German Gref
Encyclopedia
German Oskarovich Gref born February 8, 1964) is a Russian economist of German ethnicity, the founder of Center of the Strategic Development. He was the Minister of Economics and Trade of Russia
from May 2000 to September 2007. He currently is the president of Sberbank
.
), the son of ethnic German
deportees who were exiled there in 1941. He attended Omsk State University
as a law student from 1985 to 1990 after fulfilling his two year military obligation. Then he moved to Leningrad
(now Saint Petersburg) and taught law at Leningrad University while completing his post-graduate degree, which he finished in 1993. In addition to his teaching position at Leningrad University and his studies, Gref worked in the Saint Petersburg City Administration
in various capacities, such as legal adviser (a position he had also held when in Kazakhstan), and other jobs, most dealing with property and real estate.
in 1999, both positions he still holds.
on May 18, 2000. He held the position from 2000 until Putin sacked Mikhail Kasyanov
's Cabinet in March 2004. Gref was reappointed to the position in the succeeding Cabinet, headed by Mikhail Fradkov
.
In his position, Gref was one of major advocates of joining the World Trade Organisation. He is also responsible for creation of Stabilisation Fund
. It was originally gathered for payments by the Russian external loan, but soon overrun the limits of the loan. The controversy spark among economists in Russia, should the government spend Stabfund money immediately on current needs, or should it, as Gref preferred, to keep and develop it, using it in stock investments.
He was dismissed from the Cabinet in September 2007, after Fradkov was replaced by Victor Zubkov.
At an extraordinary general meeting on November 28, 2007 he was elected the new president of Sberbank
.
, the Minister of Health and Social Development until September 2007, and Alexei Kudrin
, Minister of Finance, and a Deputy Prime Minister under Prime Minister Putin. In early 2005, the three men came under fire for reforms to benefits for the elderly that they suggested and the State Duma
had approved in 2004. Many of the reforms had to do with replacing free benefits, such as medical care and transportation, with cash benefits. This replacement angered many of the elderly because transportation costs were increasing. Protests took place all over Russia
, but neither the administration nor the State Duma responded to these protests in any substantial way. The President reprimanded Kudrin on national television, and a few members of the State Duma went on a hunger strike for a short period of time. A no-confidence vote against Fradkov's cabinet was called by the State Duma in early February, but it failed.
Some analysts saw the whole affair as an attempt to either discredit or perhaps get rid of one of the three men by other members of the cabinet. However, this was never proven and Gref , Kudrin, and Zurabov all retained their jobs.
. His wife has a teenage son from a prior relationship. just as German has a son Oleg from his marriage with Yelena (who refused to move to Moscow when German Gref was called into the government in 1998). Since 2006 the couple has a daughter. His son Oleg studied jurisprudence in St. Petersburg until 2004 and moved to Germany for further education. German Gref speaks German at a native level and he loves Goethe and German Expressionism
.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
from May 2000 to September 2007. He currently is the president of Sberbank
Sberbank
Sberbank Rossii is the largest bank in Russia and Eastern Europe. The company's headquarters are in Moscow and its history goes back to Cancrin's financial reform of 1841...
.
Education and early career
Gref born in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (now KazakhstanKazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
), the son of ethnic German
Germans of Kazakhstan
The Germans of Kazakhstan are a minority in Kazakhstan, and make up a small percentage of the population. Today they live mostly in the northeastern part of the country between the cities of Astana and Oskemen, the majority being urban dwellers...
deportees who were exiled there in 1941. He attended Omsk State University
Omsk State University
Omsk F. M. Dostoevsky State University , usually referred to as Omsk State University was founded in 1974 in the city of Omsk, Russia. The university has since grown significantly...
as a law student from 1985 to 1990 after fulfilling his two year military obligation. Then he moved to Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
(now Saint Petersburg) and taught law at Leningrad University while completing his post-graduate degree, which he finished in 1993. In addition to his teaching position at Leningrad University and his studies, Gref worked in the Saint Petersburg City Administration
Saint Petersburg City Administration
Saint Petersburg City Administration is the superior executive body of Saint Petersburg , Russian Federation. It is located in a historic building, Smolny....
in various capacities, such as legal adviser (a position he had also held when in Kazakhstan), and other jobs, most dealing with property and real estate.
Moscow years
In August 1998, Gref was appointed First Deputy Minister of State Property of the Russian Federation, and was a member of its board until 2000. He was also appointed to the board of the Federal Commission for the Securities Market of the Russian Federation and the board of state-owned GazpromGazprom
Open Joint Stock Company Gazprom is the largest extractor of natural gas in the world and the largest Russian company. Its headquarters are in Cheryomushki District, South-Western Administrative Okrug, Moscow...
in 1999, both positions he still holds.
Ministry of Economic Development and Trade
Gref was first appointed as Minister of the newly formed Ministry of Economic Development and Trade by Vladimir PutinVladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
on May 18, 2000. He held the position from 2000 until Putin sacked Mikhail Kasyanov
Mikhail Kasyanov
Mikhail Mikhailovich Kasyanov - was the Prime Minister of Russia from May 2000 to February 2004.He is the leader of the People's Democratic Union and an ex-member of the opposition coalition "The Other Russia".-Political career:...
's Cabinet in March 2004. Gref was reappointed to the position in the succeeding Cabinet, headed by Mikhail Fradkov
Mikhail Fradkov
Mikhail Yefimovich Fradkov is a Russian politician and statesman who was the Prime Minister of Russia from March 2004 to September 2007. Fradkov has been the head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service since 2007.-Early life:...
.
In his position, Gref was one of major advocates of joining the World Trade Organisation. He is also responsible for creation of Stabilisation Fund
Stabilization Fund of the Russian Federation
The Stabilization fund of the Russian Federation wasestablished by resolution of the Government of Russia on January 1, 2004, as a part of the federal budget to balance the...
. It was originally gathered for payments by the Russian external loan, but soon overrun the limits of the loan. The controversy spark among economists in Russia, should the government spend Stabfund money immediately on current needs, or should it, as Gref preferred, to keep and develop it, using it in stock investments.
He was dismissed from the Cabinet in September 2007, after Fradkov was replaced by Victor Zubkov.
At an extraordinary general meeting on November 28, 2007 he was elected the new president of Sberbank
Sberbank
Sberbank Rossii is the largest bank in Russia and Eastern Europe. The company's headquarters are in Moscow and its history goes back to Cancrin's financial reform of 1841...
.
Liberal reformer
Gref was considered to be one of the "Liberal Reformers" in Putin's Administration. The others were Mikhail ZurabovMikhail Zurabov
Mikhail Yuryevich Zurabov is the current ambassador of Russia to Ukraine and Russia's former Minister of Health and Social Development . He held the post of Minister of Health and Social Development from 9 March 2004 to 24 September 2007...
, the Minister of Health and Social Development until September 2007, and Alexei Kudrin
Alexei Kudrin
Alexei Leonidovich Kudrin was the Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister of Russia from 18 May 2000 to 26 September 2011. After graduating with degrees in finance and economics, Kudrin worked in the administration of Saint Petersburg's liberal Mayor Anatoly Sobchak. In 1996 he started...
, Minister of Finance, and a Deputy Prime Minister under Prime Minister Putin. In early 2005, the three men came under fire for reforms to benefits for the elderly that they suggested and the State Duma
State Duma
The State Duma , common abbreviation: Госду́ма ) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. The Duma headquarters is located in central Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to...
had approved in 2004. Many of the reforms had to do with replacing free benefits, such as medical care and transportation, with cash benefits. This replacement angered many of the elderly because transportation costs were increasing. Protests took place all over Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, but neither the administration nor the State Duma responded to these protests in any substantial way. The President reprimanded Kudrin on national television, and a few members of the State Duma went on a hunger strike for a short period of time. A no-confidence vote against Fradkov's cabinet was called by the State Duma in early February, but it failed.
Some analysts saw the whole affair as an attempt to either discredit or perhaps get rid of one of the three men by other members of the cabinet. However, this was never proven and Gref , Kudrin, and Zurabov all retained their jobs.
Personal life
German Gref has married the designer Yana (Яна) on 1. May 2004 in the throne room of Peterhof PalacePeterhof Palace
The Peterhof Palace in Russian, so German is transliterated as "Петергoф" Petergof into Russian) for "Peter's Court") is actually a series of palaces and gardens located in Saint Petersburg, Russia, laid out on the orders of Peter the Great. These Palaces and gardens are sometimes referred as the...
. His wife has a teenage son from a prior relationship. just as German has a son Oleg from his marriage with Yelena (who refused to move to Moscow when German Gref was called into the government in 1998). Since 2006 the couple has a daughter. His son Oleg studied jurisprudence in St. Petersburg until 2004 and moved to Germany for further education. German Gref speaks German at a native level and he loves Goethe and German Expressionism
German Expressionism
German Expressionism refers to a number of related creative movements beginning in Germany before the First World War that reached a peak in Berlin, during the 1920s...
.