Matra appointed Vladimir Lenski, who will serve as managing director, and Ekaterina Sapozhnikova, who will serve as finance director, to its board.

Lenski, 51, will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the company's London office. He has many years experience in senior management, including running multinational, high growth companies. Lenski's senior roles in the media and telecommunication industry have included serving as CEO of Kommersant Publishing ZAO and managing director of NTV Plus Satellite TV Co.

Lenski holds a master of science degree in civil engineering and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Sapozhnikova, 36, will be responsible for financial management, corporate finance, budgeting, reporting, and internal controls. Sapozhnikova has extensive experience in the oil and gas sector in both the public and private sector. Between 2004 and 2008, she held the role of CFO at West Siberian Resources Ltd., where she worked closely with Maxim Barskiy before the company's merger with Alliance Oil Co.

Sapozhnikova holds a master of science degree in Economics and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.