Alexander Knaster

Moscow-born banker emigrated to America with parents in 1976; became U.S. citizen. Studied at Carnegie Mellon, M.B.A. from Harvard. Returned to Russia in mid-1990s, headed Credit Suisse First Boston's Moscow operation. Became chief of Alfa Bank, Russia's largest private commercial bank. Now director of Pamplona Capital Management; British private equity firm helps Russian businesses invest overseas. Part of team of Russian investors who brokered a September 2008 truce between TNK-BP's squabbling foes AAR and BP.