Biography
Since September 2015, Rafael Minasbekyan has served as General Manager of GPM KIT Group, a collection of companies under Gazprom-Media, the leading media holding in Russia and Eastern Europe. GPM KIT (Cinema. Internet. Television) encompasses rental, distribution, and production of feature films and TV series. Its portfolio includes Central Partnership, Central Partnership Sales House, Film Studio KIT, White Nights, and other companies, each dominating its market segment. The group also contains Red Media Holding, which distributes 38 featured channels—the largest portfolio in Russia—including 17 channels produced internally.
From 2002 to 2015, Minasbekyan was Vice President and a member of the Shareholder Council and Management Board at Rosgosstrakh, the largest insurance company in Russia and Eastern Europe. During this period, he also sat on the Executive Boards of Providna (Ukraine), Moldasig (Moldova), Rosgosstrakh Armenia, Rosgosstrakh Belarus, and the Russian Automobile Society (RAT).
Between 1997 and 2002, he was Managing Partner and President of the Gorod TV project studio. From 1994 to 1997, he held the same positions at production studio Amber. In 1993-1994, he served on the Executive Board of the Cultural Commercial Company Sharm. Starting in 1990, Minasbekyan worked as a TV screenwriter, producer, and director, creating over 300 TV programs, documentaries, feature films, animated films, and marketing campaigns.
Born on 2 February 1968, Minasbekyan completed medical studies specializing in surgery in 1992 and earned his MD. Three years later, he graduated with distinction from a medical residency in psychiatry. In 2005, he graduated from the Moscow Academy of Labour Market and Information Technologies in organization and crisis management. He holds a Ph.D. in economics and has authored numerous research articles and books.
In 2011, Minasbekyan received the Russian Media Manager national award for "Contribution to the industry's development, for using advanced approaches and delivering unique marketing ideas." In 2019, he won the Golden Eagle prize for the film "Text" in the "Best in 2019" category. He earned the APKIT award for "Badaber Fortress" as "Best TV Film in 2018," and in 2017, received the inaugural APKIT award for "Best TV Film" for his Outlaw project on NTV.
Rafael Minasbekyan has produced 22 feature films and 42 high-quality TV series. He is a renowned author and producer whose works have garnered more than 20 prestigious industry awards and international honors.
