Vyacheslav Kim (born June 12, 1969) is a Kazakhstani economist, financier, cofounder, shareholder and chairman of the Board of Directors at Kaspi.kz and President of the Kazakhstan National Taekwondo Federation.

Vyacheslav Kim
Вячеслав Ким
Born (1969-06-12) June 12, 1969 (age 55)
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Occupation(s)economist, financier, patron
SpouseTatyana Kim
Awards

As of 2024, Kim is the wealthiest person in Kazakhstan.[1][2]

Education

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In 1996, Kim graduated from the Republican Physics and Mathematics School.[3] He graduated from the Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University with a degree in Financial Economics in 1998 and from the Russian-Kazakh Modern Humanitarian University with a degree in Finance in 2002.

Early career

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1987–1989: Vyacheslav Kim completed his military service in the USSR Armed Forces.[4]

1990: Kim co-founded Konovalov's Ophthalmology Clinic in partnership with his colleague.[5]

1996–2004 – He engaged in retail business and electronic equipment distribution through companies such as ALTAIR JSC, Asia Technics LLP, and ATG LLP.

1993–2005 – Kim was one of the founders and owners of the country’s largest retail chain, Planet of Electronics Network of Stores.[6][7]

2003–2004 – He served as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Kazakhstan Association of Manufacturers and Equipment.[8]

2004–2005 – Kim held the position of President at Asia Technics Group JSC.[9]

2004–2006 – He was an adviser to the Minister of Economy and Budget Planning of the Republic of Kazakhstan.[10]

2005–2006 – Kim was the Managing Director of Economics at Kazakhstan Temir Zholy JSC.[11]

Kaspi.kz

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In 1993, Vyacheslav Kim opened the Planet of Electronics Store,[5] which became the country's largest store in less than a decade, but Kim wanted more: he knew that sales could be increased by giving loans to people. After the USSR collapsed, Kazakhstan was going through difficult times: per capita GDP was contracting from 1990 until 2000. Stores could not give their own loans, so they began to buy banking organizations. In 2002, Vyacheslav Kim made a deal with the newly privatized local Bank Kaspiyskiy. However, it was not so easy to combine trade and lending. The entrepreneur began seeking investment partners who might help him, and learned about the Baring Vostok Fund,[12] which acquired a stake in the company.[6] This led to Mikheil Lomtadze joining the management team in 2007, who together with Vyacheslav Kim transformed Kaspi to the biggest Kazakhstan fintech company.[6]

The value of his stake in Kaspi.kz after successful Kaspi.kz IPO on the London Stock Exchange in October 2020 was estimated by Bloomberg at $1.9 billion.[13][14]

On February 21, 2020, president of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with Vyacheslav Kim and Chairman of the Kaspi.kz Board Mikhail Lomtadze, at which discussions addressed the digital service development strategy, prospects for e-commerce growth in Kazakhstan and the Company’s plans to support small and medium-sized businesses. The President emphasized the importance of using technological innovations in Kaspi.kz activities.[15] One year later, on February 26, 2021, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a second meeting with the Kaspi.kz founders Vyacheslav Kim and Mikheil Lomtadze during which promising areas of joint activity of the state bodies and Kaspi.kz were identified, including in the development of non-cash payments in Kazakhstan.[16] The next meeting took place on May 31, 2022, at which the president discussed the promising plans of Kaspi.kz fintech company development.[17] In the next meeting held on January 25, 2024[18] the President congratulated Kaspi.kz cofounders with their successful IPO at NASDAQ.[19] Their discussions covered prospects and opportunities for enhancing the country's economic situation along with strategies for attracting new investors from across the globe to Kazakhstan.[20]

Other projects

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A co-owner of Kolesa Group since 2013.[21][22]

A co-owner of the Alseco Company since 2015.[23]

2016–2019 – a member of the Board of Directors and Independent Director of Group of Companies Allur JSC.[24]

2017–2019 – a co-owner of the Magnum Retail Chain.[25]

The chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Magnum Retail Chain since 2019.[6]

In 2021-2022 – Independent Director on the Board of Directors of National Welfare Fund "Samruk-Kazyna" JSC".[26][27][28][29]

Wealth

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Since 2002, Vyacheslav Kim has been at the top of the list of the richest people in Kazakhstan being annually published by Forbes Kazakhstan. He moved up from No. 24 position in 2012[30] to No. 2 position in 2021, with the wealth estimated at $4.2 billion.[31] In 2021, he took the number 5 spot among the most influential businessmen of Kazakhstan[32] and entered the global list of billionaires, rated 925th[33]

Social activity

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Support for Public and Sports Organizations

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2016–2019 – President of the Kazakhstan Kendo and Iaido Federation.[34]

November 11, 2013 – President of the Kazakhstan Taekwondo Federation.[35][36] During leadership of the Taekwondo Federation by Vyacheslav Kim, the Federation started receiving funding, athletes were provided with everything they needed: uniforms, sports gears and equipment. The coaches’ team added specialists from the countries traditionally showing good results in this sport.[8]

A member of the Board of Trustees of the Fizmat Endowment Fund Public Foundation since April 13, 2017,[37] a member of the board of directors of the republican school of Physics and Mathematics.[38]

In 2018, he became a member of the Board of Trustees of the Almaty Triathlon Federation.[39]

A member of the Board of Trustees of the Kazakhstan National Geographic Society since 2019.[40][41]

Charity

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2010–2014 – sponsored the Ayala Charitable Foundation in the «Breathe, Baby» Project.[42]

A member of the Board of Trustees of the Mercy Voluntary Society since 2016.[43][44] In March 2017, Vyacheslav Kim together with Mikheil Lomtadze donated an extensively repaired building with an area of 1,400 square meters to the «We will Win Autism» Project[45]

One of the trustees and partners of the Saby Charitable Foundation in the «Build Your Business» Project since 2013[46][47][48][49]

In 2020, Kaspi.kz founders Vyacheslav Kim and Mikheil Lomtadze actively participated in the fight against the coronavirus pandemicproviding financial support to the health care sector of the Republic of Kazakhstan, allocating 100 million tenge for the purchase of rapid tests and artificial ventilators[50] and donated 100 ambulances to the State to fight the pandemic.[51]

In January 2022, founders of Kaspi.kz Vyacheslav Kim and Mikheil Lomtadze allocated 579 million tenge to support small business entities[52] that had suffered during riots in Almaty. They transferred 10 billion tenge to the Fund "For the People of Kazakhstan"[53] involved in solving the issues associated with healthcare, education, social support, as well as culture and sports.

Awards

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  • The Order of Kurmet (December 14, 2007) – for merits in the development of the economy, social sector and active public work.[54]
  • The Order of Parasat (December 13, 2016)– for significant contribution to the socio-economic development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.[55]
  • «Enbegi Ushin» Badge and the title «A Citizen of Honour» Almaty (September 15, 2019) – for special contribution to development of the city.[56]
  • In 2020, for the first time in its history, the editorial board of Forbes Kazakhstan magazine announced two winners of the Businessman of the Year award – Vyacheslav Kim, the founder of Kaspi.kz, and Mikheil Lomtadze, the Chairman of the Management Board of the company.[57]

References

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  1. ^ "Forbes Magazine names 75 richest businessmen in Kazakhstan - 2024". en.inform.kz. May 6, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  2. ^ "Forbes Billionaires 2024". Forbes. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  3. ^ "5 министров - выпускников школы имени О. Жаутыкова". e-history.kz (in Russian). October 20, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  4. ^ "Ким Вячеслав Константинович (Персональная справка)". zakon.kz (in Russian). Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Forbes Kazakhstan представляет: Бизнесмен года - 2020". forbes.kz (in Russian). March 3, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d David Dawkins (November 25, 2020). "The Two Billion Dollar Mystery Behind The Ownership Of London-Listed Kazakh Fintech Kaspi". forbes.com. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  7. ^ Mario Gabriele. "Kaspi: The Shapeshifter". readthegeneralist.com. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Деятельность Вячеслава Кима". newspaper.kz (in Russian). August 2, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  9. ^ Тамиля Искакова (June 26, 2008). "Здоровый перфекционизм". kursiv.media (in Russian). Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  10. ^ "100 новых лиц Казахстана — Вячеслав Ким". 100janaesim.ruh.kz (in Russian). Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  11. ^ "Президентом Федерации таеквондо Казахстана избран известный банкир Вячеслав Ким". zakon.kz (in Russian). November 11, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  12. ^ "Откуда взялся и как устроен Kaspi, один из крупнейших финтехов Европы с оценкой в $21 млрд". businessfm.kz (in Russian). August 25, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  13. ^ "Digital Frenzy Creates Two Billionaires in U.K. Fintech IPO". bloomberg.com. October 15, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  14. ^ "Компания Kaspi.kz объявила об успешном проведении IPO". kapital.kz (in Russian). October 16, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  15. ^ "The Head of State held a number of meetings". akorda.kz. February 21, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  16. ^ "Tokayev and the founders of Kaspi.kz discussed the joint activities of government agencies and the company". kazpravda.kz. February 26, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  17. ^ Adlet Seilkhanov (May 31, 2022). "Kazakh President holds meetings in Almaty". inform.kz. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  18. ^ Adlet Seilkhanov (January 29, 2024). "Kaspi.kz founders meet with Kazakhstan's President Tokayev". inform.kz. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  19. ^ "Behind the Bell: Kaspi.kz". nasdaq.com. January 25, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  20. ^ "Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received the co-founders of Kaspi.kz". yapresident.com. January 25, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  21. ^ "«Колеса» и «Крыша» сменили владельцев". profit.kz (in Russian). February 13, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  22. ^ Naubet Bisenov (December 11, 2014). "ВBiggest Almaty classified ad papers go digital only as Kazakhs buy more online". intellinews.com (in Russian). Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  23. ^ "Вячеслав Ким и Михаил Ломтадзе приобрели 90% акций АО «АЛСЕКО»". forbes.kz (in Russian). August 13, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  24. ^ "AllurGroup Composition of Director board of AllurGroup was changed". allurgroup.kz. August 13, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  25. ^ "Kenes Rakishev Is On The Forbes List Again". warsawpoint.com. October 27, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  26. ^ "Daniyar Akishev and Kim Vyacheslav Konstantinovich were included into board of directors Samruk-Kazyna fund". myseldon.com. June 16, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  27. ^ "Вячеслав Ким и Данияр Акишев вошли в совет директоров Самрук-Қазыны". myseldon.com (in Russian). June 21, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  28. ^ "Composition of Board of Directors of Sovereign Wealth Fund "Samruk-Kazyna" changed". kase.kz. January 26, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  29. ^ "Вячеслав Ким покинул совет директоров "Самрук-Казына"". liter.kz (in Russian). January 26, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  30. ^ "New Akim Shymkent is one of the richest and influential people of Kazakhstan. Mystery billionaires of Kazakhstan The richest Kazakh". nt-csm.ru. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  31. ^ "50 богатейших бизнесменов Казахстана - 2021". forbes.kz (in Russian). May 24, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  32. ^ "50 самых влиятельных бизнесменов Казахстана – 2021". forbes.kz (in Russian). October 13, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  33. ^ "Ким, Ломтадзе и Турлов вошли в обновленный список миллиардеров мирового Forbes". forbes.kz (in Russian). April 7, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  34. ^ "Клуб восточных боевых искусств в Алмате". kendo.kz (in Russian). Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  35. ^ "Президентом Федерации таеквондо избран Вячеслав Ким". kapital.kz (in Russian). November 11, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  36. ^ "Management of development of taekwondo in the Republic of Kazakhstan". kaztkd.kz (in Russian). Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  37. ^ "Состав Попечительского совета". endowmentfund.fizmat.kz (in Russian). Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  38. ^ "Совет директоров". fizmat.kz (in Russian). Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  39. ^ "Board of trustees". falmatytriathlon.org. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  40. ^ "Вячеслав Ким". forbes.kz (in Russian). Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  41. ^ "Попечительский совет". qazaqgeography.kz (in Russian). Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  42. ^ Руслан Бахтигареев (March 6, 2014). "Жизнь дороже денег". time.kz (in Russian). Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  43. ^ "Вячеслав Ким открыл дом для проекта «Аутизм победим»". time.kz (in Russian). April 3, 2017. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  44. ^ "Попечительский совет". detdom.kz (in Russian). Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  45. ^ "В Алматы состоялось новоселье проекта "Аутизм победим"". forbes.kz (in Russian). April 4, 2017. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  46. ^ "Build Your Business With Us!". saby.kz. November 3, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  47. ^ Николай Дрозд (January 2, 2018). "Кенес Ракишев и Вячеслав Ким вручили $260 тысяч молодым бизнесменам". kapital.kz (in Russian). Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  48. ^ "Стартовал прием заявок на участие в конкурсе "Построй свой бизнес"". kapital.kz (in Russian). October 23, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  49. ^ "Aselle Tasmagambetova and Kenes Rakishev announced 11 winners of Saby "Build Your Business" contest". weeklynewsreview.com. March 8, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  50. ^ "Фонд "Саби" и Kaspi.kz выделили 200 миллионов тенге на экспресс-тесты на коронавирус". tengrinews.kz. March 19, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  51. ^ "Kaspi.kz дарит 100 машин скорой помощи". informburo.kz (in Russian). July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  52. ^ "Треть пострадавших алматинских предпринимателей получат компенсацию в ближайшие дни". inform.kz (in Russian). January 26, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  53. ^ "Kaspi.kz и сооснователи компании Вячеслав Ким и Михаил Ломтадзе передадут 10 миллиардов тенге в фонд "Қазақстан халқына"". informburo.kz (in Russian). January 15, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  54. ^ "Изменен состав совета директоров компании AllurGroup". kapital.kz (in Russian). June 8, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  55. ^ "Премьер-Министр РК вручил государственные награды". 24.kz (in Russian). December 13, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  56. ^ "Сагинтаев наградил Нурпеисова". tengrinews.kz (in Russian). September 15, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  57. ^ "Дуумвират: Forbes Kazakhstan определился с выбором лучшего бизнесмена 2020 года". forbes.kz (in Russian). January 8, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2022.