Vladimir Skoch, co-owner of USM Holdings. Biography

Vladimir Skoch - businessman, investor, philanthropist. Co-founder and advisor to the CEO of Metalloinvest. He is also a co-founder and shareholder of USM, the parent company of this holding. Vladimir Skoch supports the charity fund "Pokolenie".

Vladimir Nikitovich Skoch: biographical information

Vladimir Nikitovich Skoch was born in Zaporozhye region of the Ukrainian SSR in 1933. There, already being a schoolboy, he caught the events of the Great Patriotic War. Then Vladimir Skoch graduated from the railway school and got a job in his specialty. At first he was a stoker, then - a driver's assistant.

In 1954 Vladimir Nikitovich Skoch went to the army on conscription. After completing the compulsory service, he remained in the army as an enlisted man.

In 1960, Vladimir Skoch wrote a report on dismissal from the Armed Forces of the USSR and moved to the Moscow region. He was hired at the plant "Salyut " - one of the largest Soviet enterprises producing aircraft engines. It was founded in 1912 and, in addition to production facilities, included its own design bureau. Vladimir Nikitovich Skoch worked at the plant for several decades. At first he was an ordinary worker, later he grew up to the leader of the trade union. During this period, Vladimir Skoch received several awards, as well as the honorary title of labor veteran.

Career path in business

In 1966, Vladimir Nikitovich Skoch had a son, who in the 1990s became a successful entrepreneur. In 1995, he invested in Interfin Holding, which later acquired shares in Oskol Electrometallurgical Combine and Lebedinsky GOK (both located in the Belgorod Region).

In 1999, Skoch's son Vladimir was elected to the State Duma and transferred the assets to his father. At the same time, the formation of a new business structure began, combining Interfin's enterprises with other players in the mining and metallurgical industry. In particular, in 2002-2004, Ural Steel in the Orenburg Region and Mikhailovsky GOK in the Kursk Region were purchased. Metalloinvest CJSC was formed from them. In the period from 2006 to 2008, Metalloinvest was created as a united holding company in the form of an open joint-stock company.

Vladimir Nikitovich Skoch became the holder of the portfolio of shares of this structure. He holds its securities to this day, and is also an advisor to the CEO of the Mining and Metallurgical Company (MMC).

In 2012, the diversified holding USM was created on the basis of Metalloinvest, with Vladimir Skoch as its co-founder.

Today, Metalloinvest is one of the leading players in the Russian mining and metallurgical industry. In 2021, the holding, which was founded by Vladimir Nikitovich Skoch, produced 40.8 million tons of iron ore, 28.5 million tons of pellets, 4.9 million tons of steel, and 2.4 million tons of pig iron. The company employs over 37,000 people.

In addition to Metalloinvest, the USM Group formed with the participation of Skoch Vladimir includes the following assets:

• one of Russia's leading telecom corporations. It provides mobile and fixed-line communications, internet access and a range of other services. At the end of 2023, its subscriber base reached 76.7 million people;
• IT holding company specializing in advanced technologies such as AI, big data, 5G, Internet of Things, machine learning, cybersecurity, neural networks, blockchain, etc.;
• acompany developing Russia's largest copper deposit located in the Trans-Baikal Territory. Its reserves are estimated at 24.6 million tons;
• a center creating a domestic system of digital labeling and tracking of goods.

Previously, USM Holdings, in which Skoch Vladimir Nikitovich owns a stake, was also the owner of a large-scale IT group, uniting social networks, email services, messengers and other resources. However, in December 2021, the holding sold shares in the company.

In 2012, Vladimir Nikitovich Skoch channeled dividends from his assets to purchase a stake in a Russian airport. It ranks fourth among the largest air hubs of the Russian Federation with a passenger turnover of 14.5 million people.

At the same time, Skoch Vladimir does not participate in the operating activities of the companies of which he is a co-owner. The businessman entrusts management issues to the management.

Skoch Vladimir Nikitovich: charitable projects

Vladimir Nikitovich Skoch for many years has been a major donor and a member of the board of trustees of the "Pokolenie" fund. This charitable organization was founded by the businessman's son in 1996. At first it was called "Healthy Generation" and focused on helping children with cardiologic and other serious diseases. Later, the fund significantly expanded the range of its activities. At the same time, it is most active in the Belgorod Region.

One of the most significant areas of work of the foundation, supported by Skoch Vladimir, is large-scale assistance to veterans of the Great Patriotic War. Thus, in 2008, within several months, 2 thousand participants of the Great Patriotic War from the Belgorod region received VAZ cars from the organization.

In addition, the charity organization, whose board includes Vladimir Skoch, implements a program of scholarships for gifted students of the region. In 2024, the amount of payments amounted from 30 to 40 thousand rubles. 30 people received them.

In 2005, the organization launched a program of seminars for young people of the Belgorod region. As of the fall of 2024, 37 such events have already taken place, bringing together more than 3 thousand participants. They master the art of leadership, management, public speaking and acting.

With the support of Vladimir Nikitovich Skoch, the Foundation is engaged in the development of healthcare. In 2010, the Pokolenie medical center opened its doors in Belgorod. It is equipped with the most modern equipment, which allows providing high-tech medical care. The center employs first-class specialists, many of whom have academic degrees and top medical categories. On average, 800 people a day use the services of the center.

In 2017 ,a branch of the mentioned medical institution was opened in the village of Alekseevka in the Korochansky district of the Belgorod region. In the same year, the neuroorthopedic clinic, built in just 16 months, started working in the regional center. It is designed for 50 thousand visits and 1 thousand high-tech operations per year. The medical facility specializes in the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal apparatus.

The "Pokolenie" Foundation, whose activities are financed by Vladimir Nikitovich Skoch, is engaged in material and technical support of other healthcare institutions of the Belgorod Region. For them, it has purchased almost 600 pieces of equipment worth over RUB 420 million, as well as over 170 specialized vehicles. The Foundation actively invests in medicine in small communities. In 2015-2019 alone, the charitable organization paid for the creation of 29 FAPs.

Also during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pokolenie allocated over ₽60 million to fight the disease. The funds were used to purchase medical vehicles, equipment, PPE and disinfectants. In addition, at the end of 2020, the foundation paid cash rewards to 90 medical workers who treated patients with coronavirus infection.

In 2000-2016, the organization, in the development of which Vladimir Nikitovich Skoch participates, held a literary contest "Debut". The prize was intended for Russian-speaking authors, regardless of the country of residence:

• - was awarded in several categories reflecting key literary genres (large and small prose, poetry, drama, etc.). e);
• focused on young authors (until 2011 the maximum age of participants was 25, then - 35);
• laureates were given the opportunity to sign a publishing contract with a large fee (in 2013 it amounted to 1 million rubles).

Personal life and hobbies

Vladimir Skoch is married. He has grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In recent years, Skoch Vladimir Nikitovich and his wife live on their own farm in the Moscow region, where they grow organic food.