About Andrey Yakunin

Andrey Yakunin is a Russian-British investor and entrepreneur in hospitality and real estate. With more than twenty-five years of experience spanning finance, hospitality, and real estate, Andrey has built a career identifying and unlocking value in complex or overlooked assets. His projects are characterised by detailed redevelopment strategies, respect for historic context, and the alignment of design and operations with leading global standards. He is known for approaching investment as both a creative and technical process—balancing financial discipline with architectural and cultural sensitivity.

Educated in Saint Petersburg, London, and New York, Andrey began his professional journey as an intern under Sir Rocco Forte, gaining first-hand insight into the operations and service culture of luxury hospitality. His early experience included the transformation of the post-Soviet Pribaltiyskaya hotel in Saint Petersburg into a modern luxury complex with the indoor water park. This large-scale redevelopment, which involved repositioning an underperforming Soviet-era property into a viable contemporary asset, marked his transition from finance into hospitality real estate operations. The eventual sale of the hotel provided the seed capital for his next phase as an investor.

In 2006, he co-founded VIY Management (VIYM), a private equity firm focused on acquiring and repositioning undervalued assets through redevelopment attracting leading hospitality brands. Over the years Andrey has built a proven track record in the industry backed by strategic partnerships with the leaders including IHG, Six Senses, Four Seasons, and Radisson. Notable projects include Russia’s first Four Seasons Lion Palace, the Radisson Blu Park Royal Palace in Vienna, and Antognolla Six Senses in Umbria.

An avid Arctic skier, sailor and expedition crew member on the research yacht Firebird, Andrey is particularly enjoying extreme sports. The latter is a passion that he takes seriously, travelling around the world in the pursuit of adventure and stunning natural landscapes.

To learn more about Andrey’s career path please check here.