Dmitry B. Zimin

Dmitry Borisovich Zimin was born on April 28, 1933 in Moscow. His father, Boris Nikolaevich Zimin, a research associate at Bauman State Technical University, was persecuted for political reasons and was sent to a Soviet penal labor camp in 1935. His mother worked as a typist. In 1957, Dr. Zimin graduated from the “Radio Electronics for Flying Vehicles School” at Moscow Aviation Institute. In 1963 he received a PhD, and in 1984 a ScD degree.

Dr. Zimin is an academic at International Telecommunications Academy, a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Engineering Sciences and a member of the presidium of the Russian Academy of Business. He is an author of over 100 scientific studies and inventions, a winner of the Popov Award given by the USSR Science Academy in 1965 and the State Award of the Russian Federation in 1993.

Dr. Zimin occupied managerial positions at the A.L. Mints Institute of Radio Engineering (RTI) for more than 35 years. He was employed as head of the laboratory, head of its scientific department, director of the center for developing radio engineering equipment and deputy chief constructor of the ground-based radar element of a major missile defense system.

At the beginning of the 1990s, Dr. Zimin, with a group of RTI engineers, established a small enterprise called “KB Impuls,” which developed projects and manufactured radio equipment for civil purposes.

In 1992, he co-founded of VimpelCom and made a significant contribution to shaping the mobile communications market in Russia. In 1996, VimpelCom, which had transformed into an open joint-stock company by the time, became the first Russian company to list on a major US-based exchange.

As Director General and President at VimpelCom, Dr. Zimin was a member of the board of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) for many years. In 2001, he received the National Award “Business Olympus” in the category of “Business Reputation.”

In May 2001, Dr. Zimin retired as VimpelCom’s Director General. Following a decision by the Board of Directors, he was given the title of “Honorary President and Founder of VimpelCom”.

Upon his retirement, Dr. Zimin established the non-profit Dynasty Foundation to support Russian fundamental science and education, and popularize scientific knowledge. It remained active until 2015.