Programme

1960 Born in Bonn, Germany.
Education:
1977-1982 International law studies, Moscow State Institute of International Relations.
1982-1985 Post-graduate studies, Moscow State Institute of International Relations.
1986 Dissertation and promotion to candidate of legal sciences.
Professional career:
1986-1992 Soviet/Russian Embassy, Berlin.
1992-1993 Foreign Ministry, Moscow.
1993-1995 Office of the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow.
1995-1996 Foreign Ministry, Moscow.
1996-2001 Russian Embassy, Bonn/Berlin.
2001-2002 Deputy Director, Foreign Ministry, Moscow.
2002-2013 Director, Corporate Communications, Siemens LLC., Moscow.
Marital status: Married, 2 daughters.
Foreign languages: German, English.

Stuart Merrifield was appointed Managing Director at Novartis Pharma Russia on April 1, 2019. Prior to this since 2013, Stuart was a General Manager of the group of Indirect Markets in Central Eastern Europe cluster (iCEE) leading the organization during a period of sustained growth and organizational development, including many successful product launches and expansion from 9 countries to the current 26.
Stuart joined Novartis in 2004 as a Global Brand Manager in the Dermatology Business Franchise. During the last 15 years, Stuart held a number of global, cluster and country commercial and general management positions at Novartis including Global Brand Director, CPO Business Franchise Head, General Manager Bulgaria and Head Marketing and Sales CEE. From 2006 to 2009, he worked as a Head of Marketing and later Business Unit Head at Novartis Pharma Russia.
Before joining Novartis, Stuart worked at Mars Inc. in a number of regional and country marketing positions originally in the UK and afterwards in France, Czech and the Middle East.
Stuart was born in Oxford, UK. He graduated from QMC, University of London, where he studied Literature and Culture. Stuart speaks English, Bulgarian, Czech, French, and Russian languages.

Allyson Park is the Global Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Mars Wrigley Confectionery. She leads global internal and external communications, including government affairs and consumer care, and inspires consumers around the world to interact with some of the most beloved and delicious brands, from M&M’s® and SNICKERS® to ORBIT® and ALTIOIDS® to STARBURST® and SKITTLES®. Allyson also serves as President of the Mars Wrigley Foundation and is part of the global leadership team.

Prior to these roles, Allyson led Strategic Initiatives and Corporate Affairs for Mars Wrigley Confectionery while serving as the Vice President of the Wrigley Foundation, was global Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Sustainability and Health & Wellness for Mars Chocolate and also global Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Wrigley when they were separate business segments. Previously within Mars, she led strategic external and internal communications for the U.S. division of Mars Petcare, the world’s largest petcare company.

Prior to Mars Allyson was Vice President of Worldwide Public Affairs and Communications at The Coca-Cola Company. In this role she led global public affairs initiatives and communications about the company’s image and reputation across more than two hundred countries. Over nearly a decade she also had four other roles at The Coca-Cola Company in corporate communications, shareholder affairs & stakeholder engagement, and internal communications. Allyson started her career as a consultant for nearly ten years managing various clients for Jackson Spalding Communications in Atlanta and Hunter Public Relations in New York City, for clients including Kraft Foods, 3M, Shell Oil, American Express and Orkin Pest Control.

Allyson participates in a variety of organizations including serving on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement Chicago, as a Daniel Burnham Fellow for Greater Leadership Chicago and as a member of TED Forum and PRSA Chicago. Some of her prior commitments include the American Pet Products Association Board of Directors, the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Nashville Chamber of Commerce P2020 Leadership Cabinet, Founding member of the Corporate Partnership Council for Save the Children U.S., National Board for Girl Talk, Georgia Public Relations Society Board, the Board of Junior League of Atlanta, the PR Advisory Council for the University of Florida College of Journalism & Communications and Girl Scouts where she was a troop leader for three years.

Allyson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in public relations from the University of Florida, where she was inducted into Florida Blue Key Leadership Honorary and in 2014 was named an Alumni of Distinction. She lives in Chicago with her husband, their two children and two dogs.

Ph.D. in Political Science
Education:
Graduated from Moscow State University (Department of Philosophy). Holds a PhD in Political Science from MSU (2008) with an emphasis on History and Theory of Political Science.
Experience:
Worked in the Institute of Mass Political Movements at the Russian-American University (1991-93), the Centre for Political Trends (1993-2003), Institute of Social and Political Research of the Russian Academy of Science (ISPI RAN) (1997-2003), Centre for Social Information ISPI RAN (2003-2006).
Since September 2003 has been Director General of the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM), where he also heads Expert Council. Valery Fedorov is the member of VCIOM Board of Directors (since 2006).
Chief Editor of the "Monitoring. Social and Economic Changes" scientific journal (since 2003).