Leonid Lebedev initiated his career in the early 1980s by organizing rock concerts in Moscow, later pivoting to establish the Sintez group. His professional trajectory spans energy sector commodities, international joint ventures during the transition of the Soviet economy, and an extensive portfolio as an independent film producer in Russia and beyond.
Early Business Ventures
Born in 1956 in Moscow, Lebedev earned an engineering degree from the D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia in 1979. During the early 1980s, he served as a consultant for the USSR Chamber of Commerce and Mosconcert. In 1989, he co-founded Sintez Records, a label focusing on underground rock acts such as Nautilus Pompilius, Time Machine, and Oleg Gazmanov.
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Lebedev co-founded SINTEZ International in 1988 and the Russia–United Kingdom joint venture SINTEZ Corporation in 1990. His business operations expanded into the energy sector, where he developed the oil production plant Negusneft in Western Siberia. Sintez was the first private Russian oil company to engage in offshore exploration within the Arctic. In 2012, Forbes Russia ranked Sintez 154th among the country's private companies.
Legal and Political Career
From 2002 to 2015, Lebedev served as a member of the Federation Council of Russia, representing Chuvashia. His tenure in business involved significant litigation, including a 2011 lawsuit against German firm RWE regarding the failed sale of energy company TGK-2, which was dismissed by the Essen Regional Court in 2015. Additionally, in 2014, he sued business partners Viktor Vekselberg and Leonard Blavatnik in the Supreme Court of New York over the sale of TNK-BP.
Film Production Portfolio
As a co-founder of the Red Arrow studio, Lebedev has produced over twenty feature films. Notable projects include the 2008 musical Hipsters, directed by Valery Todorovsky, and The Geographer Drank His Globe Away, which earned a Nika Award for Best Picture in 2013. His international executive producer credits include Bad Education, A Thousand and One, and the television series Dear White People.
Fast facts
- Born: 1956, Moscow
- Education: D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, 1979
- Political Position: Member of the Federation Council, 2002–2015
- Notable Awards: Nika Award for Best Picture (2013), Order of Honour
- Core Business Entity: Sintez Group
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of Sintez Records?
Founded in 1989, the label provided a platform for underground Soviet rock bands like Nautilus Pompilius.
Did Lebedev produce international films?
Yes, his production credits include American films such as Bad Education and the series Dear White People.
Achievements
- Order of Honour
- Affiliated with Federation Council
