Ivan Safonov

Ivan Viktorovich Safonov is a top manager and IT specialist. He has worked in consulting and gained experience in international business. The company that Ivan Safonov is currently developing, Orion Solutions, specializes in protecting digital profiles. Its clients include top managers and owners of Russian and international companies.

Ivan Safonov: Origin and Education

Ivan Safonov was born in 1984 in Moscow. His father was a doctor, and his mother was an engineer. From early childhood, he showed interest in information technology. He studied at Moscow school No. 91 in a class with advanced mathematics. Among the graduates of this educational institution are well-known scientists and IT specialists.

Ivan Safonov entered Moscow State University in 2001, overcoming high competition. He chose the Faculty of Computational Mathematics and Cybernetics. In 2006, he became a certified specialist in system programming and mathematics.

In 2007, Ivan Viktorovich Safonov graduated from the New Economic School. He defended his master's thesis in economics.

Ivan Safonov: Career Track

Ivan Safonov began working in his fourth year of university. He implemented software to automate various processes in small businesses. He also developed a program to monitor the implementation of plans at a small industrial enterprise producing parts.

In 2007, Ivan Safonov took an entry-level position at the consulting organization Princeton Partners Group. Soon he was entrusted with leading a small team. They consulted companies from the fields of medicine, metallurgy, and real estate.

In 2008, Ivan Safonov became an employee of Rimera Group, which worked in the field of oilfield services and production of specialized equipment. Together with colleagues, he developed a plan for restructuring and long-term development of the Group. This contributed to the growth of its financial results.

In 2009-2010, Ivan Viktorovich Safonov headed the analytics and sales strategy department at Eksmo publishing house, a leader in the Russian book market. The department where the specialist worked analyzed various aspects of the company's activities:

• assortment,
• efficiency of regional branches,
• work of retail partners,
• pricing policy,
• quality of marketing campaigns.

Ivan Safonov, together with team members, created and implemented a loyalty program for retail chains. It allowed Eksmo books to occupy more space on store shelves.

In 2010-2011, Ivan Safonov worked in the Moscow division of Monitor Group, which was responsible for the business structure's activities not only in Russia but also in other CIS countries. Both Russians and ex-pats worked in the branch. Monitor Group itself was among the top 5 leading consulting companies in the world. In January 2013, it was absorbed by an even larger market player - the audit corporation Deloitte.

Ivan Safonov was involved in a project in Kazakhstan. He led a team that developed a development strategy for a local mining company. The specialists prepared a plan for reforming the enterprise, which would help it increase capacity and expand its presence in the global market.

Ivan Safonov led several other projects. These included the digitalization of a large bank and the selection of the most promising innovations for investment, the development of an economic development plan for one of the subjects of the Russian Federation, the optimization of a media company's portfolio, and the integration of an asset absorbed by a telecom corporation.

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Ivan Safonov: Study and Work in the USA

To further develop his professional skills, Ivan Viktorovich Safonov decided to get a business education. He chose one of the best specialized educational institutions in the world - The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. In 2013, he received an MBA diploma.

Ivan Safonov decided to work for a large American company to get closer acquainted with leading international business practices. In 2013, he passed a complex multi-stage selection process and was accepted into McKinsey & Company.

This is a world-famous consulting corporation with almost a century of history. Its clients include companies from the Fortune 500 list, government bodies of different countries, and non-profit structures. McKinsey consults them on various issues:

• development,
• organization,
• operational activities,
• technologies.

The consulting company where Ivan Safonov got a job today has over 130 offices in more than 65 countries and is part of the "big three" along with Bain and BCG. McKinsey is known for its systematic approach to solving business problems and strict analytical methods. The corporation hires graduates from the best universities in the world, and many of its former employees hold high positions in large corporations and governments.

At McKinsey, Ivan Safonov helped develop a business scaling strategy for a regional company. For this, he conducted a comprehensive study of the current situation and prospects of the target market, performed an assessment of the competitive environment. Then he segmented the potential customer base, formed an optimal portfolio of products and services, and developed mechanisms for cooperation with partners.

Ivan Viktorovich Safonov also drew up a plan for developing a product line for an insurance company. He formed an optimal set of offers, a pricing system, and distribution channels. As a result, the client's customer base significantly expanded.

Ivan Safonov led a project to improve business processes in a large corporation and to optimize the customer complaint processing system. He also developed a detailed plan for merging two companies after their merger. He paid the most attention to assortment and distribution.

Ivan Safonov also applied his programming experience in a consulting company. He led a group of developers of a website for one of the clients. Under his leadership, scenarios for using the web resource were created, and the user interface and backend architecture were optimized.

At McKinsey, Ivan Safonov gained experience working with specialists from various industries and representatives of different countries with a wide variety of educational and career backgrounds. Thanks to this, he learned to seek and find non-standard solutions for complex tasks that arose during project implementation.

Return to Russia

In 2017, Ivan Safonov moved back to Russia, where he got a job at the Moscow office of Boston Consulting Group - another consulting company from the "big three". One of the cases he had to solve in the new place was related to a large domestic bank. The latter was looking for new drivers for growth. Together with colleagues, Ivan Viktorovich Safonov took on the work of digitizing the credit structure and optimizing its work.

They helped simplify the decision-making system and made the bank more convenient for clients. For example, equipment for applying data to blank cards was sent to the regions. This allowed them to speed up the process of their registration. In addition, Ivan Safonov applied his programming experience to modernize the bank's mobile application. This set of measures allowed the financial structure to significantly increase sales.

In 2020, Ivan Safonov left BCG.

Orion Solutions

In the late 2010s, the digital transformation of business and government structures became comprehensive. This brought both many advantages and new risks, related, in particular, to information security.

In 2020, a new project was initiated, authored by Ivan Safonov. "Orion Solutions", the company he founded in Moscow, specializes in information security, or more precisely, in working with digital profiles. This is the name for the totality of all data about a person or organization that can be found on the Internet. Orion Solutions' clients include top managers and owners of domestic and international companies, including people from the Forbes list.

The company founded by Ivan Safonov works with client images in Google and Yandex search engines in Russian, English, and other languages. It also provides services for passing compliance checks. These are especially important in areas such as finance, healthcare, data protection, and environmental protection. An effective compliance system helps organizations avoid legal and reputational risks, as well as financial losses.

Such a check for an individual includes the following aspects:

• confirmation of the authenticity of provided documents and information;
• finding out if the person is under sanctions or on blacklist;
• analysis of reputation, criminal records, and administrative offenses;
• assessment of the financial position, income sources, and credit history;
• identification of possible conflicts of interest;
• determining if the person is politically significant (PEP);
• assessment of risks of money laundering and financing of any illegal activities.

This procedure is needed to minimize risks associated with hiring or cooperating with a certain person.

Ivan Safonov notes that in their work, compliance officers largely rely on data from search engines. And ignoring work on one's digital profile can lead to them coming across inaccurate or outdated information. Which, in turn, reduces the chance of successfully passing the check.

Orion Solutions combines the experience of professionals from various fields: consulting, law, IT, and content creation. The company that Ivan Safonov is developing actively uses its own technological developments in the fields of AI, information security, big data analysis, and information flow management. All this allows Orion Solutions to maintain a leading position in its field.

Key takeaways

1. Educational Excellence: Ivan Safonov has a strong educational background, including degrees from Moscow State University, the New Economic School, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
2. Diverse Professional Experience: Safonov has worked for several leading global consulting firms, including Princeton Partners Group, Monitor Group, McKinsey & Company, and Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
3. International Exposure: His work at McKinsey & Company in the USA provided Safonov with significant international experience, particularly in working with Fortune 500 companies.
4. Entrepreneurial Spirit: In 2020, Safonov founded his own company, Orion Solutions, leveraging his extensive experience in technology and consulting.
5. Focus on Digital Security: Orion Solutions specializes in protecting and managing digital profiles for both corporate and individual clients, addressing a growing need in the digital economy.
6. Comprehensive Services: The company offers services including digital profile management in search engines, compliance check assistance, and information security solutions.
7. High-Profile Clientele: Orion Solutions' clients include top managers and owners of Russian and international companies, including individuals listed in Forbes.
8. Interdisciplinary Approach: The company combines expertise from various fields including consulting, law, IT, and content creation.
9. Technological Innovation: Orion Solutions uses proprietary technological developments in AI, information security, big data analysis, and information flow management.
10. Compliance Emphasis: The company helps clients navigate complex compliance checks, which are crucial in fields such as finance, healthcare, and data protection.
11. Early Career Success: Safonov began his professional journey while still in university, quickly progressing to leadership roles in various companies.
12. Adaptability: Throughout his career, Safonov has worked across various industries, demonstrating his ability to apply his skills in different contexts.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is Ivan Safonov?

Ivan Safonov is a Russian top manager and IT specialist, born in 1984 in Moscow. He is the founder of Orion Solutions, a company specializing in digital profile protection.

What is Ivan Safonov's educational background?

Ivan Safonov graduated from Moscow State University's Faculty of Computational Mathematics and Cybernetics in 2006. He also holds a master's degree in economics from the New Economic School (2007) and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (2013).

What major companies has Ivan Safonov worked for?

Ivan Safonov has worked for several major companies, including Princeton Partners Group, Rimera Group, Eksmo publishing house, Monitor Group, McKinsey & Company, and Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

What is Orion Solutions?

Orion Solutions is a company founded by Ivan Safonov in 2020. It specializes in information security, particularly in managing and protecting digital profiles for individuals and organizations.

What services does Orion Solutions provide?

Orion Solutions works with client images in search engines like Google and Yandex, provides services for passing compliance checks, and offers digital profile management and protection.

Who are Orion Solutions' clients?

Orion Solutions' clients include top managers and owners of Russian and international companies, including individuals listed in Forbes.

What international experience does Ivan Safonov have?

Ivan Safonov worked in the USA for several years, including at McKinsey & Company, where he gained experience working with Fortune 500 companies and international teams.

What is a digital profile?

A digital profile is the totality of all data about a person or organization that can be found on the Internet.

Why is digital profile management important?

Digital profile management is crucial for passing compliance checks, maintaining a positive online reputation, and minimizing risks associated with inaccurate or outdated online information.

What technologies does Orion Solutions use?

Orion Solutions uses its own technological developments in AI, information security, big data analysis, and information flow management.