Today Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of Western Germany Johannes Rau met with Russian participants in the Presidential Program of Management Development.

Just twenty managers took part in the meeting of the two presidents. Vladimir Putin was mainly interested in results of training for managers themselves (expressed in the change in their management competencies) and for the companies they work for. High profile officials will also consider the program participants' input into developing of a Russian-German cooperation.

Svetlana Korsakova, Head of HR department of Severstalmash-Tyazhmash, a Severstal subsidiary, represented Severstal at the meeting. Svetlana Korsakova is the only participant of the high profile meeting from the ferrous metallurgy. She is the vice-president of the Vologda Association of Presidential Program Graduates. In that capacity she also represents Vologda region in the Interregional Coordinating Council of Program Graduates.

About Svetlana Korsakova
Svetlana Alexandrovna Korsakova graduated from Yaroslavl State University with a degree in applied mathematics. In 2001, she received her second degree from the State Academy of Management named after Ordzhenikidze. She has been employed by Severstal from 1988. From 1997 till July 1 she worked in the HR department of Severstal. On July 1 2002, she was appointed head of the HR department of Severstalmash-Tyazhmash. In 1998, in the capacity of deputy head of HR Staff Evaluation Department she selected Severstal employees for the first group of students to take part in the special training preceding participation in the Presidential Program. In 1999, she herself was chosen to study in this program. Upon completing training at the British Open University, in 2002, she took a internship at the metallurgical plants in Germany. In 2001, her engineer evaluation project took third place in II competition of innovative projects, held by Karl Duisberg society. In 2001, her merits in training and knowledge application were recognized by the Russian Ministry of Industries, Sciences and Technologies. She was awarded an honorary badge of the Participant of the Presidential Program.

Severstal takes part in the Presidential program from its very beginning in Spring 1998. Out of 42 participants of the program in Vologda Region each year, 13-15 people come from Severstal. From 1998, 70 Severstal managers participated in the Presidential Program. Many of them later were put in charge of Severstal business units and its subsidiaries. The list of Presidential Program Participants includes Leonid Gavrilov, Severstal HR director, Sergey Sokolov, General director of CHSPZ, Vadim Oveichuk, UAZ HR director.

About the Presidential Program
The program aims at training of 5000 Russian senior and middle managers both in Russia and abroad each year. The program participants are selected on a competitive basis. They first take part in the educational program on a full time or evening basis for nine months time. After that they take individual internships which last no less than three weeks. 40% of the program expenses are paid by the state, 40% by the region, 20% by private companies and individuals. Internships abroad are paid by foreign sponsors.