Essedel Team

Mihail Malkov

Managing Partner (CEO)
mihail.malkov(at)essedel.com

Andrei Novitsky

Partner
andrei.novitsky(at)essedel.com

Sirpa Nikitin

Director (CFO Group)
sirpa.nikitin(at)essedel.com

Viktor Eremin

Director (CFO Russia),
viktor.eremin(at)essedel.com

Ekaterina Elizarova

Investment Director
ekaterina.elizarova(at)essedel.com

Irina Jakovleva

Office manager
irina.jakovleva(at)essedel.com

Sergei Malakhov

Logistics manager
sergei.malahov(at)essedel.com

Advisory Board

Ilkka Linnakko

Mr. Linnakko has had an extensive career specifically in health care, IT and technology in both domestic and international arenas. He has worked full time with Russian companies since 1989, although his active involvement with Soviet Union began much earlier in 1975.  In 1989, as an employee of Sitra, he began to specialize in Russian technology transfer and private equity. Mr. Linnakko was a key person in establishing Norum Ltd and in founding Norum I and II, private equity funds targeting Russian markets.

In addition to his Norum involvement, Mr. Linnakko has participated in establishing an EBRD sponsored Uzbekistan Post-Privatisation Fund in 1998 and a private IC fund for Central Europe in 1999 with Sitra and 3i. He has also advised Russian Duma in developing legislation for private equity and venture capital. Mr. Linnakko is one of the founders of Russian Venture Capital Association and served two periods on its Board.

Christian Ramm-Schmidt

Mr. Ramm-Schmidt is senior partner at Merasco Capital Ltd, an investment bank specializing in mergers and acquisitions. He is one of the top CEOs in Finland and sits on several boards of directors.  Prior to joining Merasco, Mr. Ramm-Schmidt was CEO of the brewing corporation Baltic Beverages Holding Ltd (BBH). Between Mr. Ramm-Schmidt joining BBH in 1997, and the end of 2006, the company beer sales rose from 300 million litres to close to 5000 million litres, and the Russian market share from 16% to 40%. Under his management BBH became the market leader in Russia, the Baltic countries, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, and one of the leading breweries in the world.

Ilkka Salonen

Mr. Salonen has had one of the most reputable and successful careers in Russian banking sector. Up until recently Mr. Salonen served as the deputy chairman of the Board of Savings Bank of the Russian Federation (Sberbank), which is the largest financial institution in Russia. Prior to joining Sberbank he was President of Renaissance Capital Investments, a leading Russian investment bank and President of the Board of Management in International Moscow Bank and held various positions in the Russian and foreign banks since 1979.

Stefan Widomski

Mr Widomski has exceptionally distinguished professional career in the Finnish industrial history. Having served major part of his career in Nokia, Mr Widomski was one of key players to lead Nokia to a great success. The professional career of Mr Widomski includes such position as Senior Vice President International Trade Affairs in Nokia Corp.

Mr. Widomski’s complete fluency in such languages as Polish, Russian, Finnish, English and German as well as his exceptional multitalented skills have enabled him to establish outstanding international network. His extensive network in Russia is beyond compare ranging from top politicians on city and state level to top business managers. Mr. Widomski was the Chairman of the Finnish-Russian Chamber of Commerce for 6 years and member of the Board of East European Trust Plc. After retiring Mr. Widomski is still active in advising Finnish and international companies in their international business and regularly acts as a guest speaker in international seminars on international trade, cultural issues and related topics.

Aleksei Zhelezov

Mr. Zhelezov, Dr. Economic Sciences and Professor in International Academy of Business and New Technologies has had a long entrepreneurial career especially in insurance and finance. From 1994 to present Mr. Zhelezov has been the Chairman of the Board of OJSC “Severgazbank”, a leading regional bank in Northwest Russia and has held managerial positions in numerous other companies as well as being a member of the Advisory Board of Vologda Region and the Chairman of Vologda Region Business Club.