Yelena Baturina

Yelena Nikolayevna Baturina (Russian: Елена Николаевна Батурина, born March 8, 1963) is an international entrepreneur, billionaire, and philanthropist of Russian origin. She is the founder of Inteco, a large investment and construction corporation.

Early Life and Education

Baturina was born in Moscow, Russia, on March 8, 1963. She began working as a technical constructor at the "Mräserwerk" (where her parents also worked) in 1980. At the same time, she studied and worked at the Moscow Institute of Management.

Career

In 1989, Baturina started private business activities. In 1991, she founded Inteco, an investment and construction company, which initially focused on plastics but later established itself in the construction industry in Russia.

Under her leadership, Inteco expanded its operations to include a chain of hotels (Ireland, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Russia), a membrane-making business (Germany), a renewable energy project (Greece and Italy), development projects (United States and Cyprus), and investments in several real estate funds focused on residential and commercial construction in Europe and the United States.

In 2005, Inteco sold parts of its construction company, including cement plants and the subsidiary DSK-3, which produced prefabricated components for building houses. At the same time, Baturina acquired new assets, including a chain of hotels and renewable energy projects.

Philanthropy

Baturina is also the founder of BE OPEN, a cultural and social initiative. According to Forbes, in 2022, her heritage was estimated at $1.4 billion, making her Russia's richest woman for a certain period.

Personal Life

Baturina married Yuri Luzhkov, the former mayor of Moscow, in 1991. The couple has two daughters, who were sent to study in London to protect them from possible persecution by Russian authorities.

According to Luzhkov, "We will not give up... I will fight for my work and for my honor." Baturina sued the owners of the Telegraph newspaper after they published an interview with Luzhkov stating that she was sending their daughters to study in London to protect them from possible persecutions by Russian authorities.

Business Activities

Baturina's business activities include:

* Inteco, a large investment and construction corporation
* BE OPEN, a cultural and social initiative
* Hotel chain (Ireland, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Russia)
* Membrane-making business (Germany)
* Renewable energy project (Greece and Italy)
* Development projects (United States and Cyprus)
* Real estate investment funds focused on residential and commercial construction in Europe and the United States

Rankings

According to Forbes, Baturina's fortune grew to $1.4 billion in 2022, making her Russia's richest woman for a certain period. She ranks 55th in the world list of women entrepreneurs.

References