“Russia”. No matter what business you are in, you have to work for your people.

This is the credo of President of “Russneft” Mikhail Gutseriev. Founded by him oil company within less than two years came into the Top-10 of largest production holdings of the country. During this time Mikhail Gutseriev has proved that he is not only a true oil industry professional, successful businessman, but also a very reliable social partner of Russian people.

In the State Kremlin palace took place a grand ceremony of presentation of the main All-Russian Public Premium “Russian National Olymp”. Among premium’s founders are – “The third Millenium” fund, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

This premium is usually given to prominent public and political figures, heads of companies, cultural and art workers, who made significant contribution to political, social and economic development of the country.

Among this year’s winners are the President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev, legendary theatre and movie actor Vladimir Zeldin, head of oil and gas company “Russneft”, well-known businessman Mikhail Gutseriev, who was one of the winners  in the nomination “Top-Manager of the Year”. It is obvious, that without Gutseriev there will be no “Russneft”, which was one of the winners in “Company of the Year” nomination in fuel and energy section.

On the last day of autumn in one of the halls Christ the Savior Cathedral Mikhail Gutseriev was among other winners of the premium “Profession – Life”.

This ceremony was held by the fund “Assembly of Health”, the World Organization of Health Protection, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russian Federation with the help of His Holiness the Patriarchy of All-Russia Alexiy II and the chairman of Mufti Union of Russia sheikh Ravil Gainutdin.

This time Mikhail Gutseriev won the title “Maecenas of the Year”.

What is it? Smile of fortune? Gesture of goodwill from highly ranked patrons? Or maybe it is a miracle?

I think it is none of the above. This September, on the eve of Oil industry worker’s Day, all readers of “Russia” had an opportunity to get to know “Russneft” and its President Mikhail Gutseriev in full.

In that issue in a special chapter we gave the list of forty social programs of the Russia’s youngest oil-extracting companies.

This list added to my interview with Mikhail Gutseriev not for pure witticism. It was my idea to give this list in order not to touch this subject in the interview itself. Interestingly, during all week this list of “Russneft’s” good deeds and its President continued to grow, because at the first glance the idea of such a reference seem to Gutseriev too dry and formal. As for me, I was glad that it turned out that way. On one hand, the list of such good deeds became really huge, and on the other hand it became perfectly clear that all of them were accomplished not for the sake of my report in a newspaper. I am now sure that this wide social program became a very important component of the company’s success and received a worthy appreciation in nominations of main national public premiums.

You can think about social partnership and patronage from different points of view. You can buy a foreign football club. Or you can build hospitals and schools, restore churches, construct numerous social establishments in Russian towns and villages, sponsor cultural workers.

“No matter what business you are in, you have to work for your people” – this is the credo of the President of “Russneft” Mikhail Gutseriev. Vice-President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Vice-Speaker of the Russian State Duma – he is a man of his word. During the short period of its existence “Russneft” managed not only to achieve high production figures, but also to prove its faithfulness to the principles of social responsibility, declared by Russian President.

Nowadays “Russneft’s” subsidiaries operate in Western Siberia and Volga region, republics of Udmurtia and Komi, in Bryansk and Novosibirsk regions. In September in Bryansk region the company’s constructors in the short term built a new health center, equipped with the most modern diagnostics and medical equipment, with a hundred persons capacity. In Ulyanovsk region under head’s of the company decision one hundred ambulance cars were given free of charge to the local Ministry of Health, at full speed goes the construction of Orthodox Cathedral and Mosque, “Russneft” sponsors reconstruction of medical and educational establishments of the region. In capital of Udmurtia Republic Igevsk the company erects the Cathedral of the Great Martyr Tatiana, constructs a building for Oil faculty in Udmurtiya University, sponsors the Youth Sports Motoclub, byes modern computers for village schools. In Khanty-Mansiysk autonomous region, where most of “Russneft’s” subsidiaries operate, objects of social infrastructure are being built; in Raduzhniy – Orthodox Cathedral of Joann from Kronshtadt and a Mosque were built, equipment for children’s rehabilitation center was purchased, the company sponsors local annual contest of young violin players.

“Russneft’s” social and charitable activities, however, are not limited by the regions where it operates. For instance, this April in Grozniy “Russneft” started construction of a school, which next September will be ready to open its doors to more than five hundred Chechen children. The school will be equipped with the most modern equipment, in will have a swimming-pool and a stadium.

Moreover, “Russneft” participates in social and charitable programs in the republics of Northern Caucasus, builds a hospital in Makhachkhala, a school in Nazran. “Russneft” helps refugees, buys New Year presents for Chechen children.

“Russneft” sponsors Bakulev’s Center of cardiovascular surgery, finances the program of the Center “Touch a child’s heart”, repairs its facilities.

Mikhal Gutseriev sponsors “Et cetera” theatre under A. Kalyagin’s direction, supports international annual movie forum “Together”, this year he financed construction of  a monument to A.P. Chekchov in Yalta. In 2003 with “Russneft’s” assistance was held Ministry’s of Energy of Russian Federation best publication on fuel and energy issues contest “Prometey”, in September of 2004 – International Film Festival “Golden Tambourine”…

It is common knowledge that business success can be proved by figures – capitalization growth, optimistic financial data, consistent increase of output, etc. But beyond these dry figures it is sometimes hard to understand the true formula of success – exhausting everyday routine work multiplied on highest professionalism and profound experience.

In order to make this formula work in present-day Russian oil industry, you should square its members. Otherwise no figures will make you understand how within less than two years one can found a vertically integrated oil company, and make it a member of top ten Russian oil companies. Mikhail Gutseriev has successfully fulfilled this hardest task, in spite of already divided energy assets and complex political situation. Nowadays his oil company by acquiring promising enterprises and increasing production produces 8,5 million tones of oil per annum, its oil reserves are up to 380 million tones.

Gutseriev is used to starting from the beginning, fast and effectively materializing ideas, achieving goals in short periods of time. He is as fast and effective when it comes to helping children in Beslan and when it is needed to remember about social diseases and problems of society.

This is how “Russneft” was created, rapidly, consistently and in full compliance with a worked out program. Wide geography of the company’s activities gives excellent opportunities for introducing innovative technologies, attracting investments and later on – increasing its resource base as a fundamental principle of holding’s development program.

Integration in the young company means global change in infrastructure, economic and social characteristics of holding’s subsidiaries, re-equips its technical base, makes it a part of an effective vertical line of management, which helps achieve significant qualitative changes.

No doubt, that enviable progress of “Russneft” is derived from the power and ambitions of its President, who is sure that already this year his company will reach a character figure of 10 million tones of extracted oil, and in a little while will enter foreign markets. “Russneft’s” short biography proves that it is quite possible.

That is why the editorial border of “Russia” unconditionally joins decisions of juries of various contests and sincerely congratulates Mikhail Gutseriev with all his awards and honors, wishes success and well-being to him and his company.

Yuriy Koveshnikov.
02-08.12.04