The President of the Republic of Mari El is the federal official appointed by the President of Russia, who serves as the head of state of the Republic of Mari, Russia. Until May 2011, the position was called "the President". Since the fall of the Soviet Union, three people have served in this position.
| Name | Took office | Left office |
|---|---|---|
| Vladislav Zotine | December 24, 1991 | January 5, 1997 |
| Vyacheslav Kislitsyn | January 5, 1997 | January 14, 2001 |
| Leonid Markelov | 14 January 2001 | present |