Passion
A builder of global enterprises, Róbert is an active supporter of the communities where his companies work, in his native Iceland and worldwide.
Roots
Although his companies work all over the world, Róbert is also a proud Icelander and a champion of the local economy and organizations. From the moment he conceived of founding a new kind of biosimilars enterprise more than a decade ago, he was committed to putting it in the very heart of Reykjavik.
It was neither an obvious nor an easy choice to locate the company in Iceland. But in the
end, this is how we build up knowledge, not just for Alvotech, but for society as a whole.
With the enthusiastic support of the city government and the University of Iceland, Alvotech secured a site right across the street from the university, Róbert's alma mater, to become an anchor tenant of Reykjavik's nascent Science Park.
Today, Alvotech's headquarters facility houses fully integrated capabilities for developing, optimizing and manufacturing biosimilars, spread over two buildings and 27,000 square feet. More than 800 of the company's 1000-plus employees, hailing from more than 60 countries, are based in Reykjavik. Representing a critical mass of talent and expertise in a new industry for the country, Alvotech also provides facilities and training to students and researchers from the university's Department of Industrial Biotechnology, as well as new avenues of employment for graduates.
Community
Róbert and his companies have always given back to their communities, both local and global. In addition to his own and company initiatives, Róbert has always encouraged his employees to support their own causes and provided company matching funds to maximize the impact of these efforts. Among the prinicipal causes, programs and groups supported by Róbert, his companies and colleagues are:
Sports
Football and basketball
Although his own footballing career was cut short by his interest and success in dance, Róbert and his companies Alvogen and Alvotech have been longtime sponsors of his childhold club in Reykjavik, KR. This support focuses on both the youth football and basketball divisions. Aztiq is likewise one of the principal sponsors of football at Afturelding sports club in Róbert's other hometown of Mosfellsbær, just east of Reykjavik.
Cycling
As a serious cyclist himself, Róbert and his companies have been longtime supporters of Iceland's growing cycling community. Alvotech has now taken up Alvogen's mantle as a sponsor of the Reykjavik Cycling Club (HFR.is), supporting the club's youth training and events as well as the Alvotech company team.
Children
RK Child Foundation
Róbert and his wife Ksenia Shakhmanova established their own foundation to assist orphanages in low-income countries to upgrade their facilities and provide the children in their charge with better medical care and other necessities.
We want for as many children as possible to have a safe and secure childhood today as a foundation for a bright future. By providing the resources to modernise accomodation and meet other key needs, the Foundation can truly make a difference in children's wellbeing.
Róbert and Ksenia intend to register the foundation as a public charitable organization, in order to be able to invite others to support its efforts.
UNICEF
Both Alvogen and Alvotech have been partners of UNICEF over many years and sponsored numerous programs under the umbrella of the companies 'Better Planet' medical and social empowerment work. Supported programs have included UNICEF’s COVAX project, a COVID-19 global vaccination initiative.
Dyslexia awareness
Róbert's own struggles with dyslexia led to Alvotech sponsoring the documentary Dyslexia (Lesblinda in Icelandic), by musician Sylvía Erla Melsted. The film features interviews with experts in the field of dyslexia as well as people's personal stories with their challenges inspirational achievements.
Women
UN Women
Alvotech employees have made repeated and substantial contributions — matched by the company — to the Iceland office of UN Women. The funds have been aimed primarily at supporting women refugees from the war in Ukraine and their families.
Reykjavik Global
Alvotech is a major longtime sponsor of the annual Reykjavik Global women's leadership event and the community that has grown up around it.
Cancer
Alvotech is a proud backer of the cancer support network Kraftur, a community that assists and connects people aged 18-40 diagnosed with cancer. Many patients in this age group are parents as well as patients, and the group helps them to bear the economic burden of illness and medications, and to stay fit and connected with others on the same difficult journey. The Kaftur team has been invited to speak at Alvotech, whose employees, most of whom are in this same age group, have also supported its programs.
Innovation
Fruman
In early 2025, Alvotech announced the launch of Fruman (Icelandic for 'seed', Iceland's first biotechnology innovation hub and incubator. Conceived by Róbert as a dynamic and growing community, the center leverages Alvotech's cutting-edge science by providing a home, side-by-side and under one roof, for the company's new technology lab; the University of Iceland's biotechnology teaching lab; the Alvotech Academy, which provides professional and technical development for staff and the community; and a biotech startup incubator.
Innovation Week
For the past four years, Alvotech has been an active participant in and major sponsor of Reykjavik Innovation Week, an annual event highlighting local startups and bringing together the founders, investors and talent that power them.
Humanitarian relief
One of Alvotech's strengths as an enterprise is the diversity of its employees. And with staff from more than 60 countries, events and humanitarian and natural disasters can hit close to home for many even when they happen far from Iceland. Róbert has always been committed to supporting the causes and fundraising efforts of his colleagues, and Alvotech has a tradition of matching employee-raised funds that have gone to several countries to help local people in times of dire need.
Family
Róbert and Ksenia have six children between them, including toddlers, teenagers and university graduates. It makes for a lively household, with four languages and family interests and daily activities ranging from fishing and football to farming, fashion and finance.
Art
Róbert has been collecting art for more than twenty years, and when Alvotech's facility in Reykjavik was designed he commissioned two major pieces by Icelandic sculptor Sigurdur Gudmundsson that frame the facade and entrance and that seem to be in conversation from inside and outside the building.
Alvotech's headquarters facility has art from Róbert's collection throughout, including many by the well-known Icelandic painter Erró. On Reykjavik's annual culture night, the company has invited the public in to view these works and for lectures by artists, art historians and gallerists.
Winemaking
Róbert and his wife Ksenia share a passion for wine and winemaking that they long hoped to put into practice. After many years of searching, they finally found what they were looking for in Château de Saint-Cernin, built in the 12th century and located in the Bergerac region in the south of France. The Château has been producing wine for centuries, with exceptional vineyard micro-parcels in the Bergerac appellation.
With the aim of contributing to the vitality of the local community, and an ambitious business plan building on the château's potential, the couple set out to revive and reinvent the estate’s ancient wine-making heritage. With the release of their champagne ‘Wessman One,’ their ‘N°1 Saint-Cernin Rouge’ and ‘N°1 Saint-Cernin Blanc,’ the fruits of their labour are now available for everyone to enjoy.
