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Oleg Tumanov |
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Oleg Tumanov |
| birth_date = February 17, 1965
| birth_place =
| nationality = United States
| occupation = Entrepreneur, investor, advisor
| years_active = 1986–present
| known_for = Founder of IVI, investor
| website =
}}
Oleg Tumanov is an American entrepreneur (born February 17, 1965 in USSR), a serial entrepreneur, investor, and advisor with almost 40-year track record of building and scaling technology companies across multiple industries — digital media, fintech, AI and SaaS — and across several continents and business cultures.
He is the founder of IVI, a leading OTT video-on-demand company serving the former Soviet Union countries. His work and leadership at IVI have been featured in international media, including Forbes, Reuters, Bloomberg, and The Hollywood Reporter.
Early life and education
Tumanov earned a Master’s degree in Finance (1986) and a Ph.D. in Economics (1990) from the Moscow Financial Institute. He completed the Advanced Management Program at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania (1996). He also received executive training at Harvard Business School (Focused Financial Management Series), as well as other business and financial courses at the New York Institute of Finance, Bankers Trust, Bank of America, Credit Suisse, and other institutions.
Career
Banking and investment banking
Tumanov began his career in 1986 in international banking, specializing in structured finance for large construction and industrial projects. In the 1990s, he transitioned to global investment banking in New York, serving as the Head of International Corporate Finance at Ladenburg Thalmann International, He subsequently managed a trade and structured finance bank (Bank Unexim Suisse) in Geneva, Switzerland and held senior executive roles in major CIS financial groups, overseeing technology transformation, operations, treasury, asset-liability management, risk management, and spearheading modernization initiatives in retail and corporate banking.
From 2005 to 2006, Tumanov was CEO of Access Industries for CIS countries, managing multi-billion dollar portfolio in telecom, media and some major industrial assets of this group.
Entrepreneurship and IVI
In 2007, Tumanov founded IVI and later served as Chief Executive Officer from 2011 to 2022. IVI became one of the largest OTT platforms in Europe, providing streaming services to a broad audience across the former Soviet Union countries. During his tenure, the company attracted funding from prominent international investors, including Tiger Global, Baring Vostok, Mubadala, RTP Global, and Flashpoint VC, and expanded its content library and market presence (Global Venturing). IVI has become the leading movie streaming platform in this part of the world, with $200 million in revenue, 50 million clients, and 5 million monthly paying subscribers. In 2021, the company was one step from an IPO on Nasdaq led by Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan with a valuation close to $1 billion. The IPO was postponed due to the worsening political situation in the region.
Tumanov advises and invests in international technology startups and funds, focusing on AI, robotics, healthtech, fintech, and education technology. He emphasizes combining visionary strategy, operational rigor, and strong organizational culture.
Tumanov advises and invests in international technology startups and funds, focusing on AI, robotics, healthtech, fintech, and education technology. He emphasizes combining visionary strategy, operational rigor, and strong organizational culture.
Published author and composer
Tumanov is a published author and composer, integrating creativity and philosophy into his approach to business and life.
His book “Choose Yourself” (Alpina Publishing, 2017) presents a philosophical framework for modern life—encouraging critical reflection rather than blind acceptance. It explores personal values, success criteria, and self-judgment, offering practical tools for developing self-awareness, emotional control, and resilience. The book helps readers build authentic lives amid uncertainty and constant change, fostering healthier relationships and a deeper sense of fulfillment.
Tumanov is also an accomplished composer whose works are performed by leading artists across several countries, including Brazilian legends Leila Pinheiro, Joyce, Moska, Celso Fonseca, Jane Duboc, Luciana Alves, João Donato, Wanda Sá, Emílio Santiago, and Leny Andrade, Grammy-winning Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés, and Italian singers Francesco Baccini and Chiara Civello, among others (Italian Affair). His albums On the Way from Brazil and Rio Havana were licensed by Warner Music for global distribution.
