By a unanimous decision from the board, Sergey Alexandrovich Fursenko has been appointed to the role. While corporate procedures are being completed, Mr. Fursenko will perform the role of general director. The chairman of the Zenit board of directors, Alexander Valeryevich Dyukov, has signed the order appointing Mr. Fursenko. 

Sergey Alexandrovich Fursenko was born on the 11th of March 1954 in Leningrad and later graduated from the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute. 

From 2003 to 2008, Mr. Fursenko was the CEO of Lentransgaz, a subsidiary of Gazprom. 

In late 2005, Mr. Fursenko was appointed the chairman of the Zenit board of directors and in January the following year, he became club president. In 2007, under Mr. Fursenko's leadership, the club won its first league title in the modern era of Russian football. 

From January 2010 to June 2012, Mr. Fursenko then served as president of the Russian Football Union and from March 2012 to March 2014, he was a member of UEFA's Executive Committee. 

In July 2012, Mr. Fursenko was included in the President's Council on Physical Culture and Sports, as well as being a member of the board of directors of Gazprom Neft and Gazprom Gazmotor fuels.

Mr. Fursenko is also the holder of twelve patents and the author of 20 scientific publications in reputable Russian scientific and technical journals.