Professional Affiliation

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, U.S.-Russia Business Council

Expert Bio

Randi Levinas is EVP and COO at the U.S.-Russia Business Council (USRBC). In this role, she oversees the day-to-day management of USRBC and counsels corporate members on strategies to achieve their commercial objectives in Russia and the United States.

Ms. Levinas manages the Council’s government relations portfolio, directing lobbying initiatives with the U.S. and Russian governments and counseling members on regulatory matters impacting bilateral trade and investment. She leads the Council’s work in collaboration with other business associations engaging on sanctions policy. Earlier, Ms. Levinas was active in many working groups of the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission (BPC) and led private sector initiatives within the BPC related to Industry Standards and Innovation. She is a cleared advisor on international trade matters to the U.S. Government as a member of the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Standards and Technical Trade Barriers.

Ms. Levinas was closely involved in negotiations on Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization and served as the Executive Director of the Coalition for U.S.-Russia Trade, successfully leading an effort of more than 500 U.S. businesses and trade associations in U.S. Congressional approval of Russia’s graduation from the Jackson-Vanik amendment and the extension of Permanent Normal Trade Relations to Russia.

She has served on advisory panels for start-ups and as a judge for start-up competitions and has spoken on innovation themes at events in New York, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Skolkovo and Kazan. She also has led numerous corporate social responsibility initiatives for USRBC.

Ms. Levinas is a member of the Board of Directors of NCSEJ, the non-profit agency that fosters cooperation among the U.S. Government, governments of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and the Jewish communities of the United States and the region.

Prior to being named EVP and COO, Ms. Levinas served as the USRBC’s Vice President for Policy and Programs (2006-2008) and Director for Policy and Programs (2005-2006).

Before joining USRBC, Ms. Levinas worked for numerous law firms, collaborating in the development of strategy for clients involved in WTO disputes and advising foreign corporations and trade associations regarding their international trade agendas in the U.S. market. She was of the legislative team advising the Government of Mexico’s Trade Ministry (SECOFI) on the Congressional passage and implementation of the historic North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Ms. Levinas holds a B.A. in International Relations and Spanish from Tufts University where she graduated Summa cum laude and an M.S. in Foreign Service (specializing in International Business Diplomacy) from Georgetown University where she was a University Scholar.