Konstantin Sokolov

Konstantin Sokolov is an experienced entrepreneur, private equity investor and philanthropist. He is the founder of IJS Investments, a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on critical infrastructure initiatives, including in the energy, telecommunications and financial services sectors.

Mr. Sokolov is a major shareholder in Viva, Armenia’s largest mobile and telecommunications company, supplying over 2.3 million subscribers.  He is also Chairman of Pelagos Data Centres, an initiative founded to shape the future of digital infrastructure and respond to the demands of an AI-driven digital economy.

Mr. Sokolov is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Munich Security Conference Foundation, globally recognized as a leading forum for high-level debate and dialogue on the most pressing international security challenges. He is also a Board Member of the American Friends of the Munich Security Conference.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Sokolov worked in both the telecommunications and energy sectors, first as Director of Enterprise Architecture at Qwest Communications (now Lumen Technologies), where he modernized U.S. Government telecom systems and pioneered next-generation digital solutions, and then as Managing Director for Strategy and M&A at Centrica plc. Mr. Sokolov’s leadership experience also includes restructuring sovereign wealth funds and central banks and steering portfolio companies through public market exits, including IPOs on major global exchanges.

Mr. Sokolov 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, where he remains an active supporter of programs that empower future leaders. He is a member of the Chicago Booth and Polsky Center Private Equity Council.