Sergei Makhlai

Sergei Vladimirovich Makhlai who also uses the name George Mack (US name change) (Russian: Махлай Сергей Владимирович; born February 16, 1969) is a Russian businessman and former chairman of TogliattiAzot, one of the world's largest producers of ammonia, chairman of the board of directors of TogliattiAzot in 2012–2017.

Early life and education
From 1987 to 1989, he performed mandatory military service. He then worked for several years in various middle management roles with construction companies in Togliatti. In 1993, he graduated from Togliatti State University with an undergraduate degree in engineering. He later obtained an MBA at the University of North Carolina. and accepted US citizenship shortly thereafter. He resides in the United States of America where he goes by the name of George Mack.

Career
In March 2011, he was elected chairman of TogliattiAzot, replacing his father, Vladimir Makhlai. He resigned from the Board in 2017.

At a Annual General Meeting in 2012, the largest minority shareholder, Uralchem, voted against the resolution to approve the annual financial report claiming that net income for 2011 was understated by approximately US$200 million, while access for another minority shareholder was blocked by a court decision.

In the same year, the Russian financial markets regulator FSFR found the company in violation of its obligations to provide shareholders with information. The commercial court upheld the decision but TOAZ continued to ignore the ruling.

Following his appointment in 2011, Sergei Makhlai announced a large-scale modernization program of the plant's facilities through 2020. The following year, inspections held by the environmental and technological watchdog Rostekhnadzor identified over 300 industrial safety violations caused by disrepair and depreciation of equipment handling toxic and highly flammable substances.

In 2014, a cistern exploded at Ammonia Unit 4. In 2015, the ammonia pipeline ruptured in Voronezh Region resulting in leakage of half a tonne of ammonia. In January 2016, a serious breakdown occurred at the pre-transportation processing workshop resulting in a severe spillage of ammonia.

In 2015, TogliattiAzot spent 460 million rubles on environmental protection initiatives, such as enhanced water and air quality monitoring.

In 2016, TogliattiAzot announced continued plans for development of an ammonia transshipment terminal at the port of Taman in the Krasnodar region.

Under Makhlai's leadership, TogliattiAzot increased its profits by 44% and revenue by 31% in 2015. The main factors driving growth were an increase in urea production, facility modernization, and an increase in export earnings due to the devaluation of the ruble. TogliattiAzot increased tax payments to the Samara region by more than 50% over 2014, paying 7.3 billion rubles. The company paid 5.4 billion rubles that year in federal taxes.

In December 2014, in response to a reporter's question about whether TogliattiAzot has become a foreign company and confirmed that it always has and always will be a Russian company. TogliattiAzot paid 7.3 billion rubles to the Samara region and 5.4 billion rubles to the federal government in the 2015 fiscal year.

Personal life
Makhlai's grandparents worked as miners in Gubakha after moving there from Kherson, a city in southern Ukraine. He has one brother, Andrei. Makhlai is married and has two daughters.

Makhlai's father Vladimir is a former chairman of TogliattiAzot.

Philanthropy and public service
As of 2012, Makhlai served on the board of Togliatti State University.

Links

 * Sergei Makhlai: "The ability to influence the future of TogliattiAzot is a huge responsibility"