Vitaly Smirnov was born in Komsomolsk-na-Amure in 1973. He graduated from the State Technical University. He took a second degree in the Law Institute of the RF Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Vitaly Smirnov began his career in Baltika in 2002 in the position of thermal technologies engineer within the steam and water supply department of the Baltika-Khabarovsk subsidiary. He went on to assume various positions in the subsidiary: head of the boiler facility in the steam and water supply department, chief of power engineering, and chief engineer.

18 October 2007 Vitaly Smirnov has been appointed Director of the Baltika Breweries subsidiary Baltika-Khabarovsk.