Kremlin Appoints New Managers to Run Russian Units of Auchan, Lemana Pro and FM Logistics

President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order that placed the Russian assets of French retailer Auchan, home-improvement chain Lemana Pro and logistics company FM Logistics under temporary state control. Ilya Berdnikov, a former Rosimushchestvo official, was named head of Auchan Retail Russia, while former CEO Asya Balabay will continue managing store operations under his supervision. Denis Isayev, whose father Rizvangadzhi Isayev served in the State Duma, will take over Lemana Pro, with its former chief remaining in an operational role.

FM Logistics is now led by Yevgeny Nenashev, a former Moscow-region housing official; the status of current CEO Oleg Alkhamov has not been confirmed. The three companies, along with Nestlé Russia, are managed by L.E.V. Management, a firm headed by a former police general. Business lobby leader Alexander Shokhin said the seizures are intended as a pre-emptive signal to Europe over the possible use of frozen Russian funds for Ukraine.