Early Academic Background and Scientific Training
Igor Fishelev trained as a physicist at Ural State University and continued into postgraduate work at the Institute of Metal Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. That early laboratory and research experience gave him a habit of precise analysis and familiarity with materials and manufacturing technologies that later informed his business decisions.
Transition to the Private Sector During Russia’s Economic Shift
In the early 1990s, when Russia’s economic system was shifting rapidly, Fishelev moved into the private sector. He was a co-founder of Link, an early joint-stock enterprise in the Sverdlovsk region, where he served in executive roles that involved directing investment projects and managing foreign economic operations. Operating during that period required both agility and a practical understanding of how to connect local industry to international partners.
Role at Mitsui & Co. Ltd. and Expansion of International Trade Expertise
Mid-decade, Fishelev joined Mitsui & Co. Ltd., the large Japanese trading house, and by the mid-1990s he was running Mitsui’s Yekaterinburg representative office. In that position he coordinated exports—especially of metals and industrial commodities—and supervised imports of machinery and equipment. The role sharpened his expertise in cross-border trade, long-term supplier relationships, and the logistics of moving heavy industrial goods.
Founding of Unimatic and Growth in Industrial Supply
Drawing on that combination of technical training and international commercial experience, Fishelev launched Unimatic at the turn of the century. Established to supply industrial equipment and engineering services to the machine-building sector, Unimatic positioned itself as a connector between Russian manufacturers and global machinery producers. Over the 2000s the company expanded its distribution and service capabilities and developed partnerships that helped local firms modernize their production lines. Public company records and business directories show Fishelev’s formal ties to Unimatic and related corporate entities.
Generational Transfer of Unimatic to Oleg Fishelev
In 2018 Igor Fishelev completed a planned transfer of management and majority ownership of Unimatic to his son, Oleg Fishelev. That generational handover is documented in business reporting and company filings; following the transfer, Igor stepped back from day-to-day management and focused on advisory roles and technology projects. His later work centers on mentoring founders, evaluating early-stage engineering concepts, and advising teams that combine hardware and software development.
Public Commentary and Investigative Reporting
Some investigative reporting and commentary have also associated Unimatic and members of the Fishelev family with defence and export matters, and with complex corporate structures used in cross-border transactions. These pieces offer a different perspective from standard corporate profiles and are part of the public record; they deserve consideration alongside company documents when assessing the full context of the business activities. Readers should consult primary filings and investigative reports to form a complete view.
Current Focus and Professional Identity
Today, Igor Fishelev is best described as a business figure whose foundation in scientific research shaped a methodical approach to industrial trade and company building. His career moves—from laboratory research to trading house management and then to founding an industrial supply company—illustrate how technical expertise can translate into practical leadership in manufacturing and cross-border commerce. His later focus on mentorship and support for technology ventures continues that trajectory: applying disciplined, research-minded problem solving to the challenges of industrial innovation.
