OREANDA-NEWS. On 03 March 2008 X5 Retail Group N.V., Russia’s largest food retail company by sales volume, announced the appointment of Marina Yanina as Vice President of Government Relations today.

Ms Yanina will be responsible for supporting and maintaining the company’s relations with state and public organizations (such as associations and unions). Within the company, Ms Yanina will be subordinate to Yuri Kobaladze, X5 Retail Group’s Managing Director of Corporate Relations.

Ms Yanina graduated from Moscow Commercial University with a degree in Management and, in 2000, she graduated from Moscow State Legal Academy (MGYUA). She is a licensed lawyer specializing in jurisprudence and holds a Masters degree in Economic Science.

From 1996 to 2000, Ms Yanina was the director of an association of companies that produced and sold household appliances. In 2002, she joined M.Video, where, starting in 2005 she headed the company’s PR department. From 2006 to 2008, she was M.Video’s Director of Corporate Relations and Communications.

In commenting on Ms Yanina’s appointment, Yuri Kobaladze, X5 Retail Group’s Managing Director of Corporate Relations, said, “In terms of active development of the retail branch of the economy, it’s necessary to have a steady dialog with government representatives. I’m positive that Marina’s multiyear experience will help strengthen this area of our company’s activities.”

Marina Yanina said, “I accepted the post of Vice President of Government Relations at Russia’s leading retail company with optimism. I hope that my knowledge and experience in the area of maintaining relations with the government, as well as associations and unions, will help the company reach its ambitious goals.”