Current Responsibilities:
I help Peter and Tom manage PBN's Moscow Office and meet Moscow and other client requirements. I also develop new client relationships, especially in the banking and financial sectors. My first client assignments include Nomura Securities and Wal-Mart.

Professional Highlights:
I’ve been a commercial-transactional lawyer in Russia for more than 10 years. For the past two years, I was Director, International Legal & Compliance, at the MDM Financial Group. I‘ve also headed up offices for international law firms in Vladivostok and in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

What He’ll Miss About Practicing Law:
Well, honestly, nothing. At PBN, I'll still be doing a good deal of work that involves legal and government affairs issues, in addition to strategic business and communications consulting.

What He Won’t Miss About Practicing Law:
The sense of parochialism. The idea that "we don’t do that – we’re lawyers."

What He Loves About Moscow:
The arts - Moscow's concert halls and theatres. The ballet, chamber music, opera. Even music students who play for spare change in the Metro stations are incredibly gifted – the quality of their musicianship is often on par with European and American professionals. (Vlad’s wife is a professional opera singer in Moscow.)

What He Misses About the US:
I miss less and less as time goes on. Some favorite consumer goods used to be a problem. I remember when I couldn’t find microwave popcorn or Twizzlers in Moscow. Now, the only thing I really miss is the touch and smell of the Sunday New York Times – the real McCoy! It's not the same reading it on the Internet. (Vlad’s family emigrated to the US before the Russian Revolution. He has been living in Russia since the early 1990s.)

What Tom Thomson Says About Vlad:
"I’ve known Vlad for many years. One of his greatest strengths is his ability to use his legal training and problem-solving experience as a foundation for addressing the toughest challenges of our clients. Business is not his only interest. Vlad is also one mean classical piano player."

Email Vlad: vladimir.berezansky@pbnco.com
 

Anton Niskin, Vice President, Reputation Management

Current Responsibilities:
I’m in charge of PBN’s corporate reputation management division, including overseeing the firm’s fast-growing financial communications practice. Right now, Renaissance Capital, Pharmacy Chain 36.6, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and getting ready for Amtel’s 2005 IPO are keeping me very busy.

Professional Highlights:
I’ve had both agency and corporate experience. I’ve worked for many of Russia’s leading corporations, including Aton Capital and Mikhailov & Partners, where I worked with Norilsk Nickel, Xerox and Gazprom.

Why He Joined PBN:
PBN means success, integrity and leadership. PBN has already accomplished far beyond what other agencies only dream of doing in this market.

What He Does When Not Working:
Skating in crowded public places – anywhere where I can watch people. I also spend a lot of time working out at my gym.

Favorite Moscow Hang-Out:
My favorite bookstore "Moskva" – I’ll get thrown out of my house if I keep coming home with more books. And I never miss a Friday night at the clubs.

What Peter Necarsulmer Says About Anton:
"I’ve known Anton for several years, as both a personal friend and professional colleague. He brings a unique style to PBN. He’s a brilliant consultant, super energetic and an incredibly natty dresser!"

Email Anton: anton.niskin@pbnco.com
 

Current Responsibilities:
My clients include Caspian Pipeline Consortium, BP and Alfa Capital. I am applying my five-year experience with the Russian capital markets to quite a few other PBN clients.

Professional Highlights:
I am glad that I had a chance to work in different spheres with different people. I began my career as a tour guide, which was an exciting time of my life. My job was to make sure people were having fun. So willingly or unwillingly, I was doomed to have fun every day.

Favorite Part of Being a PBN Client:
It was so nice to visit PBN’s great office from time to time, to have a cup of strong coffee with a cigarette, and chat with Tanya and Peter about the project. (We met Vadim when he was our client, overseeing PBN’s work for the Federal Commission for the Securities Market.)

Favorite Part of Being a PBN Employee:
Hard-working office, strong coffee, friendly people and Peter’s cigarettes.

What He Does When Not Working:
I like to dream about future voyages somewhere far away from Moscow. In the summer at night, I like to drive really fast with very loud music. And I like to play with my cat, Batman.

What Sue Thurman Says About Vadim:
"As a client while at the securities market, Vadim kept us on our toes -- asking probing questions and demanding the best from our project teams in Moscow, London and Washington DC. We see the same commitment to excellence from Vadim now that he is a member of PBN's Moscow office."

Email Vadim: vadim.bely@pbnco.com
 

Current Responsibilities:
Economic and opinion research, trend analysis and special economic reports for PBN clients. For PBN, Renaissance Capital, IRG and investor relations specialists Taylor-Rafferty, I am leading a unique study of 150 Russian CEOs on the topic of corporate reputation management.

Professional Highlights:
I used to work at IRG and was involved in many projects with companies like EBRD, IFC, Bank Societe Generale, Dow Corning and Sun Interbrew. I am proud to be the primary author of Russia’s Top 100 Consumer Companies, published last year by IRG. And I’ve been an open-air talk show host four times on Echo Moskva Radio station.

How He Got So Smart:
Wow. Well, I always was a great student. I was always studying, never having time for girls, friends or anything else. I’m also a chess player.

What He Does When Not Working:
I like to walk around the city. Believe it or not, I even like walking around cemeteries -- I don't know why, maybe I just like thinking about some of Moscow’s famous people and their role in Russia’s amazing history. I love museums and galleries, especially painting and photography exhibitions.

What Peter Necarsulmer Says About Sasha:
"You can’t believe the information and insights that Sasha brings to the table. His reports are well-researched and well-organized. His analysis is astute and strategic. He is a serious addition to PBN’s brain trust."

Email Sasha: alexander.utochkin@pbnco.com

For CVs of these new PBNers, please go to www.pbnco.com/eng/offices/moscow/staff.php