Ruben Vardanyan (businessman)

In September 1990, en route to Maastricht conference, Vardanyan met Pavel Teplukhin. In November of the same year, Teplukhin introduced Vardanyan to Peter Derby, a Russian American who planned to establish a trading company in Russia and offered Vardanyan to join his team. The significant amount of time had been consumed by Russian bureaucracy, so only on March 18, 1991, Troika Dialog was officially registered. Since the very first days, Vardanyan worked at the company, first as an expert (1991—1992), then growing to the Head of the IPO department. In 1992 Vardanyan entered the executive board, taking chairs of executive director, president, CEO and chairman of the board of directors of "Troika Dialog" group. He held the post until the company was sold out.[1][5]

"Troika Dialog" trading company was registered in 1991, followed by an asset management company in 1996. In the early 2000s "Troika" established offices in New York and London.[6] As of 2011, the partners held 63.6% of "Troika Dialog" shares, with 40% owned by Vardanyan. At financial year-end 2010, "Troika" assets totaled $5.75 bln, $872 mln equity and $42.346 mln revenue.[7][8]

On March 11, 2011, Sberbank announced 100% acquisition of "Troika Dialog",[9] the transaction was finalized on January 23, 2012[10] The merger resulted in the launch of Sberbank CIB, a corporate investment business. In 2012 the asset management business merged into united holding, consolidating product ranges and executive boards of Sberbank on the base of "Troika Dialog". In 2018 Sberbank announced the merge of investment and corporate businesses into a single block.[11] Since the sale of "Troika Dialog" up to 2015, Vardanyan co-headed Sberbank CIB, also holding posts of the presidential adviser and Sberbank's chairman of the board.[4]

Sberbank acquired 100% of "Troika" shares for $1 bln. The agreement also included "Troika's" partners bonuses for 3 years, thus the overall deal cost totaled $1.4 bln. Before the sale, Vardanyan owned the major block of shares (40%), estimated at $560 mln. In requital he was offered 20.5% in AvtoVAZ and 27.3% in Kamaz, later sold out with a profit. By 2013 Forbes estimated Vardanyan's net worth at $800 mln.[8]

On March 4, 2019, Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) published an investigation on the ‘Troika Laundromat', exposing its network of 76 offshore companies, facilitating almost $4.6 bln.[6][12] Later Vardanyan commented on the investigation, claiming that "Troika" "always strived to perform only under the strict principles of legitimacy and transparency".[13] Austrian prosecution service found no grounds to open an official investigation on the offshore network of "Troika Dialog".[14]

In 2013 Vardanyan teamed with his ex-partner in "Troika" Mikhail Broitman and launched investment company ‘Vardanyan, Broitman and Co’. The company offered its clients deal structuring, capital raising, direct asset management and transaction support for traditional and venture projects.[15] According to b.cm data for 2018, Vardanyan owned 75% in "Vardanyan, Broitman and Co".[16]

"Vardanyan, Broitman and Co" assets include shares in Ameriabank, UFS Transport operator, and several venture projects (Lamoda, Pronutria, NtechLab). Major investments are placed in real estate management. In 2013 Vardanyan acquired a 50% share in Avica Management Company, an investment fund, established by Gagik Adibekyan's RD Group. In February 2018 the partners announced a split, dividing real estate assets of estimated $1 bln value. Vardanyan was to keep offices, including Romanov Dvor and Vozdvizhenka business centres. Also in 2018 Vardanyan and Global Blue announced the launch of Global Blue Russia, a first tax-refunding company in Russia.[17][18][19][15][20][21]

In 2015 Ruben Vardanyan launched "Phoenix Advisors", a company engaged in family welfare protection, management and succession planning.[15]

In 2004-2004 Vardanyan was CEO in Rosgosstrakh and headed "Troika Dialog" at the same time.[3][4]

According to the data in October 2019, Ruben Vardanyan has seats in executive boards of Kamaz, Ameriabank, Global Blue Russia Holdings B.V. He also is a member of the investment committee Avica Property Investors International, a member of the supervisory board at Investment and Venture Fund of the Republic of Tatarstan, and a chairman of the editorial committee international at BRICS Business Magazine. Throughout his career, he had posts in the various expert, executive, and advisory boards both in Russian and international leading companies, such as Sollers JSC, AvtoVAZ, Sibur, Novatek, Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company, Sheremetyevo International Airport, Rosgosstrakh, International Finance Corporation, Standard Bank, Marsh & McLennan Companies, etc.[16][4]

Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO

Vardanyan is also engaged in several educational initiatives in Russia.[22] He co-founded Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO and was its president from 2006 to 2011. As of 2019, Vardanyan holds a post of vice-chairman at the Skolkovo advisory board.[23][24][4]

In 2013 Ruben Vardanyan initiated the establishment of the Skolkovo Centre of Wealth Management and Philanthropy. The organisation supports entrepreneurship in Russia, establishing legal and educational infrastructure. Vardanyan also heads the supervisory board at Skolkovo Institute for Emerging Market Studies (SIEMS).[4]

Other educational institutions, where Vardanyan holds or previously held seats in supervisory boards, are Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (since 2014), MSU Faculty of Economics (2014-2017), international councils at Brazilian Fundação Dom Cabral' (since 2009), Japanese International Christian University (2011-2015), and GuangHua management school in China.[4]

In 2000-2016 Vardanyan was a member of the university endowment supervisory board at Russian New Economic School, in 2008-2009 holding a seat at the advisory board.[4]

In 2005-2008 Vardanyan was a member of the International Baccalaureate Organisation council.[4]

Vardanyan has joined the jury for Yidan Prize 2019, the biggest world educational award.[4]

United World College Dilijan

In 2013 Ruben Vardanyan, Veronika Zonabend and partners established UWC Dilijan College - an international boarding school for gifted youth (16–19 years) in Armenian city Dilijan. As one of the 18 United World Colleges, it offers a two-year pre-university scholar program. The campus was erected in the Dilijan National Park by British architect Tom Flynn.[25][26][27][28]

First UWC Dilijan students completed the two-year program in 2016, in 2019 there were more than 100 graduates from 61 countries.[29][30] Since 2014 more than 400 students from 105 countries graduated from UWC Dilijan.[31] More than 95% of the students receive grants to cover scholarships and living expenses.[26]

Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend also co-founded Scholae Mundi platform. It supports UWC Dilijan and various educational initiatives around the world, including ‘Higher Than Dreams’ scholarship program, started by ex-partners in "Troika Dialog".[32] Among other programs there are JUST DILIJAN IT! summer camp in Armenia for children and teenagers,[33] grant programs to provide UWC education for orphans and Near East refugees (in partnership with Near East Foundation),[34] subsidy programs for international students at American University of Armenia, grants for Armenian UWC Dilijan graduates enrolled in one of ten AWRU universities (in partnership with Luys foundation).[35][36]

In early 2000s Ruben Vardanyan and Armenian-American venture philanthropist Noubar Afeyan initiated the "Armenia 2020" project. Its purpose was to identify strategic development and perspectives of Armenia up to the year 2020. In the following years "Armenia 2020" gave rise to various social, business and charity initiatives of Vardanyan and Afeyan, some of them are managed by "Initiatives for Development of Armenia foundation" (IDeA).[37] One of the most famous projects of IDeA is Wings of Tatev cableway, the longest reversible single-section aerial tramway to the Tatev Monastery. Since 2010 it positively influences on the economy of the nearest town Goris and surrounding villages: due to the bigger tourist flow and corresponding income the region is able to build roads, hotels, and infrastructure, generate employment and boost cultural life.[37][38]

Tatev Monastery in Armenia

Tatev Revival Foundation supports Tatev monastery restoration program. In 2010 the Dzit Han oil mill was restored and opened for visitors.[39][40] In 2015 the subsoil drain system was constructed to drain ground waters down to Vorotan river valley. In 2015-2017 the North Entrance and the spring were reconstructed. Later, in 2018 the restoration works in the Holy Mother of God Church were completed. In 2019 the auxiliary buildings were reconstructed and opened for visitors.[41]

In May 2017 the restored Church of Holy Mother of God was opened Moushkapat, Artsakh.[42] The Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque in Shusha was restored by October 2019. The project was supported by Vardanyan's Revival of Oriental Historical Heritage Foundation.[43]

On September 17, 2017, the consecration ceremony of the Armenian Church complex took place in Moscow. Ruben Vardanyan was one of the project benefactors.[44]

In 2015 the Saint George's Church in Georgian Tbilisi was restored. The three-year long reconstruction project was financed by several philanthropists, including Ruben Vardanyan.[45]

The Fund for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST) was established in 2016. The organisation aimed to develop productive environment for technology and science innovations and marshall corresponding resources both in Armenia and within Armenian expat communities. The founding parties — Ruben Vardanyan, Noubar Afeyan (of IDeA), Fr. Mesrop Aramian (of Ayb and Luys) and IT-businessman Artur Alaverdyan. The $15 mln level of fund is to be divided into four main branches — education, research, start-ups, and production.[46]

The start of the 100 LIVES project was announced in March 2014, marking the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity was launched on the same evening. The award was established to acknowledge "those, who risk their lives for the sake of others". The Laureate receives $1 mln prize to support any philanthropy organization of his choice. The award was co-founded by Ruben Vardanyan, Noubar Afeyan, and Vartan Gregorian.[47][48][49]

In 2016 Marguerite Barankitse became the first Aurora laureate. Barankitse is known for the establishment of the Maison Shalom shelter and REMA hospital in Burundi, she saved thousands of lives and rescued refugees and orphans, victims of the Burundian Civil War.[50] In 2017 the Aurora prize was awarded to Dr. Tom Catena, the sole practicing physician in rebel-controlled territories in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan.[49] In 2018 Dr. Catena was elected head of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative.[51] In 2018 the award was given to Mr. Kyaw Hla Aung, a lawyer and Rohingya human rights activist from Myanmar.[52] The 2019 Aurora prize was awarded to Mirza Dinnayi, co-founder and director of Air Bridge Iraq (Luftbrücke Irak) initiative, which saved the Yazidis people and other victims of terror in Iraq, evacuated women and children from ISIS-controlled territories to Germany, where they can get medical care and help.

The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative holds Aurora Dialogues, the discussions on the world's humanitarian issues and challenges, facing the Aurora community.[53] The event also includes the Aurora Humanitarian Index, an international survey that measures social attitudes to the world's biggest humanitarian issues.[49] In 2019 #AraratChallenge, a new global crowdfunding campaign aimed to support people in urgent need of basic humanitarian aid and support.[54] In October 2019 the first Aurora forum took place in Armenia. It included Aurora Prize events, FAST Global Innovations Forum, #AraratChallenge festival, film festival, conferences, discussions, concerts, and exhibitions.[55]

Ruben Vardanyan spares a major part of his time to projects on Russian philanthropy infrastructure development. In 2014 he launched "Philin" ("Philanthropy Infrastructure") initiative, aimed to provide back-office services to non-profit organizations. "Philin" outsources legal, IT, financial and HR tasks of non-profit organizations, it also audits charity funds' performance and provides accounts to the benefactors.[15][56]