()   (../../../../static.themoscowtimes.com/img/icons/favicon.ico) (https://plus.google.com/114467228383524488842)  (https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/icons/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png) (https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/icons/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png) (https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/icons/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png) (https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/icons/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png) (https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/icons/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png) (https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/icons/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png) (https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/icons/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png)    Russian Managers Take Control at Western Companies Seized by the Kremlin - The Moscow Times (russian-managers-take-control-at-western-companies-seized-by-the-kremlin-a93778.html) (../../../../static.themoscowtimes.com/css/main.css@v=88.css)  (https://www.google-analytics.com/)       (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/) (The Moscow Times - Independent News from Russia) (The Moscow Times)   Support The Moscow Times! (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/contribute?utm_source=contribute&utm_medium=internal-header) Contribute today  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/account)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/account)  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/account) My account (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/account/signout) Signout        ×  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/#) Sections (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/) Home  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ukraine-war) Ukraine War  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/news) News   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion) Opinion  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/business) Business  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/arts-and-life) Arts and Life    (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/#)  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/tag/Regions) Regions  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/podcasts) Podcasts  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/galleries) Galleries  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/newsletters) Newsletters  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/lectures) TMT Lecture Series  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/search) Archive    (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/#) Multimedia projects (https://mothersanddaughters.themoscowtimes.com/) Mothers & Daughters  (https://generationp.themoscowtimes.com/) Generation P            (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/) (The Moscow Times - Independent News from Russia) (The Moscow Times)    (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/news) News  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ukraine-war) Ukraine War  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/tag/Regions) Regions  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/business) Business  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion) Opinion  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/arts-and-life) Arts & Life  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/podcasts) Podcasts  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/search) Archive   (https://ru.themoscowtimes.com)     RU   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/search) (Search)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/account)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/account)  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/account) My account (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/account/signout) Signout         Support The Moscow Times!  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/contribute?utm_source=contribute&utm_medium=internal-header-mobile) Contribute today     (russian-managers-take-control-at-western-companies-seized-by-the-kremlin-a93778.html) Russian Managers Take Control at Western Companies Seized by the Kremlin     Sep. 23, 2026     (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/23/russian-managers-take-control-at-western-companies-seized-by-the-kremlin-a93778) (Share on Facebook)   (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet/?url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/23/russian-managers-take-control-at-western-companies-seized-by-the-kremlin-a93778&text=Russian Managers Take Control at Western Companies Seized by the Kremlin) (Share on Twitter)   (https://telegram.me/share/url?url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/23/russian-managers-take-control-at-western-companies-seized-by-the-kremlin-a93778) (Share on Telegram)   (https://wa.me/?text=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/23/russian-managers-take-control-at-western-companies-seized-by-the-kremlin-a93778) (Share on WhatsApp)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#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) (Share with email)   (https://flipboard.com) (Share on Flipboard)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/23/russian-managers-take-control-at-western-companies-seized-by-the-kremlin-a93778/pdf) (Download as PDF)          duma.gov.ru    Kremlin-backed executives have officially taken control of the Russian operations of French retail giant Auchan, home improvement chain Lemana Pro and French logistics operator FM Logistics.  Ilya Berdnikov, a former official at Russia’s state property management agency Rosimushchestvo, will head Auchan Retail Russia after President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order last week placing it under temporary state management, the newspaper Kommersant (https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/8972619) (reported) reported .  Sources familiar with the matter said Auchan Retail Russia’s former CEO Asya Balabay will stay on to manage daily store operations under Berdnikov’s supervision.  Denis Isayev, the son of former State Duma lawmaker Rizvangadzhi Isayev, will (https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/8973087?from=top_main_8) (take over) take over at Lemana Pro, according to Kommersant. As with Auchan, the former CEO of the home improvement chain, previously known as Leroy Merlin, will remain at the company and work with Isayev.   news (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/25/putin-orders-seizure-of-us-packaging-makers-russian-plant) (Putin Orders Seizure of U.S. Packaging Maker’s Russian Plant) Putin Orders Seizure of U.S. Packaging Maker’s Russian Plant  Read more    FM Logistic, meanwhile, will be (https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/8973112?from=top_main_6)  headed  by Yevgeny Nenashev, a (https://t.me/agentstvonews/17406)  former  housing official in the Moscow region. It was not immediately clear whether Oleg Alkhamov, who had served as CEO since 2021, would stay at the company.  Last week, the Russian assets of the three companies, along with those of Swiss food giant Nestlé , were placed under the temporary control of L.E.V. Management, a little-known firm headed by a former police general.   Nestlé Russia will (https://www.rbc.ru/business/21/09/2026/6ab15ee09d34a511035284e4?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F)  continue  operating under CEO (https://www.akm.ru/eng/news/in-nestle-russia-there-was-a-change-of-ceo/) (Denis Voityuk) Denis Voityuk  within the new government oversight structure.  Alexander Shokhin, who heads Russia’s largest business lobby, has said that the latest seizures of Western companies should serve as “preemptive signals” to European officials amid ongoing discussions on whether to use frozen Russian funds in the West to help finance Ukraine.  “In my view, decisions of this kind are largely connected to demonstrating that if you do this, we have retaliatory measures,” Shokhin, who heads the pro-Kremlin Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, (https://tass.ru/ekonomika/28142821) told state media.     Read more about: (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/tag/business) (Business) Business   Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/newsletterpreview/article) Preview  (Your email)  (Your name)  Subscribe  Subscribers agree to the (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/page/privacy-policy) Privacy Policy    We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription.    A Message from The Moscow Times:  Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/contribute?utm_source=contribute&utm_medium=article) (we need your help) we need your help . Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $ 2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once  Monthly  Annual       Continue   (paiment methods)    Not ready to support today?  Remind me later .  × Remind me next month   (Email)  Remind me    Thank you! Your reminder is set.  We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/page/privacy-policy) (privacy policy) Privacy Policy .    (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/23/russian-managers-take-control-at-western-companies-seized-by-the-kremlin-a93778) (Share on Facebook)   (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet/?url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/23/russian-managers-take-control-at-western-companies-seized-by-the-kremlin-a93778&text=Russian Managers Take Control at Western Companies Seized by the Kremlin) (Share on Twitter)   (https://telegram.me/share/url?url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/23/russian-managers-take-control-at-western-companies-seized-by-the-kremlin-a93778) (Share on Telegram)   (https://wa.me/?text=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/23/russian-managers-take-control-at-western-companies-seized-by-the-kremlin-a93778) (Share on WhatsApp)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#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) (Share with email)   (https://flipboard.com) (Share on Flipboard)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/23/russian-managers-take-control-at-western-companies-seized-by-the-kremlin-a93778/pdf) (Download as PDF)       Most read  Just in   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/25/st-petersburg-courts-and-moscow-universities-evacuate-following-bomb-threats-a93794) (St. Petersburg Courts and Moscow Universities Evacuate Following Bomb Threats) Sep. 25, 2026  St. Petersburg Courts and Moscow Universities Evacuate Following Bomb Threats     (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/25/us-proposed-new-round-of-ukraine-peace-talks-in-uae-zelensky-says-a93795) (U.S. Proposed New Round of Ukraine Peace Talks in UAE, Zelensky Says) Sep. 25, 2026  U.S. Proposed New Round of Ukraine Peace Talks in UAE, Zelensky Says     (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/25/moscow-police-arrest-political-expert-alexander-kynev-on-drug-charges-a93796) (Moscow Police Arrest Political Expert Alexander Kynev on Drug Charges) Sep. 25, 2026  Moscow Police Arrest Political Expert Alexander Kynev on Drug Charges     (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/25/united-russia-wins-record-state-duma-majority-in-elections-dubbed-as-the-most-uncompetitive-in-modern-history-a93791) (United Russia Wins Record State Duma Majority in Elections Dubbed as the Most Uncompetitive in Modern History) Sep. 25, 2026  United Russia Wins Record State Duma Majority in Elections Dubbed as the Most Uncompetitive in Modern History     (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/25/the-forest-shaped-russian-life-sophie-pinkham-on-the-woodlands-that-built-an-empire-a93764) (‘The Forest Shaped Russian Life’: Sophie Pinkham on the Woodlands That Built an Empire) Sep. 25, 2026  ‘The Forest Shaped Russian Life’: Sophie Pinkham on the Woodlands That Built an Empire     (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/25/at-least-2-killed-as-ukraine-strikes-industrial-sites-across-russia-a93790) (At Least 2 Killed as Ukraine Strikes Industrial Sites Across Russia) Sep. 25, 2026  At Least 2 Killed as Ukraine Strikes Industrial Sites Across Russia     (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/24/regions-calling-russias-got-a-bear-problem-a93777) (Regions Calling: Russia’s Got a Bear Problem) Sep. 24, 2026  Regions Calling: Russia’s Got a Bear Problem       (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/24/kremlin-weighs-us-invitation-for-putin-to-attend-g20-summit-in-miami-a93784) (Kremlin Weighs U.S. Invitation for Putin to Attend G20 Summit in Miami) 1  Kremlin Weighs U.S. Invitation for Putin to Attend G20 Summit in Miami      (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/24/belarus-claims-it-foiled-sabotage-plot-targeting-russia-a93785) (Belarus Claims It Foiled ‘Sabotage’ Plot Targeting Russia) 2  Belarus Claims It Foiled ‘Sabotage’ Plot Targeting Russia      (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/24/krasnodar-region-declares-state-of-emergency-as-ukrainian-strikes-cripple-grain-exports-a93786) (Krasnodar Region Declares State of Emergency as Ukrainian Strikes Cripple Grain Exports) 3  Krasnodar Region Declares State of Emergency as Ukrainian Strikes Cripple Grain Exports      (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/24/finance-ministry-unveils-2027-budget-draft-with-fresh-tax-hikes-to-fund-war-deficit-a93788) (Finance Ministry Unveils 2027 Budget Draft With Fresh Tax Hikes to Fund War Deficit) 4  Finance Ministry Unveils 2027 Budget Draft With Fresh Tax Hikes to Fund War Deficit      (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/24/state-duma-creates-new-ai-oversight-committee-a93789) (State Duma Creates New AI Oversight Committee) 5  State Duma Creates New AI Oversight Committee               Read more   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/01/06/new-car-prices-rise-in-russia-as-tax-hikes-take-effect-a91618) (New Car Prices Rise in Russia as Tax Hikes Take Effect)    New Car Prices Rise in Russia as Tax Hikes Take Effect  Higher prices are expected to weigh on sales after strong late-2025 demand, when buyers rushed to purchase cars before increases took effect. 2 Min read      (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/12/24/russias-restaurant-sector-shrinks-for-first-time-since-2022-as-costs-rise-and-demand-slows-a91537) (Russia’s Restaurant Sector Shrinks for First Time Since 2022 as Costs Rise and Demand Slows)    Russia’s Restaurant Sector Shrinks for First Time Since 2022 as Costs Rise and Demand Slows  Rising labor costs, higher rents and more expensive ingredients are weighing on the sector while consumers are becoming more cautious. 2 Min read      (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/12/22/russian-oil-producers-feel-increasing-strain-as-us-sanctions-push-prices-to-pandemic-lows-a91511) (Russian Oil Producers Feel Increasing Strain as U.S. Sanctions Push Prices to Pandemic Lows)    Russian Oil Producers Feel Increasing Strain as U.S. Sanctions Push Prices to Pandemic Lows  Producers are struggling to cover capital expenditures at several fields at current Urals crude prices, sources at Russian oil companies told Reuters. 2 Min read      (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/12/22/sheremetyevo-airport-to-raise-airline-service-fees-in-2026-a91509) (Sheremetyevo Airport to Raise Airline Service Fees in 2026)    Sheremetyevo Airport to Raise Airline Service Fees in 2026  Russian carriers will face a 10% increase in fees, while foreign airlines will see their service fees increase by 3%. 1 Min read               (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/) (The Moscow Times - Independent News from Russia) (The Moscow Times)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/#) The Moscow Times (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/page/moscow-times) About us  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/page/privacy-policy) Privacy Policy  Privacy Manager     (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/#)  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/podcasts) Podcasts  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/videos) Videos  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/galleries) Galleries  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/newsletters) Newsletters  (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/search) Archive    (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/#) Follow us (https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/)   (https://twitter.com/moscowtimes)   (https://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/)   (https://t.me/+fmbCxJOTTPMyZjQy)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/page/rss)   (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRNPdAfK5Mp8ORtjUt3Q8UA)      (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/#) Media Partners (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/partner/bne-intellinews) (bne IntelliNews) bne IntelliNews   (https://investigatebel.org/en) (Belarusian Investigative Center) Belarusian Investigative Center       (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/#)  (https://www.euractiv.com) (Euractiv)  Euractiv          © The Moscow Times, all rights reserved.