Our team - Niki

Bogdan Panchenko and Ivan Kukarskih – Founders (shot by Glen Ballis)

With a shared international background and a true ambition to excel in the food and beverage sphere, Ivan and Bogdan struck up a synergetic partnership from day one. In 2013, Ivan founded BB Burgers, which has quickly become one of the most successful burger restaurant chains in Russia. Meanwhile, Bogdan was having his own success becoming a key supplier to the nation’s capital, providing fresh vegetables and fruit from all over Russia.

Dmitry Volkov – COO

Dmitry started his career in restaurant industry in 2010 from a waiter's assistant position in the restaurant chain "Coffemania", where he worked for 8,5 years, having gained extensive management experience in staff training and management. Dmitry has opened the Greek restaurant Eva, Russian cuisine restaurant Niki. Then he worked as a territorial manager of Niki, Eleven, All Day. The main thing in work is the team, where everyone shares the same life values, loves their work, loves people and enjoys what they do.

Dan Miron – Brand Chef

A student of the British chef Jason Atherton. After working for two years in Atherton’s restaurants (Esquina, Pollen, The Study) in Singapore, Dan honed his skills with Gaggan Anand at his restaurant in Bangkok. On his return to Moscow, Dan Miron launched the Holy Fox and Margarita Bistro project. “The formula of our menu remains the same: we choose good ingredients, prepare them with maximum knowledge and love, and then add a little wit, courage and provocation,” - Chef Dan Miron.

Elizaveta Yakovets – PR-director

Graduated from the Higher School of Economics. Since 20 years old has been engaged in marketing in the restaurant field. Having gained experience in a large advertising company, she opened her own agency and in 2018 moved to Lucky Group during their first Margarita Bistro project. Her value is working with mind and heart.

Ekaterina Khrokina - Training Director

She began her career in the restaurant business as a waiter's assistant at the age of 18. She graduated from the Faculty of Psychology, the school of wine "Enotria" and later, advancing in her career in restaurants in managerial positions, she received the education of a business coach. Created the LUCKY SKILLS school in 2019 from scratch, when the company had only 2 restaurants.

Maxim Gorelik – Chef Bartender

Has been in the industry for 10 years. He started his career in Krasnoyarsk (2011-2012), then worked in bars in St. Petersburg (2013) with the future founders of the Imbibe bar. In 2014 he moved to Moscow and worked at one of the first Speak Easy in Russia - Jack Rose, then joined the team of Bruce Lee Bar (former Belka Bar), where six months later he became a bar manager at the age of 22. In 2016, he had experience in bar consulting, and at the beginning of 2017 he joined the team of opening the Cevicheria restaurant. In mid-2017, he received an offer to open a new project Margarita Bistro as a bar manager. A year later, he opened Lucky Izakaya Bar, afterwards - Eva and Loro, thereafter he became the chief bartender of the new restaurant group Lucky Group.

Since 2017 he is also part of the Bacardi - Martini family. Since September 2017, he was the trade ambassador of Bacardi - Martini in Moscow. Since January 1, 2022, he has been the Patron tequila brand ambassador in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Included in the Top 10 Russian bar managers according to Barproof 2017-2018 and the Top 3 Russian bar managers according to Barproof 2019-2021.

Now he is a speaker at various restaurant and bar venues in Russia, such as the Roman Toroschin Training Center, Gastreet Show, Moscow Food Academy.

The ideologist of the educational bar community at Lucky Group - Lucky Bar Skills.

Dmitry Kipelkin – Chef sommelier

Has been working as a sommelier since 2007. Took several courses in Germany and Burgundy (Ecole de Bourgogne). Dmitry worked as a chief sommelier at the Selfie restaurant of the WRF holding. Essential part of his work is the preparation of wine lists for all segments, as well as navigation through them. He loves wine at all stages - from a vine to a glass in a hand. Appreciates the opportunity to touch the art of talented winemakers.

Alexander Shuba – Chef

Born in Moscow, studied at the Cook College 44 in Ramenki. He spent a year at the OvO by Carlo Cracco restaurant where he gained an experience of working with some of the best Italian chefs. He also took part in the opening of the Dante kitchen + bar restaurant and became the head of the kitchen a year later. He is a big fan of Daniel Humm (Eleven Madison Park). What they make and promote is simple and complex at the same time. Their motto “Make it Nice” is to be implemented not only in work, but also in life.

Alyona Filippova – Head manager

Alyona has received a financial education, but at the age of 25 she realized that office work doesn’t suit her. She worked her way up from waiter to head manager in 9 months, worked as a head manager in chain projects and family cafes, and in restaurants such as Uilliam's.

Sergey Struk – Bar Manager

Born and raised in Karaganda where he studied sports aviation, he was an assistant of a radio presenter at «Our Radio». In 2013, he began his career as an assistant bartender at the «Sixty» restaurant and in 2017, he became a bar manager of this project. Took part in the opening of the «Eva» restaurant. “I am convinced that the main thing in work is responsibility and faith in what you do. And honesty.”

Maria Trykova – Sommelier

Maria left her career in finance in 2021 and decided to connect life with wine. She was educated at the Gorizont sommelier school and graduated from the professional course at WineState. Maria started working at Maya restaurant in February 2022 and she became the sommelier of the Niki restaurant in November 2022.