Strzhalkovsky May Become Norilsk Nickel CEO - Vedomosti

MOSCOW, Jul 29, 2008 (Dow Jones Commodities News via Comtex) -- The head of Russia's state tourist agency, Vladimir Strzhalkovsky, may take over as chief executive of miner OAO Norilsk Nickel (GMKN.RS), the Vedomosti business daily reported Tuesday, citing sources at Norilsk's largest shareholder ZAO Interros Holding. Interros manager Sergei Batekhin took over as Norilsk CEO this month. But Interros has approached Strzhalkovsky, a long-time acquaintance of Prime Minster Vladimir Putin, about the position, the paper said. Under Interros' plan, Strzhalkovsky - who has no experience in the mining industry - would handle government and public relations, hiring and security, while Batekhin would serve as his first deputy in charge of the company's day-to-day operations, Vedomosti said.