Alexander Abramov was born in 1959. He graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology with a first-class honors degree in 1982, and he received a Ph.D. in Physics and Mathematics. He worked at the Institute of High Temperatures of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

In 1992, Mr. Abramov founded EvrazMetal, the predecessor of Evraz Group S.A. Until 1 January 2006, he was CEO of the Evraz Group, and until 1 May 2006 he was Chairman of its Board. Since May 2006 Mr. Abramov has been a member of the Board with no executive responsibilities. He is also a member of the boards of directors of the NTMK and ZapSib plants. Since December 2008 Alexander Abramov is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Evraz Group.

He is a Bureau member of the Council of Entrepreneurs and a member of the Council of Entrepreneurs set up by the Government of the Russian Federation.

Evraz Group is one of the world's largest vertically-integrated steel and mining businesses, with operations mainly in Russia. In 2005, Evraz Group produced 13.9 million tonnes of crude steel. Evraz Group's principal assets include three of the leading steel plants in Russia: Nizhny Tagil (NTMK) in the Urals region and West Siberian (ZapSib) and Novokuznetsk (NKMK) in Siberia, as well as Palini e Bertoli in Italy and Vitkovice Steel in the Czech Republic. Its fast-growing mining businesses comprise Evrazruda, the Kachkanarsky (KGOK) and Vysokogorsky (VGOK) iron ore mining complexes and Neryungriugol coal company, as well as equity interests in the Raspadskaya and Yuzhkuzbassugol coal mines. Evraz Group also owns and operates the Nakhodka commercial sea port, in the Far East of Russia, which facilitates its access to Asian export markets.

Alexander Abramov: "I believe the most important task for today is to help Russia's population, in particular the younger generation, to meet the requirements that globalisation imposes on managers. It is important that there are clear mechanisms for solving the problems through, first of all, the foreground national projects initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But the state is not almighty, so Russian business must show its social responsibility, especially in the realm of education. Raising education standards really does lead to a rise in living standards. The nurturing a new stratum of managers and experts who are able to help develop different spheres of life in the Russian Federation is of crucial importance. Investment in education is the most significant and promising of all investments, and the degree to which we do invest will in many respects determine the future of not only Russian businesses, but of Russia as a whole."