Profile
A successful businessman and banker, philanthropist, president and co-owner of Blackpool, English Football Club.
Executive Bio
Valeri Belokon was born in Riga (Latvia), 14 February 1960. Studied at the University of Latvia (Department of Philology) and the University of Massachusetts, USA.
Since 1988, Valeri Belokon has held senior management positions in various international companies, strengthened positions both locally and globally, and acquired a vast professional experience in finance.
The reestablishment of Latvia’s independence bought about new opportunities for operating on the financial markets. Valeri Belokon founded the First Belokon Company and the first Baltic Stock Exchange (BSE). He kept a close eye on worldwide banking trends.
In the 90’s, the private banking segment emerged. Valeri Belokon took full advantage of all his knowledge, experience and expertise to establish Baltic International Bank (1993), Latvia’s first ever bank to roll out a new specialised service model – private banking service.
Valeri Belokon is a Council member of the Association of Latvian Private Banks. He participated in a variety of economic and financial forums, including the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting (the venue where business, government, and civil sector leaders meet and work together to address global economic, financial and other challenges), the Tallberg Forum (a yearly meeting held by the Tallberg Foundation), and the Latin America Mid-East Investors Forum.
Activities
Valeri Belokon is founder and main shareholder of JSC Baltic International Bank and of JSC Belokon Holding-managed companies (investment services), founder of Hercogiste Media LLC (media business), and founder of the Riga Golf School, the first ever in Latvia – in line with his specific focus on social projects.
Since June 2006, Valeri Belokon is the President and co-owner of Blackpool, English Premier League Football Club. The history of Blackpool Football Club dates back to 1877. In 2010, Blackpool Football Club returned to the English Premier League.
In 2010, Valeri Belokon was appointed as a member of the Board of Trustees of The Prince of Wales’s Foundation for the Built Environment. The Foundation awarded the title of Honorary Member for 2011 to Valeri Belokon for his contribution to the charity during the past year, active cooperation and support to the implementation of sustainable development.
Together with TRH Prince of Wales, Sheikha Fadia Al-Sabah (the Kuwaiti Royal family), Valeri Belokon is a co-shareholder of an international joint venture Community Capital (PF Urban).
Founded in 2009, V. Belokon’s JSC Hercogiste is closely connected to the said activities since the company’s aim is to develop sustainable projects in Latvia.
Patronage
Valeri Belokon is greatly committed to social initiatives and patronage. He is a dedicated patron of the arts and opera and a publisher of prominent authors’ literary works, e.g. HE Mrs. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, former President of Latvia, and the archival materials related to „Ulysses” translated into Latvian by Dzintars Sodums.
Valeri Belokon’s publishing house became renowned for issuing The Encyclopedia of Latvia and the biographical encyclopedia Who is Who in Latvia.
Valeri Belokon’s idea to create a unique collection of Latvian art masterpieces was brought to life by Oleg Auzer, a very talented and renowned jeweller, who created a silver bowl “The 21st Century Renaissance”. The artwork is exhibited in the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation.
Sponsored by Valeri Belokon, the legendary opera AIDA returned to the Latvian National Opera. Verdi’s epic masterpiece was restaged by a talented artist Ilmars Blumbergs.
