Born in 1960 in Verkhnyaya Pyshma, a city nestled in the Ural Mountains region of Russia, Andrei Kozitsyn is a self-made Russian industrialist and mining magnate. His roots are deep in the Russian heavy industry, an environment that shaped his practical, hands-on approach to business. Kozitsyn received a foundational technical education, earning a Master's degree in Engineering from the Ural Polytechnic Institute.

His professional life began at the ground level: he started his career as a mechanic at Uralelectromed, an old industrial enterprise in his hometown. This was a critical experience, giving him a meticulous, floor-level understanding of metallurgical processes. His hard work and engineering skill allowed him to rapidly ascend the ranks, demonstrating that true leadership in heavy industry comes from knowing the machinery and the people who run it. This deep regional connection and operational mastery became the engine for his future industrial empire.

Andrei Kozitsyn's rise is the story of transforming Soviet-era industrial assets into a modern, private powerhouse. He served as the General Director of Uralelectromed from 1995 to 2002, successfully modernizing the plant. The watershed moment of his career came in the late 1990s when he co-founded the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company (UMMC) with fellow billionaire Iskander Makhmudov. UMMC was built through the aggressive consolidation of disparate mining and metallurgical assets, primarily focused on non-ferrous metals.

Under Kozitsyn’s leadership as General Director (CEO), UMMC grew into Russia's leading zinc miner and second-biggest copper producer, becoming a vertically integrated giant that controls everything from the mine pit to the finished metal product. He is highly decorated within Russia, receiving the Order of Friendship for his contributions to the development of the mining industry. Although he stepped down as CEO in 2022 following international sanctions, he remains a major shareholder and the intellectual force behind UMMC, which dominates a crucial segment of the global metals market.

Andrei Kozitsyn’s philanthropy is deeply rooted in his hometown of Verkhnyaya Pyshma and the surrounding Ural region, where UMMC is headquartered. His giving is strongly focused on community development, historical preservation, and, notably, the Russian Orthodox Church.

He has been recognized by the Church with multiple high-level awards (including the Order of Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow) for his extensive charitable activities and contributions toward building and restoring churches. Furthermore, UMMC's corporate social responsibility programs provide substantial support to local sports, education, and healthcare facilities, creating a profound, stabilizing impact on the quality of life in the industrial towns of the Urals. This commitment reflects a deep, patriotic connection to the region where he grew up and built his life's work.

Andrei Kozitsyn projects the rugged, yet refined, image of a powerful Russian mining boss. His style is formal, practical, and highly conservative, favoring high-quality, dark European business suits for corporate and political meetings. There is a sense of deep-seated stability in his presentation, reflecting the massive, tangible assets he commands.

His lifestyle is rooted in his hometown of Verkhnyaya Pyshma, where he continues to reside, a rare choice for a billionaire that underscores his fierce regional loyalty. His personal indulgences include investment in local leisure projects and, notably, motorcycles, reflecting a personal affinity for speed and engineering. His true luxury is his deep influence over the entire industrial landscape of the Urals, a life built on converting raw earth into global industrial power.