Victor Pinchuk was born on the 14th of December, 1960, in the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv. His childhood, adolescence and his period of development as a businessman took place in a big industrial and scientific centre in the South-East of Ukraine - Dnipropetrovsk where his parents still live and work.
In 1983, Victor Pinchuk graduated with honors from the Dnipropetrovsk Metallurgical Institute where he majored in metal forming. He covered a road from researcher-in-training to senior research officer of State research and engineering institute of the pipe producing industry. In 1987 he earned a PhD degree in engineering for new techniques in pipe production.
Today, Victor Pinchuk is one of the most successful Ukrainian businessmen. Thanks to his involvement in the social life of the country, international and charitable organizations, he became one of the acknowledged leaders in building Ukraine's new relations with Europe and the world.
In 1990, Victor Pinchuk founded Interpipe company for implementation of innovative techniques for production of pipes at metallurgical plants of the former USSR.
A holding for production and supplies of steel pipes and railway wheels encompassing four enterprises in Ukraine became the foundation for the group's business.
The interests of the Group are focused on the metallurgy and pipe industry, banking sector and media business.
By the beginning of the 21st century, Interpipe Group entered top 5 leaders among private companies in Ukraine. Interpipe became the first Ukrainian participant company in the World Economic Forum in Davos and the first participant company in the Global Business Initiative to fight HIV/AIDS.
In 2006, Victor Pinchuk made a decision to restructure the group by creating on its base a number of individual businesses run following the principle of private equity fund based on a common portfolio strategy.
In the course of restructuring, EastOne company was established and a professional team of experts in strategic consulting on management investment and portfolio strategy was created which became the staff core of the new company.
The investment portfolio Eastone provides strategic advise for encompasses over 20 businesses and large-scale projects.
Victor Pinchuk was elected as a member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Ukrainian Parliament) of the third (1998-2002) and the fourth (2002-2006) convocation. Today, he resigned from the politics, since he considers that Ukraine has reached such a level of development when business and politics should be separated.
For more than ten years Victor Pinchuk has been developing and supporting a number of philanthropic projects in Ukraine. In 2006, he consolidated these activities under the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, which is now considered the largest Ukrainian philanthropic organisation.
The numerous projects of the Foundation include:
• a network of centres for newborn care "Cradles of Hope",
• a joint program with the William Clinton Foundation and Olena Franchuk's ANTIAIDS Foundation for prevention of HIV/IADS and mitigating of the epidemic spread among groups at risk,
• a joint program with the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Olena Frnchuk's ANTIAIDS Foundation for aid to children and orphans who suffered as a result of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ukraine,
• a nation-wide scholarship program "Zavtra.ua",
• Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) - jointly with the international Economic Education and Research Consortium (EERC),
• a program of cooperation with the Aspen Institute (USA),
• co-production with Steven Spielberg of the film on Holocaust in Ukraine "Spell Your Name' and its distribution in Ukraine with a further support for development and implementation of the nation-wide program based on the documentary for improving tolerance among schoolchildren,
• the centre for contemporary art "PinchukArtCentre",
• creation and support for the only private chamber orchestra in Ukraine,
• projects for protection of human rights implemented jointly with George Soros,
• support for local Jewish communities.
Victor Pinchuk has been continuously and actively making efforts for Ukraine's achieving European standards in different areas of life of the society and the state, and supporting the European integration of Ukraine in a consistent and practical way.
In 2004, he created the Yalta European Strategy (YES) - an international independent organization that is promoting Ukraine joining the European Union. Its annual summer meeting in Yalta has become the main high-level Ukraine-EU forum for debate, strategic ideas and policy recommendations development.
Mr. Pinchuk serves as a member of the Board of the International Crisis Group (ICG), a member of the Board of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a member of the International Advisory Council of Brookings Institute and a member of the Corporate Advisory Board of the Global Business Coalition against HIV/AIDS.
