). Vladimir Smolianinov Vladimir Smoliyaninov is a Director of S-Group Capital Management, responsible for business development and portfolio management. Vladimir started his career at Morgan Stanley (London) as a financial analyst in the investment banking division. He continued his career as an associate at UBS Corporate Finance (Zurich), and as a vice-president of the investment banking department of Renaissance Capital (Moscow). Vladimir was a co-founder and Managing Director of LV Finance, where he worked on the formation of MegaFon, the merger of MMT and Rostelecom, and the merger of regional telecom operators in the Central and Ural regions. Before joining SGCM, Vladimir successfully created and sold the electronic payment system venture, KreditPilot. Mr. Smoliyaninov graduated from Moscow State University, where he specialized in Contemporary History. He holds an MBA degree from the European School of Management (France) and a Kaufmann Diploma from the EuropaeischeWirtschaftshochschule (Berlin). Andrei Zabulonov Andrei Zabulonov, is a Director of S-Group Capital Management responsible for business development and portfolio management. Andrei’s career began in the strategy and business development department at LUKOIL. Prior to joining SGCM, Andrei was Head of the strategy group at Severstal-Resurs, where he was responsible for strategy and internal business development projects. He worked on all Severstal’s major mining deals, including optimization of the company’s asset portfolio in coal and Severstal’s IPO. Andrei also took part in major environmental initiatives at Severstal-Resurs — and was the project manager for the Vorkuta (a Kyoto-protocol initiative of Severstal-Resurs that sought to efficiently utilize coal-mine methane at Vorkutaugol mines). Andrei graduated from Volgograd State University, where he specialized in finance. He also holds a doctorate degree in finance from Saratov State Social-Economic University. Maxim Shemetov Maxim Shemetov is the Vice president at S-Group Capital Management, with responsibility for the travel and leisure sector, both in Russia and abroad. Maxim started his career at Trust Investment Bank, where he analyzed the consumer goods sector. Prior to joining SGCM, Maxim worked for A.T. Kearney, in Moscow, advising international and leading Russian corporations on strategy, operations and finance in the consumer goods, retail, financial institutions, pharmaceuticals and telecommunications sectors. In 2007 Maxim was named among the Top-10 finance professionals in Russia (under 27 years of age) by Finans Magazine. Maxim graduated from the Finance Academy (Moscow) in 2004, after being awarded an MA, with distinction, in Finance. In 2005, he graduated from Cass Business School (London), with an MSc in Finance, with distinction. Alexander Lakhov Alexander Lakhov is the General Counsel of S-Group Capital Management. Before joining SGCM, Alexander worked as an associate in a major international law firm and in Severstal Holdingl, focusing on mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures. Alexander graduated from the Moscow State University, with a specialization in civil law. Irina Monina Irina Monina is the head of legal department of S-Group Ventures. Before joining SGCM Irina was the head of securities department of a Russian insurance company, then as a senior lawyer and as a consultant in a major Russian law firm, participated in M&A transactions, represented and consulted foreign and Russian clients on Russian corporate law, securities law, labour law and antitrust regulations. Irina graduated from University for Humanities (Moscow, Russia), Faculty of Law, Qualified as Lawyer. © 2009 S-Group Capital Management	S-Group Capital Management B. Savvinsky per., 11 119435 Moscow Russia tel: +7 495 662 7020 fax: +7 495 783 5627 email: info@sgcm.ru