Chernyshenko is due to take over as chief executive on January 13, replacing Mikhail Lesin, who stood down last week for family reasons, according to official Russian news agency Tass. 

Gazprom-Media was founded in 2000 as a subsidiary of energy giant Gazprom and now owns several television and radio stations, as well as newspapers, cinemas and web video streaming services.

It is the second major role 46-year-old Chernyshenko has been appointed too in recent weeks, having last month been taken over as President of the Russia-based Kontinental Hockey League.

He is also head of Volga Group, which manages the assets of billionaire and close Vladimir Putin ally Gennady Timchenko. 

Dmitry Chernyshenko earned the trust of Russian President Vladimir Putin after successfully delivering the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics ©The Kremlin

Chernyshenko, a graduate of the Moscow State Technological University, began his career in advertising and marketing in 1989, establishing the agency that later developed into Media Arts Group.

He is widely credited with having played a major role in the success of Sochi 2014, having led it from bid to delivery, in  the process earning the trust of Russian President Putin. 

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