The head of Russia's Federal Travel Agency, Rostourism, has accepted the nomination to become Norilsk Nickel's general director.

Vladimir Strazalkovsky said he had accepted the proposal, as Norilsk Nickel is a stable major public company. The Norilsk board of directors will vote on his appointment at a meeting on August 8.

Strazalkovsky is an old acquaintance of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, and was nominated by billionaire Norilsk shareholder Vladimir Potanin, according to Vedomosti.