• Ivan Kukarskikh and Bogdan Panchenko – founders of Lucky Group


    Having traveled around Europe and gained experience, Bogdan and Ivan consciously moved towards the restaurant industry. Ivan opened the first BB Burgers project in 2013. Bogdan, helping his partner and close friend, was simultaneously engaged in supplying vegetables and fruits from Russian cities to large companies in the capital.
    In the fall of 2017, together with brand chef Glen Ballis, was opened a joint project Margarita Bistro on the corner of Malaya Bronnaya street.
    There are now 15 restaurants in the Lucky Group, which are united by values, attention to detail and most importantly – hospitality. In addition to restaurants, Lucky Group develops the areas of events, catering, training services and merch.
  • Pavel Polyakov – CEO


    "I am convinced that people are the main inspiration and value in any business. Our guests are the personification of our team and vice versa. If you do everything for people, it will come back to you like a boomerang."

    He started working as a busboy at the age of 17, at 21 he got his first experience as a manager, worked in senior positions in well-known companies. Pavel joined Lucky Group team in 2020, was in the position of head manager of EVA, KOJI, Maya projects and headed the company as an executive director in 2022.

  • Glen Ballis – Brand chef


    Born in Australia, upon finishing culinary school, Glen worked eight years domestically before moving to Southeast Asia, where he spent the next twenty years fine tuning his trade, before moving to London. In 2006, he was offered a position to open a restaurant in Moscow and he never looked back. From there, he has positioned himself as a business partner with some of Moscow's top restaurants, renowned for their delicious tastes and eclectic styles. In addition, Ballis owns three restaurants in Singapore, which are managed by his son.
  • Dmitry Kipelkin – Chef Sommelier


    Sommelier since 2007. Took courses in Germany and Burgundy (Ecole de Bourgogne). Worked as a chef sommelier at the Selfie restaurant of the WRF group. He is engaged in compiling wine lists of all segments, as well as navigating through them. Loves wine at all stages - from the vine to the glass in hand. Appreciates the opportunity to touch the art of talented winemakers.
  • 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.

  • Irina Tsareva - Head manager


    She started working in the restaurant industry more than 10 years ago as a waiter. She continued her way as a catering manager at Correa's in Skolkovo, then at Novikov group restaurants. Later she joined the Lucky group: worked as a manager at Koji and took part in the opening of the Maya restaurant.
  • Vasiliy Zaitsev – Chef


    Started his career 15 years ago. Learned the art of cooking in Hong Kong and Beijing. As a chef he took part in the opening of such projects as Zodiac, Chicha, Sakhalin. He was the head of the Tinto Mediterranean restaurant. Likes to travel to the countries of Southeast Asia and the Pink Floyd group.
  • Artur Mirasov - Bar manager


    Artur Mirasov started his career back in 2014 in Krasnoyarsk. Later on he moved to Moscow and worked as a bartender at Margarita Bistro. He has always been a part of Lucky Group projects: since its opening, he worked as a bartender at Lucky Izakaya and then became the bar manager at Loro and Koji. He showed impressive results in a variety of competitions: he took second place in Monin cup Russia 2018, he was the two-time finalist of Licor 43 Russia 2018-2019, the finalist of art of Italicus Russia 2019 and global finalist of Russia Tio Pepe Challenge 2020. The main thing in work is the emotional attachment to the project. This allows you to overcome all difficulties.
  • Georgy Elizarov - Chef sommelier


    He began his journey in 2011 at the Art Academy restaurant as a waiter, where he got acquainted with the world of wine and sommelier Maria Milovidova. Later, in 2013, he ended up at FF Bar under the guidance of Fedor Fomin and the Simachëv Shop&Bar team. Three years later, he joined to the 15 kitchen + bar team, where he worked with chefs from Michelin restaurants. There he went from head waiter to sommelier, studying at the Enotria wine school, and met Tom Halpin, with whom he continued to work as a sommelier at Foreigners. Having successfully proved himself, he received an invitation from the chef sommelier of Lucky Group to become part of the company. In 2021, he became a sommelier at Lucky Izakaya Bar, and two years later, at Koji Restaurant.

© 2021 Koji, Kalashny Lane, 9