Firebird manages private funds primarily dedicated to equity investment in the former Soviet Union and emerging Eastern Europe. Our investors are highly respected financial institutions and high net worth individuals, mostly from the United States, Europe and Asia.
Harvey Sawikin co-founded Firebird in 1994. He is a lead manager of Firebird’s Eastern Europe and Russia funds. He also serves on the Management Boards of the Amber private equity funds. Before founding Firebird, he was a clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals and an M&A specialist at the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. Harvey is a graduate of Columbia University (Magna Cum Laude) and Harvard Law School (Cum Laude), where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. Harvey is a member of the Visiting Committees of both the Photographs and the Modern and Contemporary Art Departments of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and a member of the Board of Directors of Film at Lincoln Center.
co-founded Firebird in 1994 and is a lead manager of Firebird's Eastern Europe and Russia funds. He is a recognized expert on politics and investment in the former Soviet Union. Ian graduated from Wesleyan University with a BS in Russian Language and Literature, has a Masters in International Policy Studies from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and did graduate work at Columbia University's Harriman Institute. Ian served until recently on the board of the Bank of Georgia and he continues to serve on the boards of several companies in the region. Ian speaks Russian and French in addition to English.
Steve is the Fund Manager of Firebird U.S. Value Fund as well as portfolio manager of Firebird’s Eastern Europe and Russia Funds. He joined Firebird in 2005 from Columbia University Graduate School of Business while completing education from a highly selective Value Investing Program. Prior to business school, Steve was an operational strategy consultant at Deloitte working with companies in various industries including banking, healthcare, and retail. He holds a BS degree from Carnegie Mellon University as well as a CFA (chartered financial analyst) charter and a membership in Beta Gamma Sigma honor society. Steve serves on the boards of Teliani Valley (Georgia), and Arco Vara (Estonia). He speaks Russian, English and his native Belarussian.
