Valery Gulev was born on February 7, 1964 in Belgorod.
In 1986 he graduated from Simferopol Higher Military and Political School of the Civil Engineer Corps as a morale officer, and in 2009 – from Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas majoring in Law.
Valery Gulev took the post of Deputy Director General at the Chernomorneftegaz state-owned oil and gas production and transportation enterprise (Ukraine), subsequently transformed into the Chernomorneftegaz joint stock company, from 1994 to 1996 and from 1997 to 2001 respectively. Since 1998 he has been Deputy Chairman of the company's Management Committee.
Since October 2001 Valery Gulev has acted as Deputy Director General for Production at Zarubezhneftegaz (present Gazprom zarubezhneftegaz), since December 2001 – Director General of the company.
Yuri Skok, Executive Director of Gazprom zarubezhneftegaz, assumed the duties of the company's Director General.