Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

The president of the Football Federation of Ukraine, member of the UEFA executive committee

Born on September 4th 1949 in Odessa.

Graduated from the Kiev Technological Institute of the Food Industry

Received his career pattern at Glavplodvinprom of USSR, Kiev Housing Administration and Kiev City Council.

1991 – becomes the president of the company Dynamo-Atlantic

1992 – headed the concern Slavutich.

1993-98 – president of the FC Dynamo (Kiev).

1995 - becomes member of Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (United) – SDPU(o)

1998 - 2006 — Member of Parliament

March 2006 – the opposition block NE TAK! (Not this way!) – SDPU(o) was its main political force - failed to get into the parliament. NE TAK! ad less than 3% of votes.

Since 2000 – heads the Football Federation of Ukraine.

Since 2004 – the member of the UEFA executive committee.

Married, has a son and a daughter.

Grigoriy Surkis takes 24-th place in the rating of the most influential persons of Ukraine, published by Korrespondent weekly in August 2008.

In spring 2007 Ukraine and Poland won the contest of holding the 2012 football championship of Europe. Media say Grigoriy Surkis did the most in the country for winning the contest.

Given current bureaucratic delays and difficulties with preparations for EURO-2012 in Ukraine, the only thing for Grigiriy Surkis is to grin and bear it and to risk his reputation, assuring his chief, UEFA head Michel Platini, that Ukraine will overcome current difficulties, writes Korrespondent.

However, the publication notes that the authority of the FFU leader in the European football circles lets us hope that he will succeed. Whatever will be the situation with EURO-2012 Surkis is destined for several more years to be among main newsmakers in the country.