Oleg Firer

Oleg Firer (born September 18, 1977) is an American businessman and former diplomat. He was the first Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Grenada to the Russian Federation from 2017 to 2022. He was also a non-resident ambassador to several countries and represented Grenada at some international organisations.

Firer started and led companies in the payments and fintech sectors. He founded Unified Payments and was later an executive at Net Element, Inc. He has written two books about payments and digital diplomacy.

Firer is vice-chairman of Waterberg Stirling, an investment firm seeking significant capital commitments in the Middle East, China, and Africa. In 2024 he was publicly noted for his association with Prince Andrew, Duke of York, after hosting the duke at his residence in connection with Waterberg Stirling’s efforts to leverage royal networks for business introductions.

 Early life 
Oleg Firer was born in Odesa in 1977. His family is Jewish. His father worked as a physical therapist. His mother worked as a manager at the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services in Brooklyn.

In 1989 his family moved to the United States. They settled in Brooklyn, New York. Firer studied at the New York City College of Technology. In 2023 he earned a Doctor of Business Administration from the Swiss School of Higher Education.

 Career 
 Business career 
Firer worked in retail early in his career. From 1993 to 1997 he was general manager at Nobody Beats the Wiz, an electronics store chain. He later worked in several technology and payments companies, holding roles such as vice president and chief operating officer. 

He led Acies Corporation and helped start Unified Payments in 2011. He served as CEO of Net Element, Inc. from 2013 to 2021. After 2022 he returned to private business and worked as an advisor for a law firm in Dubai in 2024.

 Board and advisory roles 
Firer has been a member of several corporate boards and advisory groups. He served on boards such as RealConnex and InList, and he held advisory roles at fintech and blockchain projects.

 Diplomatic career 
In 2017 Firer became Grenada's first ambassador to Russia. He presented copies of his credentials in April 2017 and later presented his letters of credence to President Vladimir Putin in October 2017.  He also served as a non-resident ambassador to countries including Kazakhstan and Serbia, presenting credentials there in 2021.

Firer also represented Grenada at the United Nations General Assembly (2016–2019) and at the World Health Organization (2018–2021).

In 2023 Firer was banned from entering Grenada by the government on national security grounds, a decision later upheld by a Caribbean court; Firer has denied any wrongdoing and appealed the ban. 

In 2024 a court in Grenada found that his recall by the government had been unlawful.

 Public and charitable work 
Firer has taken part in public and charity projects. He was on committees for events such as Expo 2017 and served on various advisory boards. He has been on the board of the Firer Family Charitable Foundation since 2011.

 Controversies 
Oleg Firer has been the subject of public scrutiny arising from a number of legal disputes, diplomatic actions, and media-reported associations.

National security ban in Grenada:

In 2023, Firer, who previously served as Grenada’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Russian Federation, was refused entry into Grenada on national security grounds by the country’s government. A Caribbean court later upheld the refusal of entry, ruling that the decision was lawful. Firer has denied any wrongdoing and has characterized the action as politically motivated.

Diplomatic recall and subsequent dispute:

Firer was recalled from Grenada’s diplomatic service in 2022. He subsequently initiated legal proceedings against the Grenadian government, challenging aspects of the recall process. The dispute included claims relating to procedural fairness and his treatment by state authorities, resulting in litigation before Grenadian courts.

Legal and financial disputes:

Court documents and media reports have linked Firer to a series of contentious legal matters in the United States, including references in civil litigation involving disputed business practices. While allegations have been made in filings and testimony, Firer has not been criminally charged in connection with these matters.

Association with alleged “honey-trap” fraud scheme:

Firer has been named in testimony and court filings connected to an alleged “honey-trap” fraud scheme, in which intoxicated patrons were purportedly lured into nightlife venues and subjected to unauthorized or inflated credit-card charges. Reporting indicates that companies associated with Firer were mentioned in evidentiary materials relating to payment processing. Firer was not charged in the underlying criminal proceedings and has denied involvement in any fraudulent conduct.

Links to the Wolf fugitive dispute:

Media reporting has also linked Firer to a long-running property and legal dispute involving Victor and Natalie Wolf, a married couple who were fugitives on the FBI’s Most Wanted list for alleged financial crimes. Firer has denied having business dealings with the Wolfs, though he has acknowledged that his involvement with property connected to the dispute was a significant professional error. He has not been accused or charged in relation to the Wolfs’ alleged criminal activity.

Public scrutiny over high-profile associations:

Firer’s business activities, particularly his role as vice-chairman of the investment firm Waterberg Stirling and his association with Prince Andrew, Duke of York, have drawn scrutiny in British and international media. These reports have raised questions regarding reputational risk and due-diligence practices but have not resulted in formal findings of criminal misconduct.

 Awards 
Some organisations and publications have listed Firer for business awards. These include the Inc. 500 ranking for Unified Payments in 2012 and several regional business recognitions in the 2010s. 

 Publications 
 Beyond Transactions: Transforming the Payments Industry. Independently published, August 20, 2024.
 Diplomacy Unplugged: Reimagining Global Engagement in the Digital World. Independently published, July 25, 2025.

 References 

Category:1977 births
Category:Living people
Category:American businesspeople
Category:People from Odesa