Irina Haranen, his mother, had a good job in the city's commercial management, while his father Boris Rotenberg, a Russian Master of Sport and a judo coach, taught self-defence at the military academy.

His grandfather was of Jewish descent, and worked as a director at the Leningrad factory plant for "Krasnaya Zarya" telephone handsets.

In 1991, Roman's and his younger brother Boris's parents decided to emigrate from St Petersburg to Helsinki as Ingrian returnees.

[5] In Finland, Roman continued to compete in judo: since being five years old, his father had coached him and taken him to training camps.

Following his graduation, his father suggested that Roman stayed in London to work in a Barclays bank, while his mother wanted him to go back to Finland.

In January 2024, Russian news agency TASS reported that Rotenberg was included on the list of proxies of Vladimir Putin in the 2024 presidential election.

[6] Upon his return to Russia in 2005, Roman decided not to join his father's and uncle Arkady's business, who were already well known entrepreneurs and SMP Bank owners.

Instead, with his father's advice, he began his business career with Gazprom Export, a company with which Roman could use his international communications and language skills.

According to Moscow Times and other Russian news dailies, such an appointment brought "criticism from sports commentators for his lack of coaching experience".

[12] In 2023, Rotenberg thanked Russian state-owned Gazprom for their contribution to Russia's victory at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

[21] Russian national teams were given a modern video analysis system, which is aimed at increasing the quality of players' training.

The GNC American company, one of the biggest sports nutrition, vitamin, energy and protein distributors, was used as a sample business model.

In December 2014, Roman Rotenberg wanted to purchase 80% of the Telesport marketing agency owned by Petr Makarenko.

In July 2015, it was announced that Rotenberg had the aim of purchasing the Rossport sewing and print manufacturing company.

In the autumn of that year, they purchased 49% of Jokerit Helsinki ice hockey club,[26] which was joining the KHL in the 2014/2015 season.

[27] The Langvik Capital company, which is made up of the Långvik hotel and business hall in Kirkkonummi, not far away from Helsinki, acted as the intermediary.

Arena Events Oy shares are divided out as follows: Langvik Capital – 49.5%, Roman Rotenberg 1%, White Anchor (Gennady Timchenko) – 49.5%.

On July 30, 2015, Roman Rotenberg and the Oy Langvik Capital company were included in the United States financial ministry's sanctions list along with eleven other individuals and entities.

[28][29] In March 2022, Rotenberg was added to the United Kingdom's sanctions list in relation to Russia's actions in Ukraine.