OREANDA-NEWS. Baltika Breweries, part of the Carlsberg Group, announces that as of 1 April 2014 Olga Golchikova is appointed Vice President Finance of Baltika Breweries, taking over from Ekaterina Azimina who, after 18 years of successful career, has decided to leave the company to pursue other career opportunities outside the Carlsberg Group.

Ekaterina Azimina joined Baltika Breweries in 1996 as Deputy Chief Accountant. In 2003 she was promoted to the position of Finance and Economics Director and after the merger of four companies - Baltika, Vena, Pikra and Yarpivo - she was appointed Vice President Finance and Economics. Since 2011 Ekaterina holds the position of Senior Vice President Finance and Economics.

Olga Golchikova previously held the position as Finance Director at Carlsberg Kazakhstan. She started her career in Carlsberg Group in 2004 as Finance Director of Pikra (Krasnoyarsk, Russia), where she was in charge of integrating financial and commercial functions during the merger with Baltika, Vena and Yarpivo. In 2006, she moved to Baltika Breweries headquarters in St.Petersburg, taking the position of Chief Controller for operations and administration. In 2008 Olga was appointed Finance Director of Baltika Breweries. Since October 2011 she held the position of Finance Director of Carlsberg Kazakhstan. In December 2012 - March 2013 she was also Acting CEO of Carlsberg Kazakhstan.

Ekaterina Azimina said:

“To develop we should change. It is my time to take new challenges outside Baltika. I have to say that I am a very happy person. I have been working for a Great Company that produces Great Brands. I have been working with Great People and enjoyed many Great Moments. Baltika has one of the most advanced efficiency management systems and the best financial team within the Group and, perhaps, in the Russian FMCG industry. I strongly believe that Baltika Breweries is Number One Now and Forever and wish all the best to my successor Olga Golchikova who, I am sure, is ready to hold this banner aloft and carry it to new summits. Meanwhile I will continue to be a loyal consumer of our products and Baltika beer ambassador”.

“For the last 18 years Ekaterina was always around to support and manage Baltika's development and transition to become No 1 beer company and one of the largest FMCG company in Russia. The processes, methods, tools she developed and implemented will continue to be the backbone of our Company and studied by other companies in the Group too. I had the honour and pleasure to work with Ekaterina only the last two years and she was a great help and support in the very challenging environment we operate. We are sorry that Ekaterina's way forward brought her to leave us but understand and support her decision. I wish her all the best in whatever she will choose to do in the future.

I would like also to welcome Olga Golchikova who I am sure will manage Baltika financial agenda in an excellent way”, said Isaac Sheps, President of Baltika Breweries, Senior Vie President Eastern Europe at Carlsberg Group.

Olga Golchikova

Olga Golchikova was born on 9 February 1973 in Novodvinsk, Arkhangelsk region, Russia. In 1995 she graduated from the Arkhangelsk State Technical University majoring in engineering and economics. In 1998 she was enrolled in the Presidential program on training executives for different branches of national economy. In 2011-2012 she participated in the Carlsberg Group's international Accelerated Leader Development Programme.

Olga started her career in 1994 at one of the largest Russian pulp and paper companies - Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Plant. Within 10 years she built a successful career in this company from the position of Senior Economist to Head of Financial Department - General Director of Investment function. In 2004 she continued her career in Carlsberg Group.