Russian Managers Take Control at Western Companies Seized by the Kremlin

Sep. 23, 2026 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 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 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. FM Logistic, meanwhile, will be headed by Yevgeny Nenashev, a 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 continue operating under CEO 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, told state media. Read more about: 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. Preview Subscribers agree to the 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, 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 Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month 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 Privacy Policy. Read more Russia’s Economy in 2026: More War, Slower Growth and Higher Taxes The economy is likely to slide from a phase of “managed cooling” into outright stagnation this year, with recovery unlikely before 2027. 4 Min read 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 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 Russian State Companies’ Payment Arrears to Businesses Surge in 2025 The news comes as several major state-controlled companies have reported deteriorating financial results. 2 Min read