Valērijs Belokoņs
| Valērijs Belokoņs | |
|---|---|
|
Valērijs Belokoņs at Bloomfield Road | |
| Born |
Valērijs Belokoņs 14 February 1960 Riga, Latvia |
| Nationality | Latvian |
| Occupation | Businessperson |
| Known for | President of Blackpool F.C., Founder of Baltic International Bank |
| Home town | Riga |
Valērijs Belokoņs (born 14 February 1960) is a Latvian businessman, chairman of the Council, and shareholder in the Baltic International Bank and President of English football club Blackpool.[1]
Since June 2010, The Trustee of the Board of The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment.
Business career
Born in Riga, in the former Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic, Belokoņs studied at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the United States and the University of Latvia, Faculty of Philology.[1] He is the chairperson of the council of the Baltic International Bank, and his corporation Belokoņs Holdings has interests in finance, media, the Food industry and social projects in Latvia and Kyrgyzstan as well as football in England. These include[2]
- Finance and investments
- Baltic International Bank – founded in 1993, servicing VIP customers. Position - Founder, Main Shareholder and Chairman of Council. Representative offices basen in London, Moscow and Kiev
- Manas Bank – founded in 2008 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
- Since 2007- JSC Investment Management Company Global Fondi - co-founded by ex Prime Minister of Latvia, The former Chairman of National Bank of Latvia - Mr. Einars Repše
- Since 2009 - JSC Hercogiste - company's aim is to develop sustainable projects in Latvia
- Food industry
- JSC Brīvais Vilnis (Established in 1949) – One of the biggest and most developed fish-processing enterprise in Latvia
- Media
- Otkritij Gorod – a monthly magazine in Baltic countries
- Novo News – a daily Internet newspaper
- Since 1995 - Valērijs Belokoņs's Publishing House Ltd – became popular with the National encyclopaedia Latvijas Enciklopēdija and annual edition Who's Who in Latvia
- Social Projects
- Baltic Institute of Strategic Studies – a non-profit scientific research organization founded in 2004.
- Riga Golf School – Founded in 2003 - charity project - first sport school of golf in Latvia that serves as basics for young generation to be introduced to golf culture
In June 2008, Belokoņs sold his 30% stake in the Latvian television station TV5 to the News Corporation owned by Rupert Murdoch.[3]
Blackpool F.C.
Through Belokoņs Holdings and VB Football Assets,[4] Belokon bought a 20% stake in Blackpool Football Club in 2006, and is the club's president.[5] In June 2007 he stated that he was prepared to increase his stake in Blackpool from 20% to 50% following the clubs promotion to The Championship.[6]
On 8 July 2008, Belokoņs announced that he and Owen Oyston, the majority share-holder of the club, would be personally financing the construction of the new South Stand and South-west corner at Bloomfield Road, with work to start immediately.[7]
On 31 July 2009 it was announced that Belokon was setting up a new transfer fund for Blackpool, into which he was adding a "considerable amount" on 5 August in order to invest in new players identified by team manager Ian Holloway.[8]
On 22 May 2010, Blackpool F.C. were promoted to the top tier of English football, the Premier League, one year sooner than Belokon had predicted when joining the club in 2006.
In September 2015, Belokoņs initiated legal action against the Oystons, alleging improper use of club funds.[9]
Personal life
Belokoņs has three children.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 "Exclusive interview with Valeri Belokon". 24 Kg News Agency. 13 October 2006. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
- ↑ "Our Businesses". Belokon Holdings. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
- ↑ Kolyako, Nina (2 June 2008). "Murdoch takes over Latvian TV5". The Baltic Course magazine. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
- ↑ "VB Football Assets". Belokon Holdings. Retrieved 6 March 2007.
- ↑ Canavan, Steve (19 May 2006). "The president of blackpool". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 6 March 2007.
- ↑ Stocks, Rob (12 June 2007). "Belokon to increase stake?". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
- ↑ "Official Club Statement". Blackpool F.C. 8 July 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
- ↑ "Club Statement". Blackpool F.C. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-34268761
External links
- "Tangerine dream" – a Q&A with Belokon from BBC Sport
- Belokon Holdings website
- Baltic International Bank website
- The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment website