Starting point
The project grew out of a Russian medical-technology business. Part of the activity had to be moved to Europe and a sustainable model built in Germany and Estonia after the sharp change in external conditions in 2022.
Business challenge
Build an operating business in the EU from scratch and adapt its structure to new legal and sanctions constraints.
- legal infrastructure
- medical-device manufacturing
- licensing and regulatory procedures
- ownership, governance and payment model
- manufacturing sites
- relocation and local hiring
- sales team
- partner and distribution network
- tax and customs model
What I did
I created and led a new legal entity in Germany and organised a group of related EU companies. Medical-device manufacturing operations were opened in Germany and Estonia.
Key employees were relocated, including German residence permits, local teams were hired, a sales department was built and distribution agreements were signed with manufacturers from Germany, the US, Denmark and China.
In Estonia, work with government bodies resulted in a special status and preferential tax regime for the company. The tax and customs model was optimised, SAP ERP was implemented, and preparations began for ISO 9001 and Lean practices.
Result
of the founders’ sales target in the first three months of the newly built sales team
A full operating infrastructure was created in the EU: manufacturing, legal entities, team, sales, partner network and operating processes.
What was built
The result was not a nominal foreign-market entry, but a working international business system adapted to the new operating conditions for Russian capital in the EU.