Our society now has an irresistible tendency to divide into rich and poor, successful and unsuccessful. Some people who have not found themselves in life are sure that all newly-made millionaires must have earned their capital dishonestly. The biography of Andrei Korkunov, one of the most respected businessmen in Russia, a successful and happy person, can be a vivid example of where we alth comes from, how much effort and what sacrifices it requires. He went from a janitor to a director, tried himself in various fields, rubbed labor blisters on his palms, lived in a barracks, but always firmly moved towards his goal, which, in the end, he achieved. In one of his numerous interviews, Andrey Korkunov noted that doing business in Russia from scratch is very difficult. Here, in order for everything to work out, you need to be at least a hero. What did he do that was so heroic? From what bricks did he build his well-being and how does he live now, when he has already achieved everything and achieved everything?
General information
A lot of Russians know Andrei Korkunov. Photos that can often be seen in the press and inInternet, they demonstrate such a kind person, always smiling, always friendly. In fact, A. Korkunov is a strong-willed person with a strong character who knows how to be tough and uncompromising. In the late 90s, he decided to go into the "sweet" business, built and opened a small chocolate factory almost from scratch, which glorified his name. Having created a seemingly stable and very profitable business, Andrey Korkunov suddenly left it and took up another, completely unfamiliar to himself - he bought Ankor Bank, becoming the head of the board of directors in it.
After working a bit in a well-functioning financial system, Korkunov decided to introduce new principles of work into it and created a structure that deals with individual storage of funds. He called it "MOBIUS" (Mobile Individual Universal Warehouse). He also has another important position - he holds the post of vice president of the Opora Rossii society, which unites small and medium-sized business entrepreneurs. Korkunov reports that he is doing this work with great pleasure, as he is sure that it is precisely such small industries that can create the country's welfare.
Barefoot childhood
The biography of Andrei Korkunov, like any other person, begins in childhood. This time for Andrey cannot be called somehow flawed or deprived. On September 4, 1962, he was born in the small town of Aleksin, in the Tula region, in the family of the deputy director of the plant, Nikolai Korkunov. His mother Galina worked here as an engineer. He did not know a lack of anything, and already withchildhood adopted this lifestyle as the most correct. Therefore, back in the 10th grade, in an essay about his future, he honestly wrote that he wanted to work as a director. With the exception of high aspirations, Andrei Korkunov grew up as an ordinary reckless boy, played football and hockey with friends in the yard, went to the sambo section, and in winter rode the Oka on ice floes. He recalls that he used to fall into the icy water, but his friends always helped him get out, although they themselves also got wet to the skin, and then dried themselves by the fire. All that little Andrey was worried about then was that his mother would not notice his wet shorts. She was always strict in her upbringing, scolding her son even for the four she brought from school, instilling in him the idea that he should be better than others.
Student years
After graduating from school, Andrei Korkunov went to Moscow to study "to become a director", for which he entered the Moscow Power Engineering Institute. As he himself says, he had no particular craving for knowledge, he even rarely taught lessons, but at exams he always pulled out exactly the ticket that he knew, so he received a scholarship regularly. When asked why he chose MPEI out of all Moscow universities, Andrey replies that, in principle, he didn’t care where to study, as long as he got into production after graduation.
MPEI he chose because his neighbor studied at this institute, who, with his stories about a fun student life, helped him make a choice. Despite his more than secure current position, Andrei Korkunov believes that he was very lucky with his birth, because heI found a wonderful life in the Soviet Union, when all students were on an equal footing, and their heads were not filled with thoughts about business at all. He enthusiastically recalls trips "for potatoes", summer camps with their tents and songs with a guitar by the fire, and regrets that modern youth is unaware of all this.
First earnings
In the Soviet years, the average student stipend was 40 rubles. Given the then existing prices, it was quite decent money. The children and family of Andrei Korkunov did not bother then, but he even personally wanted to have much more money for himself, for which he got a job as a janitor in two ZhEKs at once. In one, he swept near the school, in the other - near the hostel. He had to get up at 5 in the morning, but thanks to his youth, this was easy. At the university, Andrey joined the committee that worked with foreign students. He took jeans, imported cigarettes, then fashionable plastic bags from them and traded in these overseas goods, that is, he was engaged in fartsovka.
A touching love story
It happened at the institute in the third year. A group of students from Taganrog came to the IEO for practice. Among them was a little shy and very pretty girl Lena - the future wife of Andrei Korkunov. A young man, almost a Muscovite, invited a provincial woman on an excursion to VDNKh, three days later confessed his love to her, and two more days later he proposed to marry. Then Lena finished her practice and returned to her Taganrog.
Andrei had a wall calendar with two monkeys in his dormitory. He tore it apartin half, one monkey gave Lena, the second left for himself. For three years, young people corresponded, and called back once a week, for which they went to the telegraph office (there were no mobile phones then). Andrei during this period of falling in love still continued to earn money. He went to the station and loaded coal, and during the Moscow Olympics he sold Pepsi-Cola. In this field, he managed to earn more than a thousand rubles.
Andrey Korkunov, biography: family and first steps in adult life
After graduation, Andrei and his fiancee together received a referral to Podolsk to an electromechanical plant. The lovers were finally able to live together. As young specialists, they were given a room in a hostel. Andrey, who was appointed as a foreman in the assembly shop, began to assert himself as a leader. He recalls that he did not succeed at once, because he, young and inexperienced, had more than 100 people with 20-30 years of experience under his supervision.
In 1987 he was called up for military service. Thanks to old connections, his father attached him to the design bureau as a military representative. He became a representative of the Ministry of Defense, checked the work of designers, accepted samples of military products. On duty, he had to move to Kolomna. Elena went with him. In Kolomna, young people got married. They were given a room in a barrack that stood near the forest. Living conditions in that dwelling were difficult, but in general, everything was going well for the newlyweds. The Korkunovs made friends with their neighbors, with whom they had picnics in the forest witha fire and barbecue, which both Elena and Andrey still remember. Their eldest daughter Natalia was born in Kolomna.
Starting your first business
Perhaps Korkunov would have remained a military man, he would have risen to high ranks, but the era of perestroika began in the country, ruthlessly destroying all plans. The War Department has reduced orders, and with them the salaries of all employees. A photo of Andrey Korkunov shows us an energetic strong-willed man. Such a man could not give up and humbly wait for improvements. He retired from his design office, despite losing all military benefits, and set up a denim workshop with a classmate. They had 70 seamstresses in their shops, in addition, there were drivers, loaders, suppliers, sellers. Things were going well, but relations with partners have exhausted themselves.
Andrey and his family moved to Moscow, where there are always more opportunities. Here, with friends of his wife, he organized a company that sold everything that was bought. Once, instead of TV sets, they drove a truck with sweets. Surprisingly, the sweet product sold out in a couple of days. Andrey decided to start selling sweets, and after two years of successful activity, he matured to build his own factory.
The beginning of glorious "sweet" deeds
In 1997, Andrei Korkunov signed a contract with the Italian firm Witter, which produced chocolate, to build a similar factory in Odintsovo. He bought a plot of land, which was a dump, and after 9 months he erected the first workshop on this site. Italians don'tbelieved in success, so the contract was terminated. Andrey was left to help a few, among whom was the candy technologist Mario, who later became his friend. It's hard to imagine, but Andrei Korkunov, who had no experience in chocolate production, created sweets himself.
The evening before the launch of the first line, when everything was ready, he went to the factory, tried samples of sweets, and he did not like them. Together with Mario, Andrei began to mix the ingredients in plastic cups until he achieved an excellent result in taste. This is how Arriero sweets were born, which took first place in France. In the morning the line was launched, but all the previous raw materials had to be poured into the sewer and replaced with new ones. This is how he is, Andrey Korkunov, who, for the sake of business, is not afraid to lose something in order to gain more.
Financial activity
Many are interested in Andrey Korkunov's condition. He himself does not advertise his income, so his capital can only be said approximately. So, his candy factory, which existed for only 7 years, and with it the brand “A. Korkunov, he sold to Wrigley for $300 million. e. At the same time, he left himself a 20% stake and the chair of the chairman of the board of directors. Korkunov invested the proceeds in the acquisition of Tatekobank in Kazan, heading the board of directors there as well. After a short time, he rebranded this financial institution, which became unheard of for Kazan. Now it is called Anchor. Savings Bank. Korkunov owns 49.79% of the shares here, and the bank's assets amount to 8.9 billion Russian rubles, of whichthe population accounts for more than 5 billion.
Besides this, the risky businessman started the production of Vorontsovskie croutons, however, he considers himself only a consultant in this business. In 2011, Andrei Korkunov ranked 275th among Russian billionaires. Now Ankor Bank is in a difficult position. Its profits are falling (according to the latest data, the losses amounted to about 100 million rubles), investors are striving to withdraw their money, which is why the management was forced to impose restrictions on withdrawals.
Personal life, interesting facts
For this risky businessman, the main achievement is not titles and positions, but his four daughters. The eldest of them had already graduated from MGIMO, but went on to study further because she wanted to become a director. The name of the eldest daughter is Natalya Korkunova. Andrei Korkunov's wife is a housewife, she is not interested in business or politics, she is engaged in drawing and psychology. A housekeeper helps her with the housework, but Elena goes shopping and goes to the market herself.
In his spare time Andrey likes to go fishing. His personal record is a 120 kg fish. But he does not recognize hunting, rightly believing that shooting at defenseless animals is vile. In addition, he is fond of motorcycles, loves dashing riding so that the wind whistles in his ears, but the attributes of bikers in the form of leather jackets with a mass of chains and buttons are alien to him. Andrei Korkunov also likes cars. Once his father had a black Volga, now he owns a blue Mercedes and a Jeep. As Andrew says,rarely uses the services of a personal driver, mostly driving himself.
Due to the heavy workload, Andrei Korkunov devotes very little time to his loved ones. The family (a photo of his eldest daughter with his grandson is presented in our article) for him is a quiet, cozy haven where he can be himself, relax. Andrei says that he loves it when his wife spoon-feeds him like a little one. Elena shares the secret of her husband's favorite dish. Surprisingly, these are not overseas marzipans, but ordinary potatoes baked with lard in the oven. Korkunov himself considers himself a gourmet. He recalls that as a child he never ate yesterday's dishes, he wanted everything to be fresh. He had to give up these principles only in his student years, when he lived in a hostel.
As a true Russian man, Andrey can drink vodka, sometimes a strong word slips through his conversation. He doesn't consider it a big deal. Korkunov is proud of the fact that he has never committed meanness and deceit in his life, he has always done everything in good conscience.
