EOS challenges change of management in Russian corporate register

Debt collector EOS told RBC that a change of chief executive had been entered in Russia's corporate register without shareholder approval and said it had contacted law enforcement and the Federal Tax Service.

According to RBC, Malakhova replaced Anton Dmitrakov and Elena Zavyalova in the register on October 9. Dmitrakov had held the position since 2015, and Zavyalova since October 2022.

An EOS representative told the outlet that unidentified people may have used forged notarised documents, including powers of attorney purportedly issued by the company's shareholders. The agency alleges that these documents enabled inaccurate management information to be entered.

In a company notice cited by RBC from Rusprofile, EOS said its shareholders had neither approved Malakhova's appointment nor held a meeting for that purpose. The same notice said a shareholders' meeting reappointed the previous chief executives on October 10, 2026.

SPARK information cited by RBC lists Malakhova as self-employed and as a former director or co-owner of eight liquidated companies. RBC said it could not obtain her comment.

EOS belongs to Germany's EOS Group, which has operated in debt collection since 1974. The Russian business was established in 2007. The company reports having 50 offices and nearly a thousand employees in Russia.

Corporate register information cited by RBC shows EOS Holding GmbH owns 1%, with EOS International Beteiligungs-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH holding the remaining 99%. Talks about selling the Russian business in 2024–2025 did not produce a completed deal.

The agency buys distressed debts from banks and collects them itself. Its assets reached 27.1 billion roubles at the end of 2025, up 21.5% over the year, according to financial statements reported by RBC.

EOS sent its main counterparties a letter challenging the management change. The letter reviewed by RBC says Dmitrakov and Zavyalova continue to act on the agency's behalf.