Konstantin Sokolov

Konstantin Sokolov’s Biography

Konstantin Sokolov is an American entrepreneur, private equity investor and philanthropist. He is founder of IJS Investments, a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on critical infrastructure and financial services.

Further to this expertise, he is a major shareholder in Viva, Armenia’s largest mobile and telecommunications company. He is also the founder of the Northern Pillar Energy Consortium and serves as Chairman of Pelagos Data Centres.

Konstantin is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Munich Security Conference Foundation, widely regarded as one of the world’s leading platforms for high-level dialogue on international security. He also serves as a Board Member of the American Friends of the Munich Security Conference.

Moving permanently to the United States aged 21, Konstantin began his career at Qwest Communications, rising to become Director of Enterprise Architecture. He later moved to multinational energy giant Centrica plc, where he was Managing Director for Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions. Konstantin has advised governments, sovereign wealth funds and... Konstantin Sokolov is an American entrepreneur, private equity investor and philanthropist. He is founder of IJS Investments, a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on critical infrastructure and financial services.

Further to this expertise, he is a major shareholder in Viva, Armenia’s largest mobile and telecommunications company. He is also the founder of the Northern Pillar Energy Consortium and serves as Chairman of Pelagos Data Centres.

Konstantin is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Munich Security Conference Foundation, widely regarded as one of the world’s leading platforms for high-level dialogue on international security. He also serves as a Board Member of the American Friends of the Munich Security Conference.

Moving permanently to the United States aged 21, Konstantin began his career at Qwest Communications, rising to become Director of Enterprise Architecture. He later moved to multinational energy giant Centrica plc, where he was Managing Director for Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions. Konstantin has advised governments, sovereign wealth funds and central banks, led restructuring projects and has steered the listing of firms on all the major global exchanges.

Raised in an academic family, he is a passionate advocate for the value of education and the ‘relentless pursuit of knowledge’. He holds a master’s degree in mathematics and computer science from St. Petersburg State University and an Executive MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Recognizing the defining role of Chicago Booth on his career, in 2025 he made a gift of $100 million to the school, reflecting his support for Booth’s rigorous academic approach and his commitment to expand opportunity for others. Chicago Booth has renamed its Executive MBA course the Sokolov Executive MBA in his honor. Konstantin also serves as a member of the Booth Polsky Center Private Equity Council. READ MORE VIEW LESS

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Konstantin Sokolov’s Background

Centrica plc

Managing Director for Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions

2004 - 2007

London, UK

Centrica is a multinational, FTSE 100 listed energy and services company. It is the largest supplier of gas to domestic customers in the UK and one of the largest suppliers of electricity. It operates worldwide through regional operations, joint ventures, and acquisitions

Qwest Communications

Director of Enterprise Architecture

1997 - 2004

Denver, CO, USA

Qwest was a major US telecommunications firm providing services in almost a third of the country’s states. Established in 1996, it was later acquired by Lumen Technologies.

Current Board Positions

Pelagos Data Centres

Chairman

2025 - Present

Gibraltar, GI

Pelagos Data Centres is an initiative established to help shape the future of digital infrastructure and support the transition to an AI‑driven digital economy. The company is currently undertaking the construction of a state-of-the-art, 250MW modular data center in Gibraltar, enabling high density computing, AI workloads and hybrid cloud operations from the outset.

Northern Pillar Energy Consortium

Chairperson

2024 - Present

Gibraltar, GI

The Northern Pillar Energy Consortium is an initiative to connect the increasing supply of renewables in North Africa to the growing demand in Europe for more energy and to improve access to affordable, high-speed mobile telecommunications on the African continent. The initiatives will enhance local infrastructure, create jobs and boost economic opportunities on both continents.