Skip to main content

Alexander Pavlov

Vice President, Mercury Group, Chief Executive Officer, Tsum

The vice president of Mercury Group and chief executive officer of Tsum has led the department store through the recession.

Alexander Pavlov

Alexander Pavlov, vice president of Russia’s largest luxury retailer Mercury Group and chief executive officer of Tsum, has led the department store through the recession by lowering prices to match Europe and catering to Chinese consumers.

Pavlov was instrumental in adjusting Tsum’s prices after the devaluation of the rouble, to make the department store even more attractive to international customers. The move saw the department store’s client base increase by 30 percent and rise in revenue by 12 percent in 2016.

He also developed a tourist shopping programme for Chinese visitors in early 2016. Tsum has since recruited over 20 Chinese-speaking sales assistants, placed Chinese navigation signs in all its stores and improved their foreign customer loyalty programme.

Born in 1979 in Odessa, Ukraine, Pavlov graduated from the St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University with a master's degree in technology and engineering. He went on to work at Korus Consulting in St. Petersburg as a financial consultant.

In 2005, Pavlov was hired by Mercury Group as an analyst and was promoted to general director of Tsum in 2015, charged with overseeing the department store’s adaptation to e-commerce and a reduced customer base during the recession.

In June 2017, it was announced Pavlov would be stepping down from his role as Tsum’s general manager to focus on procurement management as chief executive officer. He remains vice president of Mercury, a holding group of more than 100 premium and luxury brand stores across Russia.

Career History

Mercury Retail Group

2005 - Present

Education
Saint Petersburg State University

VITAL STATISTICS

NATIONALITYRussian
LOCATIONRussia
MEMBER SINCE2017

Find out more

Latest News & Analysis
Retail

The Year Ahead: Less Is More for Both Consumers and Brands

Consumers are rethinking how much they buy, while brands are realising that simply stocking more products does not drive better financial results. Winning companies must reduce complexity and inventory levels by taking a more focused and responsive approach to their assortment.

Retail

The Year Ahead: Less Is More for Both Consumers and Brands

Consumers are rethinking how much they buy, while brands are realising that simply stocking more products does not drive better financial results. Winning companies must reduce complexity and inventory levels by taking a more focused and responsive approach to their assortment.


Retail

How Russia’s Largest Fashion Group Is Driving Retail Growth in St. Petersburg

As DLT, St. Petersburg’s most famous department store, celebrates its 110th anniversary, BoF meets Alexander Pavlov, chief executive of the Mercury-owned TSUM and DLT department stores, to hear how he continues to find growth in the challenging Russian market.

Retail

How Russia’s Largest Fashion Group Is Driving Retail Growth in St. Petersburg

As DLT, St. Petersburg’s most famous department store, celebrates its 110th anniversary, BoF meets Alexander Pavlov, chief executive of the Mercury-owned TSUM and DLT department stores, to hear how he continues to find growth in the challenging Russian market.


Retail

Russia’s Luxury Market on the Mend

The country’s luxury market has recovered after two difficult years, helped mainly by domestic demand and rising sales to tourists, which will get a boost from a ‘tax-free’ scheme scheduled to come into force around February next year.

Retail

Russia’s Luxury Market on the Mend

The country’s luxury market has recovered after two difficult years, helped mainly by domestic demand and rising sales to tourists, which will get a boost from a ‘tax-free’ scheme scheduled to come into force around February next year.


News & Analysis

What You May Have Missed

BoF brings you the top eight fashion news and analysis stories of the week.

News & Analysis

What You May Have Missed

BoF brings you the top eight fashion news and analysis stories of the week.


China

How Tsum’s Bet on Chinese Tourists Beat the Russian Recession

Tsum’s chief executive Alexander Pavlov explains how ‘red tourism’ from China and quick-response pricing strategies helped boost sales at the Russian department store by 40 percent.

China

How Tsum’s Bet on Chinese Tourists Beat the Russian Recession

Tsum’s chief executive Alexander Pavlov explains how ‘red tourism’ from China and quick-response pricing strategies helped boost sales at the Russian department store by 40 percent.


Luxury

Is the Worst Over in Russia?

As international executives and diplomats flock to the Saint Petersburg Economic Forum, is there cause for tentative optimism in Russia’s downtrodden luxury market?

Luxury

Is the Worst Over in Russia?

As international executives and diplomats flock to the Saint Petersburg Economic Forum, is there cause for tentative optimism in Russia’s downtrodden luxury market?


Global Markets

What Recession? Wealthy Russians Snap Up Luxury Goods

Luxury brands are seeing strong sales even as mass market plunges.

Global Markets

What Recession? Wealthy Russians Snap Up Luxury Goods

Luxury brands are seeing strong sales even as mass market plunges.

What is The BoF 500?

The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.

The BoF 500 2025 medallion logo