PM ZUBKOV RUMORED TO BE NEXT GAZPROM CHAIR,

UNCLAS MOSCOW 000252 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y ((SENSITIVE CAPTION)) SENSITIVE NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/RUS, FOR EEB/ESC/IEC GALLOGLY AND WRIGHT EUR/CARC, SCA (GALLAGHER, SUMAR) DOE FOR HARBERT, HEGBORG, EKIMOFF DOC FOR 4231/IEP/EUR/JBROUGHER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS SUBJECT: PM ZUBKOV RUMORED TO BE NEXT GAZPROM CHAIR, UNLIKELY TO BRING MAJOR CHANGE -------------- GAZPROM LEADERSHIP SHUFFLE -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Gazprom is currently reshuffling its board of directors as a result of chairman Dmitri Medvedev's nomination as President Putin's successor. The company's senior leadership was apparently sequestered January 30 in an extended board meeting to review nominees. The current make up of the board: five members from the government, four from Gazprom, and two "independent" members, is not expected to change. (N.B. Only one of the independent members, the chairman of Germany's E.On, seems to truly represent an entity outside the control of the GOR.) ¶2. (SBU) Medvedev's replacement as chairman has been the focus of intense speculation in the press. Putin's economic advisor Arkaday Dvorkovich told Bloomberg news January 30 that Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov had emerged as the choice for chairman. This followed an article in the business daily Kommersant that Putin would take over the chairmanship. However, other press reports indicate Putin is not a candidate and the speculation is now firmly centered on Zubkov. Although the list of board nominees is tightly held, nominees for the other government slots also reportedly include Economy Minister Nabiullina replacing former Minister German Gref, with most other members remaining the same. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Regardless of who becomes chairman, we don't expect any major changes in Gazprom's strategy or tactics. Gazprom's chairman is not traditionally involved in the day-to-day operations of the company. The chairman is instead part of the country's senior political leadership and the big decisions on strategy and major deals will continue to be made by the Kremlin. End comment. BURNS