Olga Golodets

Golodets was born in Moscow on 1 June 1962.[1] She holds a bachelor's degree in economics, which she received from Lomonosov Moscow State University in 1984.[1] Her uncle Adamas Golodets was a professional football player and coach with FC Dynamo Moscow.[2]

Golodets began her career as a researcher at the R&D institute of labour and the employment problems institute of the Russian science academy.[1] She worked there from 1984 to 1997. Then she became the director at the Reformugol Foundation (1997 – 1999). She served as the director at social policy and human resources department and then deputy director general for human resources and social policy at Norilsk Nickel company (1999 – 2001 and 2002 – 2008).[1][3] In 2001, she was appointed deputy governor for social issues in Taimyr (Dolgano-Nenets) Autonomous Area.[4] From July 2008 to December 2010 she served as the president of the all-Russian inter-industry association of employers and also board chair at the Soglasiye Insurance Company.[1] Then she served as the deputy mayor of Moscow for education and healthcare from 3 December 2010 to 21 May 2012.[4][5] She was also a member of the Moscow city government during the same period.[6]

She was appointed one of seven deputy ministers to the cabinet led by prime minister Dmitry Medvedev on 21 March 2012.[7][8] She is in charge with social affairs and policies in the cabinet.[9][10] The deputy premiership for social affairs was firstly established in May 2012.[11] Golodets supports market reform in Russia.[10] Marc Bennetts, writing for the Russian daily Ria Novosti, stated that Golodets is believed to be close to Medvedev and that she has commercial connections with businessman-turned politician Mikhail Prokhorov.[12] In fact, it was Prokhorov, who recommended Golodets for the post of deputy prime minister.[8] Their business ties are resulted from Golodets' tenure at Norilsk Nickel where they worked together.[8] On the other hand, since Golodets lacks prior experience of being a federal bureaucrat she was regarded as one of the "dark horses" in the cabinet.[11]

On 15 January 2020, she resigned as part of the cabinet, after President Vladimir Putin delivered the Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly, in which he proposed several amendments to the constitution.[13]

• 2015: Commander of the Order of Saint-Charles.[14]