Oleg Zherebtsov is a Russian businessman, founder of hypermarkets "Lenta" and "Norma", the worldsailing champion in 2011 at 12 meters class, the founder of the Association SB20 in Russia, and General Director of the Pharmaceutical Company Solopharm. Oleg was born on 21 May 1968 in Bryansk, Russia. His childhood he spent in Kabardino-Balkaria in the town of Tyrnyauz. At the age of 17 he entered the Mining Institute in Moscow, where he studied for a year, then he was drafted into the army. After returning he studied at the Leningrad mining Institute. His career started from selling computers in 1989. Zherebtsov Oleg founded "Lenta" on 25 October 1993 in St. Petersburg. The first store with a cash and carry format was opened in 1993 in St. Petersburg; in 1996–1997 two small shops in St. Petersburg were opened. In 1999, the company took the decision to reformat chain stores and opened its first shopping center in the format of a hypermarket with an area of, after which other existing stores were closed. In the next seven years it opened eight hypermarkets in St. Petersburg. In 2006 was the opening of the first hypermarket outside St. Petersburg: two shopping centers opened in Novosibirsk and one in Astrakhan and Tyumen, built the first distribution center in Novosibirsk and one in Astrakhan and Tyumen, built the first distribution center in St. Petersburg. In 2007 were opened 10 hypermarkets, in 2008 — 8. By this time in Russia there were already 32 existing hypermarket. In May 2007 the European Bank for reconstruction and development with $125 million bought a share in "Lenta", estimated at 11–14% of the share capital. At the end of December 2008, the company "Lenta" was included in the list of companies that would receive state support during the economic crisis. In October 2009 Oleg Zherebtsov sold his part in "Lenta" to the consilium investment funds TPQ and VTB Capital. Oleg Zherebtsov founded the company "Norma" in 2005. In 2007, it opened its first store in St. Petersburg. The project started quickly, and by 2008 the network consisted of 17 stores in St. Petersburg and five in Moscow. In 2011 Oleg Zherebtsov sold his assets in the company "Norm". In 2010 Oleg Zherebtsov created the company "Solopharm" for the production of high-tech innovative pharmaceutical products that fully comply with international GMP standards of quality. In spring 2012 was built the plant and started the installation of the equipment. In fall 2013 obtained the license for manufacturing medicines. In the summer of 2014 the plant began operation. Oleg Zherebtsov started sailing in 2007 and very quickly achieved success. In 2008 Zherebtsov already participated in a race around the world - Volvo Ocean Race, as the sole sponsor and Bowman sailor, in 2009 and 2010, received first place in the championship of Russia in the national class Em-ka, in 2011, Zherebtsov became world champion in sailing in the class 12, In 2012 Zherebtsov with his team, Team Russia, took third place in the SB20 class In Europe, and first in the UK. Zherebtsov is the founder of the Sailing Association SB20 in Russia.
