The move to replace the general director of Philip Kirkorov Production came after Artem Kiyashko stepped away. Maxim Sitnik, who manages Philip Kirkorov, explained to socialbites.ca that the leadership change had been considered for some time, but finding a suitable successor for Kiyashko proved difficult.
According to Sitnik, Artem is taking a break to pursue other ventures. He is still visible in the organization at times, yet his day-to-day involvement with Philip Kirkorov appears substantially reduced. Sitnik emphasized that he could not dictate Artem’s next steps, noting that life itself would determine the length of the absence. He added that the decision to seek a new head had already been made long ago, and the challenge lay in locating the right candidate to fill the role.
Earlier reporting by socialbites.ca had noted that Artem Kiyashko no longer held the post of general director at Philip Kirkorov Production LLC. It was also reported that Vladimir Ponomarev had been appointed as the new general director of the organization, which has operated in the performing arts sector in Russia for more than two decades. Open sources indicate the primary client for the company is GBUK at the St. Oktyabrsky Concert Hall in Saint Petersburg, and public records show the company has faced financial and legal pressures, including a notable loss cited in court proceedings.
In December of the previous year, a Telegram channel raised concerns about Kirkorov’s tax obligations, noting a debt to the Federal Tax Service that exceeded several million rubles. In contrast, another source claimed a much smaller figure for the same period, while simultaneously reporting the company’s annual earnings. The publications also highlighted that the artist had drawn income from government-affiliated events, contributing to a notable inflow of funds. Yet later reports indicated that the debt had been resolved, with the outstanding amount recorded as a fixed liability at a specific reference point in time.
There was also public mention of a luxury purchase tied to the artist, a diamond necklace valued at several million rubles, which became part of the broader narrative surrounding the artist and the company during that period. [Citation: socialbites.ca; YUGRL; Zvezdach; Secular Chronicle provide corroboration for timelines and figures.]