Dmitry Borisovich Zimin was born on April 28, 1933 in Moscow. His father, Boris Nikolaevich Zimin, a research associate at Bauman State Technical University, was persecuted for political reasons and was sent to a Soviet penal labour camp in 1935. His mother worked as a typist. Predecessors of Dmitry Zimin are famous for making a project of and building the Moscow water supply system, as well as founding the silk-weaving industry in the Moscow suburbs – Drezna and Orekhovo-Zuevo; at the beginning of XX century, one of them (Sergei Zimin) established a private opera theater. 

In 1957, Dmitry Zimin graduated from Radio Electronics for Flying Vehicles School at Moscow Aviation Institute, in 1963 – he got a PhD, while in 1984 – he got ScD degree.

Dmitry Zimin is an academic at International Telecommunications Academy, a corresponding member of Russian Academy of Engineering Sciences and a member of the presidium of the Russian Academy of Business. He is an author of over 100 scientific studies and inventions, a winner of the Popov Award given by the USSR Science Academy (1965) and State Award of the Russian Federation (1993).

Mr Zimin has occupied managerial positions in A.L. Mints Institute of Radio Engineering (RTI) for more than 35 years: he was employed as head of the laboratory, head of scientific department, director of the centre for developing radio engineering equipment and deputy chief constructor of the major ground based radar included in the missile defense system.  

At the beginning of 1990s, Dmitry Zimin with a group of RTI engineers established a small enterprise “KB Impuls”, which made projects and manufactured radio equipment for civil purposes.

In 1992, he initiated founding the mobile telecommunications company ZAO VimpelCom (Beeline mobile communications). Headed by Mr Zimin, VimpelCom made a significant contribution into shaping the mobile communications market in Russia. The company became one of the market leaders over several years. 

In 1996, VimpelCom, transformed into an open joint-stock company by the time, became the first company in the new Russian history, which was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Foreign investors recognized VimpelCom as the first Russian company that fully corresponded to all the international requirements for business transparency, corporate management and investor rights protection.  

Director General and President at VimpelCom, Dmitry Zimin was a member of the board at Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) for many years. In 2001, he received the National Award “Business Olympus” in the nomination “Business Reputation”. 

In May 2001, Dmitry Zimin resigned from the position of director general. Following a decision by the Board of Directors of the company, he was given a title of “Honorary President and Founder of VimpelCom Company”. 

Right after the resignation, Dmitry Zimin established the non-profit Dynasty Foundation to support Russian fundamental science and education and popularize scientific knowledge.

In 2007, a book “Dmitry Zimin. From 2 to 72, or Picture Book” by Dmitry Zimin came out.