V ladimir Lisin is a Russian oligarch who is the chairman and majority shareholder of Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK), one of Russia's largest and most profitable steel producers. Unlike many of the first-generation oligarchs who came from outside the industry, Lisin is a steel man through and through. He started his career as a mechanic in a coal mine and worked his way up to become a senior manager at a steel plant in the Soviet era. In the 1990s, he partnered with a group of traders who gained control of Russia's steel and aluminum industry.

He eventually emerged as the controlling shareholder of the massive Novolipetsk steel plant, which he has since modernized and built into a highly efficient and low-cost global steel producer. In addition to his core steel business, he has built a major logistics empire, with interests in railways, ports, and shipping. He is also a passionate sports shooter and has served as the president of the International Shooting Sport Federation. Following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, he has been sanctioned by Australia and the UK.