Andrey Elinson

Andrey Elinson
Andrey Elinson, businessman and investor
Born	10 January 1979
Alma mater	Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation
Occupation	CEO Inweasta Former Managing Partner A1, Alfa Group Former Deputy CEO Basic Element (company)
Known for	significant contribution to the preparation and conduct of the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Sochi
Awards	Order of Friendship

Andrey Elinson (Andrei Mikhailovich Elinson), born on January 10, 1979, in Moscow, Russia, is an internationally acclaimed businessman and investor. He has contributed notably to the fields of private equity, strategic business development, and corporate management. Throughout his career, Elinson has held top executive positions at some of Russia's and international largest businesses and industrial conglomerates, such as serving as Deputy CEO of Basic Element, Managing Partner at A1, Director of Asset Management at Alfa Group Consortium, and Partner at Deloitte CIS. His crucial role in the preparation and execution of the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Sochi, Russia, has earned him widespread recognition and Russia’s state awards.

Currently, Elinson is the founder and owner of Inweasta, an international group of companies with operations spanning Dubai, Turkey, Hong Kong, Paris, and Vienna. This venture allows him to leverage his expertise in investment strategies, cross-border dispute resolution, litigation funding, and distressed asset management, with the aim of delivering solid client experiences across various domains, including legal, financial, investment, security, and public relations.

Early Life

Born and raised in Moscow, Elinson graduated with honors from the Finance Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation, specializing in accountancy and auditing. His professional journey, spanning over two decades, has been marked by a series of influential positions within some of Russia's largest industrial conglomerates and investment firms.

Career

Deloitte

Elinson's career began at Deloitte CIS in 1997, where he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming one of the firm's youngest-ever partners by the age of 25 in 2005. At Deloitte, he held various capacities, including Partner-in-charge of Forensic and Dispute Services and Leader of the Internal Control Service Line in Enterprise Risk Services. He played a crucial role in managing assurance and advisory projects for both Russian and international companies.

Basic Element

From 2007 to 2014, Elinson served at Basic Element, one of Russia's largest industrial conglomerates. Initially, he held the position of Director of Corporate Governance and Internal Control, where he was responsible for the development and implementation of corporate governance standards. Later, he advanced to the role of Deputy CEO, overseeing the M&A, finance, and corporate governance teams. In this capacity, Elinson supervised Basic Element's investments across key industries, including aviation, pulp and mill, real estate development, construction, insurance, finance, manufacturing, retail, media, energy, and mining.

Additionally, Elinson served in other Basic Element-owned companies, holding the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors of Basel Aero, managing airports in Sochi, Krasnodar, Anapa, and Gelendzhik, Russia. He also held the role of Managing Director of the resort district 'Imeretinsky' in Sochi, a significant tourism and recreation complex in the city.

Alfa Group Consortium

In December 2015, Elinson joined the Alfa Group Consortium as the Director of Asset Management at CTF Holdings, a position he held until March 2018. Subsequently, in 2018, he became the Managing Director and CEO of A1, a leading European private equity firm and litigation funder. Elinson contributed to the firm until October 2023, focusing on strategic business development and corporate management. His departure from A1 in October 2023 signified his exit from all appointed roles, allowing him to redirect his focus exclusively to his personal investment enterprise, Inweasta.

Inweasta

Andrey Elinson founded Inweasta, an international group of companies, in 2022. As the owner of Inweasta, Elinson oversees the firm's operations spanning offices in Dubai, Paris, Hong Kong, Vienna, and Istanbul. Inweasta provides services related to investment strategies, cross-border dispute resolution, litigation funding, and distressed asset management. The company's capabilities include litigation funding, managing cross-border litigation, investing in undervalued assets, corporate finance advisory, debt restructuring, inheritance planning, and dispute mediation.

Russia’s State Awards for 2014 Winter Olympics

Elinson's contributions to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi were instrumental, as he played a key role in the construction of the Sochi Olympic Village and the renovation and modernization of the Sochi International Airport. His leadership and dedication to these projects earned him the Order of Friendship and the medal "For the Construction of Transport Facilities" from the President of the Russian Federation in December 2014.

Board Memberships

Throughout his career, Elinson has served on the boards of several prominent companies, including X5 Retail Group, ABH Holdings S.A., AlfaStrakhovaniye Group, Alfa-Bank, Rosvodokanal, En+ Group, and STRABAG SE (an Austrian construction company). He was a Member of the Supervisory Board of X5 Retail Group, one of Russia's largest retail operators, from 2016 to 2020. Andrey Elinson also served as a member of the supervisory board of the Alfa Group Consortium and A1 Investment Holding, positions he departed from by 2020.

Certifications

Elinson holds multiple certifications, including a Certified Public Accountant (USA), a licensed Russian auditor, and a Certificate in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors (UK). He has been actively involved in public speaking and has authored articles on topics related to corporate governance and fraud prevention.

Personal Life

Andrey Elinson is married and has a daughter. He is fluent in English and Russian, and also possesses basic knowledge of French and German. Additionally, he is an enthusiast of triathlon.