Part of the Smart Capital Group, the Tbilisi Tobacco Factory, is equipped with high-tech machinery and produces high quality products that have firmly established themselves in the Georgian market.
Today, the company is the market leader in its segment, employing up to 500 local employees. Its portfolio includes a variety of cigarettes and packaged tobacco brands, including Pirveli, Rio and American Gold.
Natia Chkhartishvili
Founder
Member of the Supervisory Board,
Following her studies in London, Natia Chkhartishvili established herself in the fashion and hospitality industries. Her 12 years of retail experience helped her attract and develop new ideas. As a result, the products manufactured by her company are popular and sold both locally and internationally.Natia currently leads innovative projects in hospitality, wine and retail trade at Smart Capital Group. She has joined the Company since its foundation.
Marika Vakhtangishvili
Group CFO
Ms. Vakhtangishvili joined Smart Capital in 2016 and has been the Group Chief Financial Officer ever since. Prior to that, she was a Manager at the LLP Ernst & Young Los Angeles and LLC EY Georgia Assurance Practice.
She has a BBA from the European School of Management (ESM) in Georgia and is also a chartered accountant
Rati Gvamberia
Group CEO
Starting as a junior financial analyst at the Smart Capital Group in 2005, Mr. Ghvamberia has been gradually promoted to various executive positions. His name is associated with the execution of numerous successful projects. For a long period of time, he held various executive positions at the Smart Capital Group.Since 2017, he has been appointed the Company CEO. Mr. Ghvamberia directly leads all companies and projects that are under the umbrella of Smart Capital Group.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from the Caucasus Business School and an MBA with honors in Business Administration from the Grenoble Business School.
Khatia Ghvamberia
Chief Lawyer
Ms. Ghvamberia is the Chief Lawyer at Smart Capital Group. She joined the company in 2013. Her practice revolves around International and Corporate Law, M&A, Energy and Infrastructure.
Khatia’s work experience comes from the law industry and is based on a number of complex and high-value international commercial transactions within Georgian and the international jurisdiction. She holds a Master of Law (LLM) degree from the London School of Business and Finance majoring in International Business Law.
Gigi Gogashvili
Chief Lawyer
Mr. Gogashvili graduated from Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Law in 2006. He has 15 years of work experience, working as a lawyer in private, banking, transport and corporate law.
In 2015-2016, he was the Chief Lawyer of the Organizing Committee of the European Youth Olympic Festival “Tbilisi 2015”, and in 2016-2019 – the Chief Lawyer of Hualing Group, and in 2019-2020, he headed the Legal Department of Hualing Group.
Gvantsa Gusharashvili
Chief Marketing Communications Officer
Gvantsa holds the position of the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at the Smart Capital Group since 2020. With a praiseworthy background on a manager’s position, her work experience amounts to 18 years with involvement in event planning, sales operations, PR, and marketing communications. Gvantsa’s working experience is associated with noteworthy Georgian companies such as M-Publishing House, advertising agency “Mosaic”, the Bank of Georgia’s SOLO, Tera Bank, Standard Bank, and Evex Medical Corporation.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Philology and Journalism and holds a Master’s Degree in Public Relations & Communication.
Irakli Tsagareishvili
Head of Smart Capital Development Division
Mr. Tsagareishvili joined Smart Capital in 2021 as a Head of Reporting Department. He has work experience for more than 7 years in different sectors, such as fintech, oil and development. Last position held was at JSC Axis Towers as Finance and Reporting Manager for 4 years. Irakli has graduated from Free University of Tbilisi (ESM), Business Administration, Finance.
Salome Andrazashvili
Head of Reporting Department
Ms. Andrazashvili joined the Smart Capital Group in 2017, holding the position of the Financial Manager at Select Ltd.
In 2010, Salome received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from the European School of Business (ESM) and in 2012 – a master’s degree in finance (ESADE Business School, Barcelona, Spain). In addition, in 2008 she took additional courses at the London School of Economics – Principles of Accounting, Judgment and Decision Making for Management – ACCA: F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F7, and F8.
Salome has 8 years of work experience. In 2012-2014, she worked as a personal tax advisor in the Revenue Service, and in 2014-2017 – in the Audit Department of EY Georgia.
Vakhtang Jishkariani
Chief Operating Officer
Winery SHILDA
Vakhtang Jishkariani graduated from the Faculty of Fiber Optic Telecommunications of the Georgian Technical University in 2004, and passed the qualification courses of Chief Accountant, Financial Manager and Audit.
Vakhtang has 13 years of work experience. He has worked as a director in various companies, including a meat factory, a supermarket chain Ibis and an auditing company, where he held the position of financial manager. In 2019-2020 he was the Financial Manager of Kakhetian Traditional Winery, as well as the director of 3 factories (2 canning and 1 wine), analyst, procurement and factory development project manager
Merab Mikashavidze
Chief Technologist
Winery SHILDA
Merab Mikashavidze graduated from the All-Union Food Industry Institute in 1981, and in 1984 from the Faculty of Agricultural Organization and Planning of the same Institute, majoring in economics.
Mr. Mikashavidze is the qualified engineer-technologist in winemaking. He started to work in this industry as a worker in 1975; thereafter he held the positions of the labor safety engineer, workshop chief and chief engineer. For years, he headed the companies “Sarajishvili”, “Okami”, “Vazi”, “Gruzvinproms”, and since 2015, he has been working as the head of production at Shilda Winery.
Teimuraz Kortava
Chief Winemaker
Mr. Kortava joined the Smart Capital Group in 2019. He has been in the business for more than twenty years, sharing his knowledge and experience to local and international companies.
Mr. Kortava finished his studies with honors, holding bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Viticulture and Enology. He also took a practice course at Cranfield University, England in 2005.
David Devdariani
CEO
Kaz Property Management
Mr. Devdariani joined the Smart Capital Group in 2014, and is the CEO of our subsidiary company – KAZ Property Management.
David has 26 years of work experience in managerial positions with various companies. In 1993, he graduated with honors from the Agrarian University.
Gaga Pridonashvili
Oil Terminal Director
Gaga Pridonashvili is the director of Vibro Diagnostik FZI, a subsidiary of Smart Capital Group. He joined the team in 2016.
Gaga graduated from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Commerce, and later he continued study for a Master’s degree at the University of Freiburg. Gaga has 22 years of work experience with various companies, including top managerial positions.
Gia Kiladze
Chief Technical Officer
Mr. Kiladze is the Chief Technical Officer at Vibro Diagnostik FZI a subsidiary of Smart Capital Group. He has been part of the team since 2015, focusing on the management of the logistics and operations.
Mr. Kiladze graduated with honors from the Georgian Technical University. He is a specialist in transport, engineer and construction of bridges and tunnels. He has 32 years of work experience at various noteworthy companies.
Besik Chikhladze
CFO
Oil Terminal
Mr. Chikhladze joined Smart Capital Group in 2017 and is currently the Chief Financial Officer of the energy trade and logistics business, namely Vibro Diagnostik FZI.
Beso has 15 years of work experience with leading companies. In 2009-2011 he worked in the Chamber of Control of Georgia, in 2011-2013 he was the director of an export company, and in 2013-2016 he was the head of the Internal Audit Department of the Project Management Agency. In 2016-2017, he held the position of CFO of Tbilisi Transport Company.
Besik holds a master’s degree from the Agrarian University, Faculty of Economics and is a doctoral student at TSU. He also holds a master’s degree in economics from the Free University of Georgia.
Tamaz Bidzinashvili
Chief Engineer – Head of Technical Service
In 1972 he graduated from the Georgian Technical University – Faculty of Energy.
Specialty: Automation of electric drive and industrial equipment.
He was conferred the diploma in electrical engineering.
In 1972, he started working as an engineer at Electrical Design and Research Institute of Heavy Industry, later served as a senior engineer and leading engineer.
Since 1980 he has been working as a chief power engineer, chief engineer, chief metrologist of the production enterprise “Tbiltambako” branch.
From 1998 he worked as a Chief Power Engineer at JSC “Tbilisi Tobacco”, then as the Head of the Technical Department.
From 2011 up to present he has been holding the position of a Chief Engineer in the above-mentioned company.
Genadi Shoshiashvili
Chief Technologist
Graduated from Krasnodar Polytechnic Institute in 1975 majoring in Tobacco Technology.
From 1975 to 1982 he worked in the fermentation plant of “Tbilisi Tobacco” and in the division of “Saktambako”.
From 1983 to 1987 he was the representative of the Soviet Union in foreign trade in the Republic of India, being involved in tobacco purchase.
From 1988 to 2000 he worked in “Tbiltambako” union.
From 2000 up to present he has been working in “Tbilisi Tobacco” – as a head of the plant.
Gizo Dolidze
Production Manager
Gizo Dolidze, born 14-03-2021. In 1999 Graduated Tbilisi Technical University lawyers degree with honors.
From 2011 I am working In Tbilisi Tobacco on different positions:
2011-2012 – head of cigarette workshop ;
2012-2019 – head of production;
2019 was working as head of Ltd “ Geo distribution”;
2019 till now – working as head of production.
Tamaz Shengelaia
CFO
Tamaz Shengelaia has been the financial director of Tbilisi Tobacco, a subsidiary of Smart Capital Group, since 2018. He graduated from the Faculty of Space Equipment of St. Petersburg State University in 1999 and gained 22 years of work experience in the field of finance.
At different times he worked as an Assistant Chief Accountant at Interpolis Insurance Company (1998-1999), credit officer at the Georgian Post Bank (1999-2001), Financial Manager at Samgori Ltd. (2001-2006), CFO at Ioli (2006-2011) and at Tbilisi Tobacco (2011-2015), and Chief Accountant at Jacobs Douwe Egberts Caucasus (2015-2018).
Ilia Kantaria
Head of Geodistribution
Mr. Kantaria joined Smart Capital Group in 2016. He graduated from Tbilisi State University, where he was educated in Finance and Business Administration. He worked for successful organizations such as Samgori Ltd., the Georgian vegetable oils company “Karva” and Coca-Cola Bottlers Georgia.
Until 2016, he was an employee of our subsidiary, Shilda Winery, and is currently the head of Geodistribution.
Besik Melashvili
CFO of Geodistribution
In 2018, Besik Melashvili worked as an accountant at Smart Capital Group, and since 2019, he has been the CFO of the Group’s subsidiary, Geodistribution Ltd. He has many years of experience in accounting and auditing throughout Georgia.
Besik graduated from Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Finance and Banking, and continued his studies at the Faculty of Law.
Levan Skamkochaishvili
CEO
Levan Skamkochaishvili joined Smart Capital Group in 2011. He graduated from Moscow P. Lumumba Peoples’ Friendship University. Since 1988 he was a HES manager and currently holds the position of CEO of Tbilisi Tobacco, a subsidiary of Smart Capital Group.
Tamar Svanidze
Founder of Eshvi Kids
Tamar Svanidze graduated from Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Philology in 2008. In 2009-2010 she studied design at St. Martin’s University of the Arts in London and successfully completing various certified courses.
In 2011 she founded the company “Eshvi”, and in 2017 founded the Eshvi children’s clothing line “Eshvi Kids”. The company manufactures organic, eco-friendly children clothes that are successfully sold in various countries around the world.
David Ebralidze
General Director
General Director of Poti Free Industrial Zone from 2018 to present. 2016-2018 Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Smart Capital. In 2013-2015, David worked as the Head of the Administrative Department at the Georgian Co-Investment Fund. In 2012-2013 he was an Advisor to the Deputy Director of JSC Partnership Fund. In 2010-2012 he held the position of a lawyer in the Georgian office of the American Bar Association. At the same time, in 2014, he held the position of interim head of the Economic Council established by the Prime Minister of Georgia. In 2009-2010 he worked in the Legal Department of the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia, and in 2007-2008 in the company New Net LLC.
Giorgi Kvaratskhelia
Deputy Director
Giorgi Kvaratskhelia joined the poti free industrial zone in 2020. Prior to that, he was business manager at Smart Capital Group, mainly managing tech-related projects. He graduated form Universita Bocconi in Italy – Finance. He has the experience of working in various fields such as : medical, financial and technological . Giorgi worked at partnership fund and clinical institute of medical research. Founded various startups and co-founded one of the first blockchain related companies in Georgia.
Tamar Sakheishvili
Chief Investment Officer
Tamar has joined Poti FIZ team in 2010 and displayed consistent overall improvement and growth during the employment period and passed all hierarchy level starting as a Marketing Executive Trainee in 2010, Senior Investment Officer in 2015 and Head of Investor Relations Department from 2018. She has an important contributor to the successes of the sales and investment department and attracting number of manufacturing and trading companies in Poti FIZ. Tamar’s portfolio includes successful completion of textile, lubricants, plastic additives, hazelnut production projects and placement of regional distribution centers of variety products in Poti FIZ. In 2015 she was awarded by National Business Rating Union and was given the National Certificate – The Specialist of 2015 Year. Tamar holds a Bachelor degree of the History of International Relations and a Master of Humanitarian Sciences from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.
Zurab Savaneli
Chief Engineer
Zurab Savaneli has been employed in the Poti Free Industrial Zone since its establishment in 2008 and is currently the Chief Engineer of FIZ. From 2004 to 2008, he was a Project Manager at GIS and RS Consulting Center “GeoGraphic”. From 2001 to 2004, he was the Deputy Head of the Department of Science of LEPL – Scientific-Industrial Center for Research and Governance of Coastal Formation Processes “GeorgianCoastalProtection”. Educated at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Geography and Geology, majoring in Engineer-Oceanology. At the same university, from 2001 to 2002, he taught a lecture course in oceanography. He is currently the Deputy Head of the Department and a researcher of TSU Center for Oceanographic Data Exchange of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Commission of TSU Institute of Oceanography and Hydrology, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences. He has taken training and scientific courses in oceanography at European and US institutes and universities, has participated in international scientific projects and oceanographic expeditions and has scientific publications.
Nana Gotua
Head of Social Responsibility
Nana Gotua is involved in various charitable activities. She has been the head of the Charity Georgian Chant Foundation since 2012, which she founded together with her spouse Vano Chkhartishvili. Nana Gotua has been the head of the administration of Chant University since 2014, and the reforms implemented at the University, which have determined the success of the school, are associated with her name.
In 2013, on her initiative, the annual award of the Georgian Chant Foundation was established – a concert aimed at supporting artists working in the field of Georgian traditional culture. In 2016, she also established the Prize for Georgian traditional chanters and researchers named after Artem Erkomaishvili.
In the same year, the Chkhartishvili family established the first and only Habilitation-Rehabilitation Foundation “Ai Ia” with a comprehensive service for children with hearing impairments.
Ketevan Petriashvili
Deputy Director of Ai Ia Foundation
Ketevan Petriashvili graduated from Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Western European Languages and Literature, majoring in English language. She held various managerial positions over the years.
She joined Smart Capital Group in 2019 and still works as the Deputy Director of the Charitable Foundation “Ai Ia” for habilitation- rehabilitation and development of children with hearing impairment.
Salome Barbakadze
Advisor at AI IA Foundation
Salome holds a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Tbilisi State University. She worked with families of young children with disabilities.
She first acquainted with this program at the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development in Washington. She is an early development trainer, supervisor and guest lecturer at the Tbilisi State University. She joined the team of the Charity Foundation “Ai Ia” as an advisor-consultant at the end of 2018 and is currently working in project development as well.
Baia Zhuzhunadze
Public Relations Manager at Georgian Chant Foundation
Baia Zhuzhunadze holds a Master’s degree in Musicology. She is a doctoral student at Tbilisi State University and a specialist at the International Center for the Study of Traditional Polyphony at the Tbilisi State Conservatory.
She joined Smart Capital Group in 2016 as the Public Relations Manager of the Georgian Chant Foundation.
Nino Razmadze
Project Monitoring Officer at Georgian Chant Foundation
Nino Razmadze is an ethnomusicologist, a doctoral student at the Tbilisi State Conservatory and the Deputy Director of the International Center for the Study of Traditional Polyphony at the Tbilisi State Conservatory.
She is also the leader and participant of many projects. She joined the Smart Capital Group in 2015 and since that time she has been the Project Monitoring Officer of the Georgian Chant Foundation.
Mikheil Chkhartishvili
Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Founder
