Nurlan Smagulov

President of Astana Group

Management

Nurlan Smagulov is the founder of Astana Group that traces its history back to 1992 when KMC Astana Motors was established.

Nurlan Erkebulanovich is a famous Kazakh entrepreneur, President of the Kazakhstan Cycling Federation, honorary consul of New Zealand in Kazakhstan, a patron, and Chairman of the Board of Regents of Boarding Remedial School No. 2.

He was born on June 2, 1965 in the city of Alma-Ata. In 1990, he graduates from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University majoring in Chemistry and Biology. In 1984–1986, he does military service.

In 1992, he establishes Kazakh Motor Company Astana Motors. Core business of the motor company is manufacture and distribution of vehicles and provision of maintenance services.
In 1996–2002, he works at ZAO Prodkorporatsia.
In 1996–2000, he holds the position of a Councilor of the RK Prime Minister.
In 2003, he establishes Mega Center Management.
In 2006, he builds the first shopping mall Mega Alma-Ata.
In 2019, he takes the position of the President of the Kazakhstan Cycling Federation.
In 2020, he establishes the Nurlan Smagulov charity foundation.
In 2021, he launches the construction of the museum of contemporary art Almaty Museum of Arts.

Awards and Honors:

In 2007, he is awarded the State Order of Kurmet for merit to the Republic.
In 2007, he is awarded the Honorary Certificate of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
In 2008, he is awarded the “10th Anniversary of Astana” medal.
In 2009, he wins the National Stage of Entrepreneur of the Year International Award held by Ernst&Young international audit company.
In 2010, he is recognized as the Entrepreneur of the Year by Expert Kazakhstan magazine.
Since 2011, he is on the Top-10 most influential businessmen in Kazakhstan.
In May 2012, following the national vote, Mr. Smagulov becomes the winner in the Business category of the Motherland’s Name contest dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Republic of Kazakhstan independence.
Since 2014, he is the leading rentier in Kazakhstan (No. 1 in the Forbes Kazakhstan rating).
In 2015, Mr. Smagulov is recognized as the Businessmen of the Year by Forbes Kazakhstan.
In 2018, he is awarded with Barys order of degree II in recognition of production achievements and contribution to social and economic development of the country.
In 2019, he receives Yenbegi Ushin badge of honor for contribution to development of the city of Almaty.
In 2020, he is awarded the Khalyk Algyssy medal.

Beknur Nesipbayev

Executive Director, Astana Motors KMC

Beknur Muratovich has worked for ten years in Astana Motors KMC before his appointment as Executive Director of the company. He started his career in the capacity of Sales Manager (spare parts). Then he was appointed to the following positions: Head of the Spare Parts Department, Technical Director, Director of Hyundai Auto Astana, and Managing Technical Director of Astana Motors KMC.

In 2007, he graduated from Kazakh-Russian University with a degree in Accounting and Audit.

Ruslan Omarov

Managing Director for Finance, Astana Motors KMC

Ruslan Mukhtarovich worked in Astana Group for more than 12 years where he promoted from a recent graduate to a top manager of the company.

Ruslan Omarov started his career as Financial Manager of the Real Estate Development Department; over the years, he worked as Financial Analyst and Director of the Credit Department of Astana Group.

In 2017, Ruslan Omarov was appointed to the position of Managing Director for Finance in Astana Motors Kazakh Motor Company LLP. He deals with the financial issues of a group of the companies based on long-term goals and development prospects, identifying sources of financing under current market conditions. He also oversees strategic financial planning.

In 2009, he graduated from KazEU name after T. Ryskulov with a degree in Finance.

Madi Uteshev

Managing Director for Government Regulation, Astana Motors KMC

Madi Uteshev is in charge of issues related to government regulation, promotion of car sales in state and quasi-state organizations as well as corporate transactions. He has experience in private financial institutions and also in state-owned enterprises. He headed a micro-credit organization, worked as Managing Director in a foreign company, promoted from a specialist to Chief of the Service Department in RSE SA 201cBerkut 201d under DPA of RK.

He is a graduate of the Bolashak program; he got a degree in Economics and International Relations (UK).

Kit Matthew Simmons

Kit Simmons has been in the car industry for 30 years. Until December 2021, he had been President at Toyota Motor Kazakhstan and a member of the Supervisory Board at Toyota Financial Services Kazakhstan.

Kit Matthew Simmons was born in the United Kingdom, graduated from Plymouth University as a Bachelor of Business with a marketing diploma and the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) settled in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Mr. Simmons’ career in the car industry started in 1992. He took executive positions at Jaguar Land Rover, Toyota Motor Europe, Toyota Motor Russia and Toyota Motor Corporation Japan.

In 2017, Kit Simmons became President at Toyota Motor Kazakhstan, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, the official importer and distributor of Toyota and Lexus.

Moon Sangmin

Member of the Board

Moon Sangmin is a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Structure Engineering) from Pusan National University, and has worked for Hyundai Motor Company (HMC), the largest auto manufacturer of South Korea, for over 35 years.

Prior to joining Astana Motors, Mr. Moon held the positions of Executive Director of Hyundai Motor Company, Head of Manufacturing Technology Department, Director of Plant in Changzhou (PRC), and Director of Production Department in Beijing Hyundai (PRC).

Over the years, Moon Sangmin was in charge of production control and supervised the innovation area of business at Beijing Hyundai plants, led the construction department, the automobile manufacture engineering department, engaged in planning and implementation of projects for the start-up and expansion of plants in South Korea and abroad, as well as strategizing of a long-term development of the South Korean, foreign Hyundai plants and their support.

In addition, Mr. Moon was in charge of Hyundai Motors' advanced manufacturing technology department.

Akylbek Anarbayev

Managing Director, Business Development, Astana Motors

Before he was appointed as Managing Director, Akylbek Anarbayev had been working with Kazakh Motor Company Astana Motors for 16 years.

He started his career as Marketing Manager.

Further on, he held the positions of Marketing Director, Deputy Director and Director of Distribution at Subaru Kazakhstan, Director of Distribution at Haval Motor Kazakhstan.

Akylbek Anarbayev had held successful negotiations with Chinese partners whose brands joined Astana Motors’ brand portfolio.

Education: Abai Almaty State University, International Law, 2004.

Darkhan Alimukanov

Dealer Network Development Director

Darkhan Alimukanov began his career at “Astana Motors” Kazakh Motor Company in September 2016 as a new car sales consultant. Then he was appointed to the positions of a senior new car sales consultant and sales director. He was the director of the dealerships “Bavaria Astana” and “Toyota Center Astana”.

On February 20, 2023, he was appointed to the position of Astana Motors Dealer Network Development Director.

Erikkali Turzhanov

Sales Director of the Used Cars Division, Astana Motors KMC

Erikkali Turzhanov is in charge of the Used Cars Division. He began his career in the company in 2014. He worked in various departments of Astana Motors as well as in Hyundai Auto Kazakhstan and Hyundai Com Trans Kazakhstan. He has experience in the field of logistics in an international corporation: ERG (formerly known as ENRC).

In 2008-2010, he studied in Canada. He graduated from Columbia College. He also graduated from Turan University, the faculty of Law.

Elmira Omarova

HR Director, Astana Motors KMC

Elmira Omarova is in charge of HR in Astana Motors KMC. She has many years of experience in the field of HR both in large international companies and in the companies of the quasi-public sector as well as Kazakhstani companies. She has two higher education diplomas.

In 1995, she graduated from Kazakh State University of the World Languages with the speciality 201cTeacher of the Foreign Language. 201d

In 1999, she graduated from Kazakh State Law University with a degree in Jurisprudence.

Alexander Palchikov

Head of the Financial Department, Astana Motors KMC

Alexander Palchikov began his career in the company in 2011. Over the years, he held the positions of Financial Director in Astana Motors Premium, Auto Center Astana Motor, which are part of Astana Motors KMC. In 2016, he started working in the Managing Company as Head of the Financial Department where he was responsible for managing and coordinating the Financial Department.

In 2010, he graduated from KIMEP University with a degree in Financial Management. He also has an MBA degree.

Anton Kushch

Managing Director, Construction, Astana Motors Kazakh Motor Company

Anton Kushch has been working for the group since 2021. He led Toyota Center Astana and Bavaria Auto Center with the BMW brand.

In 2023, in view of the active development of its dealership network, Astana Motors set up a new line of business, which is headed by Anton Kushch.

Torekhan Saugabekov

Managing Technical Director

Torekhan Kaliuly has been with Astana Motors since 2013. He joined the company as a student and worked his way up from a car delivery man to a top manager.

He started his career at a Lexus dealership. Building on his experience, he then moved to Subaru in Almaty as a technical director. Over the years, he served as the director of Subaru, Hyundai and Mycar in Astana, and was the service development head at Astana Motors.

In May 2023, Torekhan Saugabekov was appointed Managing Technical Director of Astana Motors.