Vasily Gatov is an experienced media researcher, journalist, and manager with a broad range of diverse experiences across the industry. After graduating from Moscow State University's School of Journalism, he began his career in 1985 working as a reporter, contributing to newspapers, magazines, TV and radio programs. With such diverse experiences, Mr. Gatov has a wealth of knowledge and expertise concerning both domestic and international media markets, including strategic planning, marketing, corporate management, branding, editorial issues, mergers and acquisitions, investment analysis, and government relations. As the former Head of RIA Novosti MediaLab Project, he headed the research and development arm of the largest Russian news agency, RIA Novosti. Gatov is also a former VP at the Russian Publisher's Guild and was elected Board Member of Slovenia's WAN-IFRA. He is currently a Senior Fellow at USC Annenberg's Center on Communication Leadership & Policy, and the Managing Shareholder of 625 Publishers, among other roles. Gatov is an expert in the innovation of media and teaches courses on this subject, among others, at the Higher School of Economics in Russia.