Vasily Anisimov
Vasily Anisimov | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 19, 1951 |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, businessman, philanthropist |
| Known for | Founder of Coalco, co-owner of Metalloinvest, president of Russian Judo Federation (2010–2022) |
Vasily Anisimov (; born 19 September 1951) is a billionaire entrepreneur with roots in the Soviet Union and Croatia, who amassed his wealth in Russia through ventures in aluminium, real estate, and vodka production. He established Coalco, a prominent real estate development firm, and previously held shares in Metalloinvest, a leading Russian industrial group created in 2006 by merging assets such as Mikhailovsky GOK, Ural Steel, Lebedinsky GOK, and the Oskol Electrometallurgical Plant. Additionally, Anisimov has held the position of president of the Russian Judo Federation. In September 2022, he formally renounced his Russian citizenship.
Biography
Anisimov earned an economics degree from the Alma-Ata Institute of National Economy in 1977.
His professional journey began as a commodity specialist before advancing to the role of commercial director at Kaztorgodezhda (), a trading base located in Kazakhstan.
Between 1982 and 1986, he led the working supply division at the Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant and subsequently served as general director of Roskhoztorg (), a Moscow-based hardware wholesaler, from 1986 until 1989. During this period, he cultivated crucial relationships with government officials to streamline administrative procedures, frequently relying on informal negotiations.
In 1989, Anisimov launched Trust Company (), which specialized in exporting non-ferrous metals. Benefiting from its special exporter status, the firm conducted trade with Western clients and generated approximately $1 million per project, successfully constructing 24 brick factories over three years.
The company later rebranded as Transconsult (), shifting its focus primarily to aluminium trading. Anisimov held the position of General Director at CJSC Transconsult from 1990 to 1994 amid Russia’s privatization era and fierce competition for aluminium assets. Under his leadership, Transconsult acquired significant aluminium facilities including Krasnoyarsk Aluminium Plant, Achinsk Alumina Refinery, and Bratsk Aluminium Smelter. Although initially intending to leave Russia, Anisimov became involved in ownership during privatization: "[when] privatization began. I could not resist the temptation to become the owner of the enterprises with which I had already worked ..."
Dmitry Bosov, chairman of Alltek investment, characterized Anisimov’s style:
"There are people who seek conflicts and those who avoid them. Anisimov belongs to the latter group. He united all shareholders at Krasnoyarsk around the negotiating table, fostering stable collaboration for two and a half years."
In 2000, Transconsult divested its aluminium holdings to Renova Group for an undisclosed amount.
Business interests
Prior to 1999, Anisimov was a member of the Board of Directors at Moscow’s Rossiysky Credit Bank, which was linked to Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Metalloinvest
Following a legal challenge initiated by billionaire Mikhail Khodorkovsky in 2000, Anisimov divested most of his assets but re-entered the market in 2004 as a co-owner of Metalloinvest alongside billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Andrei Skoch. By 2009, Metalloinvest’s ownership structure consisted of Usmanov holding 50%, Skoch’s fund owning 30%, and Anisimov possessing 20%. Notably, Anisimov and Usmanov had been business partners since 1989.
Metalloinvest emerged as Russia’s foremost iron ore mining enterprise with key operations spanning iron ore extraction, steel production, and scrap metal processing. In December 2004, Anisimov led negotiations for acquiring a controlling 97.6% stake in Mikhailovsky GOK during one of Russia’s largest private equity transactions. The following year saw Metalloinvest’s acquisition of Lebedinsky GOK, the country’s largest hot-briquetted iron supplier. The group also owned Moldova Steel Works located in Transnistria—employing over 1,000 personnel and exporting about 90% of its output—until this asset was returned to Transnistrian authorities in 2015.
In 2011, Anisimov sold his 20% share in Metalloinvest to VTB Bank citing intentions to reduce his workload and concentrate on real estate ventures; however, Metalloinvest reacquired this stake in 2012. A subsequent legal dispute in 2014 involving the family of the late Badri Patarkatsishvili concerning partial rights to this share was resolved confidentially outside court.
Coalco
In 1994, concurrently with his aluminium ventures, Anisimov established Coalco. The company initially concentrated on the metals sector, owning assets such as aluminium smelters, bauxite mining operations, producers of semi-finished materials, cable manufacturing facilities, energy companies, and cryolite plants. Following Anisimov’s withdrawal from mining activities, Coalco redirected its focus toward real estate, overseeing both residential and industrial developments as well as land holdings. Currently, Coalco manages approximately 37,000 acres within the Moscow region.
One of Coalco’s flagship projects is Akulinino, an upscale residential estate covering 18,000 hectares located roughly 35 kilometers from the Moscow Ring Road along Kashirskoye Highway. This community is home to notable individuals including executives from state-owned corporations and FSB generals closely associated with Vladimir Putin.
In 2015, Coalco initiated plans for a $430 million mixed-use complex at Tsarskaya Square in Moscow, encompassing 280,500 square meters; the development reached completion within two years. That same year, Anisimov transferred more than one million square meters of Coalco’s assets to MR Group Management for development purposes while maintaining ownership of the underlying land.
Coalco extends its operations internationally through Coalco New York and its subsidiary Corigin Holdings. These entities specialize in student housing near New York University as well as property acquisition, development, and management. Additionally, the company maintains an office in Zürich.
WAVIoT
Since 2011, WAVIoT has been creating wireless networks designed to connect low-power devices such as electricity meters and water meters that continuously transmit small data packets. Anisimov has played a significant role as an investor in this enterprise.
Kristall
In December 2009, Vasily Anisimov acquired all shares of eleven Kristall vodka plants from FSUE Rosspirtprom for 55 billion rubles, with backing from VTB Bank and CEO Andrey Kostin. While Rosspirtprom continued managing the plants, Anisimov’s East European Distribution Company (EEDK) secured exclusive distribution rights. Subsequently, he sold these shares to former Senator Alexander Sabadash. By the end of 2009, Anisimov controlled a 51% stake in the Moscow vodka factory "Kristall," which rose to 86% by June 2010. The vodka brand Putinka, launched in 2003, has been bottled by the Moscow Crystal Plant since late 2009.
Other business interests
Anisimov has held a position on the board of directors at Rossiysky Kredit and was named among "Russian oligarchs" under the 2017 Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Despite these sanctions, he expressed optimism regarding potential future cooperation between the US and Russia.
In 2016, he negotiated a $169 million agreement with Kazakhstan’s KTZ Express to develop the "Central Dry Port," a transport and cargo handling facility.
Between 2003 and 2005, Anisimov invested $100 million in the British steelmaker Corus Group, now integrated into Tata Steel.
His ventures also include film production, with credits such as Мусорщик (The Scavenger), Burning Hot Saturday (co-produced by Aleksei Guskov), and the acclaimed Water (2006), focusing on projects that emphasize positive narratives rather than crime themes.
Russian Judo Federation
From 2010 until 2022, Anisimov was at the helm of the Russian Judo Federation. Under his guidance, Russia led the medal standings by securing three gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics and added two more golds at the 2016 Rio Games. Additionally, he fulfilled the role of ambassador for the International Judo Federation.
He oversaw several prominent competitions such as the 2012 European Judo Championships, the 2014 World Judo Championships held in Chelyabinsk, the 2013 Judo World Masters in Tyumen, the 2016 European Judo Championships in Kazan, as well as the Golden League European Club Championships in Samara (2014) and Grozny (2016). Furthermore, he managed the prestigious Masters tournament hosted in Saint Petersburg in 2017.
Participation rates in judo across Russia saw a marked growth during his leadership. He championed initiatives to reduce the minimum starting age for children from ten to seven years old, aiming to encourage earlier skill development.
In recognition of his achievements, Anisimov was honored with a sixth dan rank by Marius Vizer, head of the International Judo Federation, in 2017. That same year, he received the Order of Alexander Nevsky at a ceremony held within Moscow’s Kremlin.
Beyond judo, Anisimov holds a position on the supervisory board of the All-Russian Volleyball Federation.
He resigned from his presidency of the Russian Judo Federation in October 2022, citing family-related reasons.
Philanthropy
Anisimov is well-regarded for his dedication to the Russian Orthodox Church and has overseen restoration efforts for thirty churches. During a professional break in 2000, he spent time at Mount Athos to deepen his spiritual commitment. His financial support extends to the Moscow Diocesan House, which houses the theological faculty of Orthodox St. Tikhon University for the Humanities. Among his restoration projects is the Temple-Monument on Blood dedicated to All Saints at the former Ipatiev House site in Ekaterinburg, where the last imperial family was executed.
Personal life
Anisimov has been married twice. His first marriage to Galina Anisimova resulted in four children. Tragically, their daughter Galina and her husband Alexander Nalimov were murdered in their Ekaterinburg residence in 2000. Another daughter from this marriage, Anna Schafer, is an actress and businesswoman known for her role in Elizabeth Blue and as co-founder of Bare Essential Organics. His second marriage to Ekaterina produced one daughter and one son.
Until 2017, Anisimov primarily lived in Küsnacht, Switzerland before moving to Moscow. He owns residences both there and in New York City. In an interview with Forbes, he described work as his foremost passion, noting that he does not engage in hobbies outside his professional endeavors and remains motivated as long as he continues working actively.