Consulting for capital-intensive industries — from strategy to implementation

Pieff is a close-knit team of experts

With in-depth industry experience and access to international best practice, we specialise in projects of any complexity in capital-intensive industries and work where standard approaches do not deliver.

Over the years, we have delivered dozens of projects with leading Russian companies, achieving measurable results every time.

100+ projects

delivered in Russia and the CIS

$1.1+ billion

in aggregate growth in clients’ EBITDA

20+ years

of industry experience among our key partners

$3.2+ billion

in capital expenditure optimisation

Aleksey Kuznetsov

Senior Partner

More than 20 years’ experience in operational improvement, including 10 years at PiP and McKinsey and 4 years as Production Director at 2 mining and metals companies with assets in metallurgy, mining and other heavy industries. Experience as a CEO in energy and housing and utilities.

Industries

Mining and mineral processing
Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy
Chemicals and petrochemicals

Expertise

Corporate strategic development
Improving capital project performance
Organisational design

Education:

PhD in Nuclear Engineering, MIT; MBA programme, Sloan; qualifications in Engineering Physics and Engineering Mathematics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT).

Vladimir Gulyga

Senior Partner

More than 15 years’ experience in operational improvement and management consulting, including at Partners in Performance and McKinsey, as well as 4 years in management roles in manufacturing.

Industries

Mineral fertiliser production
Underground and open-pit mining
Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy

Expertise

Industrial diagnostics and identification of improvement potential
Improving operational performance: increasing output and reducing costs
Implementing and developing production systems

Education:

Mechanical Engineer, Bauman Moscow State Technical University; eMBA Harvard Business School (PLD25).

Anton Kriger

Senior Partner

More than 20 years’ experience in improving operational performance in industry, including 10 years at Partners in Performance and 8 years implementing digital technologies in production.

Industries

Mining and processing of ferrous, non-ferrous and precious metals
Coal mining, processing and transshipment
Construction
Port infrastructure
Machinery manufacturing

Expertise

Improving operational performance
Implementing and developing business systems
Digital transformation of businesses
Improving capital project performance

Education:

Candidate of Sciences in Economics; Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Master’s degree in Management, Lomonosov Moscow State University; PMP; CPIM.

Grigory Sidorov

Partner

More than 15 years’ experience in management consulting, with a primary focus on improving operational performance and designing and implementing organisational transformation programmes.

Industries

Electric power: networks and generation
Metallurgy and heavy machinery manufacturing
Mineral fertiliser production

Expertise

Corporate strategic development
Transforming operating models and organisational structures
Selecting and implementing digital technologies

Education:

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Computational Mathematics and Cybernetics; Executive MBA, IE Business School, Spain.

Anatoly Golovkin

Associate Partner

More than 10 years’ experience in operational improvement and management consulting, including at Accenture, Partners in Performance and McKinsey, as well as 3 years in a management role at a major Russian petrochemical company.

Industries

Mineral fertiliser production
Underground mining
Petrochemicals

Expertise

Digital transformation of businesses
Functional strategies
Improving operational performance
Improving capital project performance

Education:

Bauman Moscow State Technical University, specialising in Computer Science and Control Systems; International MBA (top 10%), IE Business School + Chicago Booth.

Yury Bolshunov

Associate Partner

More than 10 years’ experience in mining, metallurgy and construction, including 5 years at Partners in Performance.

Industries

Mining and mineral processing
Construction
Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy
Port infrastructure
Petrochemicals

Expertise

Improving operational performance
Improving capital project performance
Implementing and developing production systems
Digital transformation of businesses

Education:

Engineer, A. F. Mozhaysky Military Space Academy; SEMBA, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA); Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (IASSC).

Egor Efimenko

Associate Partner

More than 10 years’ experience in improving operational performance, including 8 years working at mining and metallurgical operations with Partners in Performance.

Industries

Underground and open-pit mining
Petrochemicals
Port infrastructure

Expertise

Strategic development and business transformation
Operational performance diagnostics and identification of improvement potential
Developing and implementing digital planning systems
Improving capital project performance
Improving operational performance

Education:

Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), Applied Mathematics and Physics.

The Pieff mission

We help companies in capital-intensive industries improve performance and resilience through solutions that work in practice. Combining international best practice with in-depth industry expertise, we work shoulder to shoulder with our clients, from strategy to implementation, so that results remain measurable and last over the long term.

Why us

We have in-depth expertise in industrial sectors.
We deliver a full range of projects for mining and metals companies, clearly linking our recommendations to economic drivers and value for the client.

An open culture: direct, informal communication with leaders, minimal bureaucracy and encouragement of initiative.
No unhealthy internal competition or arrogance towards colleagues and clients.

We recruit only people with work experience.
Our experienced team enables us to deliver more complex projects to a high standard.
Low staff turnover.

On operational projects, we deliver results by coaching the client’s line managers on site.
We always train client teams to sustain results, which is why our consultants work at operating sites rather than head offices.

We have retained access to the knowledge base and international experts.
The main outcome of our work is lasting financial impact for the client, not slides.

We have retained an effective system for staff selection, onboarding, development and appraisal.
Every employee has opportunities to progress in their career and deepen their industry expertise.

Our values

We take the perspective of an owner of the client’s business. Rather than simply proposing solutions, we roll up our sleeves and work alongside our clients until results are achieved. We help people and companies fulfil their potential.

We quickly distinguish what matters from what is secondary and focus on the most important tasks. We introduce innovations that work. Practical solutions are the foundation for lasting change.

We take responsibility for our impact on people and the places where we live and work. People’s safety and wellbeing, and care for the environment, are our absolute priorities.

We are not afraid to speak our minds, ask difficult questions and negotiate openly. We fight to put the right initiatives into practice and never give up. We do not compromise our values.