OREANDA-NEWS. July 22, 2009. Alexey Mordashov, CEO of OAO Severstal, has been presented with the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy (OMRI). The official ceremony was held in the residence of the Italian Ambassador in Moscow.

The Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy (OMRI) was founded in 1951. It is the highest award in Italy and is presented for considerable services to the nation in the fields of literature, arts, and economics, as well as for social, philanthropic and humanitarian activities. The Order's Council is comprised of the Order Chancellor and 16 other members. It is headed by the President of the Italian Republic.

At the ceremony, Mr. Mordashov thanked H.E. Vittorio Claudio Surdo, the Italian Ambassador to Russia, as well Georgio Napolitano, the President of the Italian Republic, for the award. “It is fair to say, that this award recognizes the collective work of my colleagues, friends and partners, as well as the whole team at Severstal”, said Alexey Mordashov. “I am extremely pleased to receive this high honor in recognition of our joint effort to develop economic and business relations between Russia and Italy.”

In the past, the Order has been awarded to the following Russians: Boris Yeltsin, first President of Russia; Vagit Alekperov, CEO of Lukoil; Valery Gergiev, conductor; Nikita Mikhalkov, film director; among others.