Deloviye Lyudi (Businessmen), May 2002, 134

The primary goal of the "Person of the Year" award, according to the founder of RosBusinessConsulting (RBC), is a contribution to the uniting of the society, business and state, as well as Russia's integration into the world information and business community. The difference of this award from many other personal ratings that are so widespread nowadays is that the principle of selection of the award winners is not only based on the degree of notoriety of this or that person. The people who came up with pathfinding and creative ideas in the elapsed year, whose name is linked to some milestone trend in the company's development are granted the "Person of the Year" award. The award is given both to public activists and businessmen, and to politicians, thus embracing all realms of our life. The award ceremony was held in the Kremlin for the first time - a sign that RBC's idea was backed up at the highest level. All winners were awarded golden badges and certificates of honor, while the Grand-Prix laureates were awarded the Glory of Russia order, which is included in the state register of public awards of Russia. Most winners found time to show up personally to get their awards, so both on the stage and in the audience one could see a lot of familiar faces. The laureates of the Grand-Prix became Chairman of the Federation Council Sergey Mironov ("for a great contribution to the creation of a positive image of a Russian politician of the new type"), governor of the Tyumen region Sergey Sobyanin ("for scrupulous service in a state office for the good of the Tyumen region") and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the East Line group Dmitry Kamenshchik ("for the creation and the development of a leading company of national civil aircraft of the East Line Group, an exemplar of business activity for the good of Russia"). Among other laureates were President of TPP Yevgeny Primakov, governor of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region Alexander Filipenko, Minister of Economic Development and Trade German Gref, President of the Stoilenskaya Niva agricultural and industrial corporation Fyodor Klyuka. The "persons of the year" were selected by the Expert Council that included over 60 people: famous politicians, state and public officials, scientists, writers and artists, owners and top managers of leading Russian companies and mass media moguls. The management of RosBusinessConsulting believes that "Person of the Year" has lived up to its designation: to draw attention of state authorities and mass media to the people who personify the most progressive trends of the country's development.