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Vladimir Potanin attended the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), an elite school that groomed students for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Upon graduating MGIMO, he followed in his father's footsteps and went to work for the Soviet Department of Trade.

In 1993, Potanin became President of United Export Import Bank. From August 14, 1996 until March 17, 1997 he worked as First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Government. Since August 1998, Potanin has held the positions of the President and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Interros Company.

Since December 2001 he has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation (NYC). In April 2003 Potanin was elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the State Hermitage. Since 2005 Potanin has been a member of the Public Chamber of Russia.

Since March 2003 Potanin has taken charge of the National Council on Corporate Governance (NSKU), whose main goal is to improve the legislative regulations in Russia and to introduce professional and ethical standards of corporate governance into the operations of Russian companies to boost up the reputation and investment appeal of the Russian business.

In January 2007 in Paris Potanin was named an Officer of the prestigious Order of Arts and Literature for his cultural contributions. French Ministry of Culture and Communications granted the award.

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