MOSCOW—Edelman has named Stan Polovets as chairman of the agency's presence in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

The move comes two years after Edelman closed its Russian subsidiary and radically restructured its operation in the country. 

The Russian-born Polovets is the lead member of the advisory board for L1 Energy, a $10bn global energy fund established by Russia’s Alfa Group after its exit from the TNK-BP joint venture in 2013. 

Polovets will provide strategic counsel to the leadership of Edelman’s office in Russia, as well as help Edelman strengthen its capabilities in the energy sector worldwide.

"He has had a distinguished career in the energy sector and his wealth of knowledge and expertise related to the Russian market will be an incredible asset as we achieve our strategy of organic and non-organic growth in the region," said Michael Stewart, CEO of Edelman Europe and CIS.

Polovets began his career in Russia in 1990 as a senior manager at Ernst & Young, where he established the firm’s consulting business in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. In addition to helping numerous Fortune 500 companies establish operations in the region, he also served in senior advisory roles to the Minister of Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan and to the President of Lithuania’s national oil company, Mazeikiu Nafta.

"Russia and other countries in the region offer some very unique challenges, and I look forward to bringing my 25 years of experience in the region to assist Edelman’s global clients in overcoming these challenges and capitalizing on the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead,” said Polovets.