Alexander Grigoryevich Abramov, born in 1959 in Moscow, Russia, is one of the nation's foremost steel and mining magnates and the co-founder of the giant Evraz Group. His academic background is rigorously scientific and technical, preparing him for a career in heavy industry and raw materials.

He graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) in 1982 with a degree in physics and mathematics, followed by a PhD in high-temperature physics. This intellectual foundation provided him with the analytical discipline to succeed during the unpredictable post-Soviet privatization period. Unlike many peers, his entry into business was not immediate; he worked in academia as a researcher before capitalizing on the industrial chaos of the 1990s.

Alexander Abramov's career began in high-temperature physics research before he transitioned into commodity trading in the early 1990s. He initially worked as a trader, focusing on metals and steel, which were being rapidly privatized. His breakthrough came from expertly acquiring assets in the disorganized market, often purchasing steel from struggling factories and reselling it.

In 1999, Abramov founded the Evraz Group by consolidating several struggling steel and iron ore facilities across Russia. He successfully transformed these fragmented assets into a vertically integrated powerhouse, controlling everything from iron ore mines to final steel production. He led Evraz's aggressive expansion, taking the company public in London in 2005 and executing major acquisitions in the U.S. and Europe, including the purchase of Oregon Steel Mills and controlling stakes in major coking coal producers. Although he has reduced his public roles, he remains a key shareholder and a director of the multi-billion dollar conglomerate.

Alexander Abramov’s philanthropy is rooted in education, culture, and supporting the institutions that contributed to his intellectual foundation. His charitable efforts are often focused on long-term educational and scientific development.

• Educational Support: He is a major patron of his alma mater, the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), contributing significantly to its development and maintaining his ties to Russian science.
• The Arts and Culture: He has engaged in various cultural patronage activities, supporting institutions that preserve Russian arts and intellectual heritage.
• Corporate Contribution: His primary contribution to society is through the immense industrial scale of Evraz, which is a major employer across multiple countries and a foundational supplier to global infrastructure. His work in consolidating and professionalizing the steel industry provided stability to thousands of workers.