President, Russian Television Academy

Vladimir Pozner currently heads the Russian Television Academy. Fluent in both Russian and English, Pozner worked as an editor for Novosti, Soviet Life and Sputnik before becoming a commentator on the North American Radio Service of Moscow and ABC News's Nightline. From 1985-86, Pozner hosted two joint talk shows with American television personality Phil Donahue, making him famous in both the United States and Soviet Union. He is also the author of two books about the Soviet Union's collapse , Parting with Illusions and Eyewitness. Pozner received two Emmy awards for his work and is recognized as one the most respected television journalists in Russia.