Igor Kim
Igor Kim | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 12, 1966 Ushtobe, Kazakh SSR |
| Occupation(s) | Investor, banker |
| Known for | Principal shareholder of Expobank JSC; orchestrating over 30 mergers and acquisitions in Russian and international financial institutions |
Igor Vladimirovich Kim (; born 12 January 1966) is a prominent investor and banker, honored as an economist by the Russian Federation. He is recognized for orchestrating over 30 mergers and acquisitions involving both Russian and international financial institutions. Kim holds the position of principal shareholder at Expobank JSC, a Russian banking entity. In 2013, Forbes Russia valued his net worth at approximately $460 million.
Early life and career
Kim was born in Ushtobe, within the Kazakh SSR. He completed his studies in 1990 at Novosibirsk State University, earning a degree in Economic Cybernetics. His professional journey began with establishing a cooperative linked to a student construction brigade, alongside engaging in commodity market trading. In 1992, he co-established Ruskii Narodnyi Bank (RNB), marking his entry into the banking sector where he has accumulated more than twenty years of experience.
In 2009 and 2011, Kim was listed among Russia’s top 100 wealthiest individuals, with estimated fortunes of $400 million and $500 million respectively.
Banking career
- In 1993, Kim became the principal owner of Russkii Narodnyi Bank, initially serving as Deputy Chairman before advancing to Chairman of the Management Board.
- By 1995, he was appointed Chairman of the Board at Russkii Narodnyi Bank.
- Between 1998 and 2004, he led Sibacadembank’s Management Board and subsequently its board of directors.
- From 2001 to 2004, he chaired Kaspiiskii Bank in Kazakhstan.
- In 2004, he joined the board of Uralvneshtorgbank and assumed the role of chairman.
- The following year, in 2005, he secured controlling interests in both Sibacadembank and Uralvneshtorgbank.
- These two banks were consolidated into URSA Bank in 2006, with Kim appointed as chairman of its board.
- In 2008, URSA Bank merged with MDM Bank; Kim took on the leadership of MDM’s Management Board and became a member of its board.
- He stepped down from MDM Bank’s Management Board in 2010.
- The acquisition of Barclays Bank LLC from Barclays Group occurred in 2011, after which it was rebranded as Expobank LLC.
- In 2012, Expobank expanded by acquiring VestLB Vostok from WestLB AG and also purchased FB-Leasing along with LBBW Bank CZ a.s., which was renamed Expobank CZ a.s.
- Expobank further grew in 2015 by acquiring MAK-Bank from ALROSA, a diamond mining corporation, subsequently merging it into Expobank LLC.
- In November 2015, an agreement was reached to purchase Royal Bank of Scotland’s Russian subsidiary; this transaction finalized in April 2016 with its integration into Expobank. This acquisition was honored as Best M&A at EMEA Finance’s Achievement Awards in 2016.
- December 2017 saw the acquisition of JSCB AKB Yapi Credit Bank Moscow—the Russian subsidiary of Turkish Yapi ve Kredi Bankası A.Ş., which holds the distinction of being Russia’s first Turkish bank established in 1988.
- The integration process for Yapi ve Kredi Bankasi A.S. into Expobank concluded in 2018.
- In 2019, Expobank agreed to acquire a controlling stake in Kurskprombank PJSC, recognized as the largest bank by assets within Russia’s Central Black Earth region with nearly three decades of market presence.
Expobank JSC
Expobank JSC is a privately held Russian bank that has served clients for over 28 years across multiple sectors including large corporate businesses, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), automobile financing, and retail banking. Its team possesses significant expertise in mergers and acquisitions along with advisory services tailored for complex financial transactions.
Positioned among Russia’s top 50 banks, Expobank maintains a robust competitive stance within the market. It holds strong credit ratings—‘ruА-’, Outlook Stable (Expert RA), ‘A-.ru’, Outlook Stable (NKR)—reflecting its financial resilience, impressive return on equity, and solid capital adequacy levels.
The bank operates approximately fifty branches located throughout major cities such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Vladivostok, among others.
Scholarship Programme
Igor Kim initiated a scholarship initiative at the Faculty of Economics, Novosibirsk State University, aimed at nurturing gifted students and encouraging their interest in the banking sector. Over a span of four years, the programme attracted participation from more than 400 individuals, resulting in the allocation of 22 scholarships.
Awards
Igor Kim received the distinction of "Banker of the Year" in Russia on two occasions (2003 and 2009). In 2006, he was honored with the "For Honor and Valor" badge by the National Public Award "Russian National Olympus." Additionally, in 2018, Kim was granted the title "Honored Economist of the Russian Federation" in recognition of his significant impact on economics and finance.