MOSCOW, February 11 (RIA Novosti) – The first CEO of Russian energy giant Gazprom Rem Vyakhirev has died at the age of 78, a spokesman for the Russian Energy Ministry said Monday.
The spokesman confirmed Vyakhirev’s death, earlier reported by gas industry officials, to the Prime business news agency.
Vyakhirev’s term at Gazprom started in 1992, which allowed him to accumulate enough wealth to join the ranks of Russia’s oligarchs. He left the post in 2001. Alexei Miller succeeded Vyakhirev.
Gazprom is the world’s largest gas producer.