Naftohaz Ukrainy executive chairman Andrey Kobolev is a young and energetic reformer who is introducing free market principles to the country’s general public and industry.

Appointed to the state-owned company in March 2014, Kobolev, who turns 37 in August, was initially considered a temporary leader.

However, more than a year later, it is becoming clear that Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk have given Kobolev carte blanche to lead domestic gas market reforms and build bridges to European gas suppliers.

Kobolev