Vladimir Lisin, NLMK Group’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, met with investors at “The Russia Forum 2013”, an investment conference held in Moscow and organized by Sberbank. He took the opportunity to share his views on the current economic outlook and business development opportunities with investors from Russia, Europe and the USA. He discussed the situation in the Metals and Mining and transport sector, and the strategic development of NLMK over the next few years.

Vladimir Lisin said: “Unfortunately, there is no quick resolution to the crisis in the global Metals and Mining sector. The weak growth in demand is coupled with a record overcapacity of up to 600 mt but, at the same time, this crisis will have a “revitalizing” effect on the sector. Weak, inefficient companies will not survive, leaving the way clear for the more flexible and efficient players. This means that, along with the challenges, sustainable manufacturers will be presented with new opportunities to increase their operational efficiency, to fine-tune their use of the latest technologies, to expand their product mix, to penetrate more deeply into promising niche products and markets and to improve their quality of service. These crises have had a similar effect on steelmaking leaders in the past.”

“My forty years of experience show that NLMK’s strategy, with its key focus on stability and sustainability, is justified by the evolutionary logic of the industry. It is interesting to work in Russia, where today there are conditions for the further development of ferrous metallurgy. As a Russian company with a vast international presence, we possess a number of important competitive advantages related to resource self-sufficiency, employee skills and asset geography.”

“That is not to say that there are no challenges but these exist in the other countries in which our Company operates. The most important thing, in my view, is to understand that these challenges are surmountable and that there is an ongoing improvement process that opens new market and operational opportunities. The country is growing, and our business is growing and improving with it. It is vital to sustain this growth and to improve its quality. We are willing to offer high quality competitive products and services to the Russian economy and to develop our presence in the export markets, thereby expanding our offering of high quality, competitive products.”

Vladimir Lisin

Board member since 1996, Chairman of the Board since 1998. Chairman of the Human Resources, Remuneration and Social Policies Committee and Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee.

 Started his career in 1975 as an electrical fitter. He rose through the ranks from assistant steelmaker to deputy CEO of a steelmaking company.

He was member of the Boards of Directors of several leading Russian steel companies since 1993.

He graduated from the Siberian Metallurgic Institute, the Higher School of Commerce with the Foreign Trade Academy, the Academy of National Economyunder the Government of the Russian Federation. Ph.D., Tech.; Ph.D., Ec..