Andrei Korkunov: biography, family, photo

Our society now has an irresistible tendency to split into rich and poor, successful and unsuccessful. Some people who have not found themselves in life, are sure that all newly minted millionaires necessarily earned their capital by dishonest means. The biography of Andrei Korkunov, one of the most authoritative businessmen in Russia, a successful and happy man, can become a vivid example of where wealth comes from, how much effort and what sacrifices it requires. He went from a janitor to a director, tried his hand at various fields, rubbed his hands on the calluses, lived in a barrack, but always walked steadily to his goal, which, in the end, he reached. In one of the numerous interviews Andrei Korkunov noted that it is very difficult to do business in Russia from scratch. Here, in order for everything to work out, you need to be at least a hero. What did he do? From which bricks did he build his welfare and how he lives now, when he has already achieved everything and achieved everything?

General information

Very many Russians know Andrei Korkunov. Photos, which can often be seen in the press and on the Internet, show such a good-natured, always smiling, always affable. In fact, A. Korkunov - a strong-willed man, with a strong character who knows how to be tough and be uncompromising. In the late 90's, he decided to engage in "sweet" business, almost from scratch, he built and opened a small chocolate factory, and he glorified his name. Having created a seemingly stable and highly profitable business, Andrey Korkunov suddenly left him and occupied himself with another, completely unfamiliar to himself - he bought the bank "Anchor", becoming in it the head of the board of directors.

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 one more important post: he holds the post of vice-president of the society "Opora Rossii", which unites entrepreneurs of small and medium business. Korkunov says that he is doing this job with great pleasure, as he is sure that such small production facilities can create the country's welfare.

Childhood "barefoot"

The biography of Andrei Korkunov, like any other person, begins with childhood. How can this time for Andrei not be called defective 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 anything about the lack and already from childhood took this lifestyle as the most correct one. Therefore, even in grade 10, he wrote honestly in his essay about his future that he wanted to work as a director. With the exception of high aspirations, Andrei Korkunov grew up as an ordinary reckless boy; he played football, hockey with friends, went to the Sambo section, and in the winter skied on the Oka over the ice floes. He remembers that he used to break into the icy water, but his friends always helped him get out, although they themselves also got wet before the thread, and then dried by the fire. All that little Andrei was worrying about then was that his mother did not notice his wet panties. She was always strict in education, scolded her son even for a four, brought from school, instilling in him the idea that he should be better than others.

Student years

After graduation, Andrei Korkunov went to Moscow to study "on the director", for which he entered the Moscow Power Engineering Institute. As he himself says, he did not have much knowledge for special knowledge, even he rarely taught lessons, but he always pulled out the ticket that he knew on the exams, that's why he received the scholarship regularly. When asked why he chose MEI from all Moscow universities, Andrei answered that, in principle, it was all the same where to study, if only to end up in production.

MEI he chose because his neighbor studied in this institute, who helped him to make his choice with his stories about gay student life . Despite his more than secured present position, Andrei Korkunov believes that he was very lucky with the birth, because he found a wonderful life in the Soviet Union, when all the students were on equal terms, and their heads were filled with no thoughts about business. He enthusiastically recalls trips to "potatoes", summer camps with their tents and songs under the guitar by the fire and regrets that modern youth all this is unknown.

First earnings

In the Soviet years, the average student scholarship was 40 rubles. Given the prices that existed then, they were quite decent money. The children and the family of Andrei Korkunov were not straining at that time, but he even wanted to have more money for himself personally, for which he settled himself as a janitor at once in two ZhEK. In one he swept near the school, in the other - near the hostel. He had to get up at 5 am, but thanks to his youth it was easy. In the university, Andrei joined the committee, which dealt with work with foreign students. They took jeans, imported cigarettes, then fashionable cellophane bags and traded these overseas goods, that is, engaged in fartsovkoy.

Touching love story

It happened at the institute in the third year. In the IER, a group of students from Taganrog came to 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 the provincial to a trip to VDNKh, three days later confessed to her in love, and two more offered to marry. Then Lena ended the practice, and she returned to her Taganrog. Andrei had a wall calendar with two monkeys in the hostel. He tore it in half, gave one monkey Lena, left the second for himself. Three years the young people corresponded, and once a week they called back, for which they went to the telegraph office (there were no mobile phones at that time). Andrey during this period of love still continued to earn. He went to the station and loaded coal, and during the Moscow Olympics he traded Pepsi-Cola. In this field, he managed to earn more than a thousand rubles.

Andrei Korkunov, biography: family and the first steps in adulthood

At the end of his studies, Andrew and his bride together received a direction to Podolsk to electromechanical plant. Lovers could finally live together. As young specialists they were given a room in the hostel. Andrew, who was appointed master in the assembly shop, began to assert himself as a leader. He remembers that not everything was immediately given to him, because in his submission, young and inexperienced, there were more than 100 people with an experience of work of 20-30 years.

In 1987 he was called up for military service. The father, thanks to old connections, attached him to the design bureau of the military spokesman. He became a representative of the Ministry of Defense, checked the work of designers, took samples of military products. As a matter of 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. The living conditions in that dwelling were complex, but in general the newlyweds had a wonderful time. The Korkunovs made friends with their neighbors, with whom they arranged picnics in the forest with a fire and a shish kebab, of which Elena and Andrei are still remembered. In Kolomna they had the oldest daughter, Natalia.

Creating the first business

Perhaps Korkunov would have remained a military man, would have risen to high ranks, but in the country the era of perestroika began, ruthlessly destroying all plans. The Ministry of War reduced the orders, and with them the salaries of all employees. Photo Andrey Korkunov demonstrates to us an energetic strong-willed man. Such one could not lower his hands and humbly wait for improvements. He resigned from his design office, despite the loss of all military benefits, and with a classmate organized a workshop for the manufacture of jeans. They had 70 seamstresses in the shops, in addition, there were drivers, loaders, suppliers, sellers. It was going well, but with companions, the relationship was exhausted.

Andrei and his family moved to Moscow, where there are always more opportunities. Here he and his wife's friends organized a company that sold everything that was bought. One day, they were replaced by a wagon with candy instead of TV sets. Surprisingly, sweet goods sold for a couple of days. Andrew decided to engage in the sale of sweets, and two years later, successful activity matured for the construction of its own factory.

The beginning of the glorious "sweet" cases

In 1997, Andrei Korkunov signed a contract with the Italian firm Witter, who made chocolate, to build a similar factory in Odintsovo. He bought a piece of land, which was a landfill, and in 9 months he erected the first workshop on this site. The Italians did not believe in success, so they broke the contract. Andrew was left to help a few, among whom was a technologist for sweets Mario, who later became his friend. It is difficult to imagine, but Andrei Korkunov, who had no experience in the production of chocolate, created sweets himself.

In the evening, on the eve of the launch of the first line, when everything was ready, he stopped by the factory, tried samples of sweets, and they did not like him. Together with Mario, Andrei began mixing ingredients in plastic cups, until he achieved an excellent result. So the candies "Arriero" were born, 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 a new one. Here he is, Andrei Korkunov, who for the sake of business is not afraid of losing something to get more.

Financial activities

Many are interested in what Andrei Korkunov has. He himself does not advertise his incomes, so we can say only about his capitals. So, its own candy factory, which existed for only 7 years, and together with it the brand "A. Korkunov "he sold the company Wrigley for 300 million y. E. At the same time, he retained 20% of the shares and the chair of the board of directors. The proceeds Korkunov invested in the acquisition in Kazan "Tatecobank", headed the board of directors and there. After a short time, he held a rebranding of this financial institution, which became an unheard of thing for Kazan. Now it's called Anchor. Bank of savings ». Korkunov here owns 49.79% of the shares, and the bank's assets are 8.9 billion Russian rubles, of which more than 5 billion are contributed to the population's deposits.

In addition, a risky businessman engaged in the production of crackers "Vorontsovsky", although he considers himself to be only a consultant in this business. In 2011, among Russian billionaires, Andrei Korkunov held 275th place. Now the bank "Anchor" is in a quandary. His profits are falling (according to recent data, losses amounted to about 100 million rubles), investors are trying to take their money, because of what the management was forced to impose restrictions on the withdrawal of funds.

Personal life, interesting facts

For this risky businessman, the main achievement is not ranks and positions, but his four daughters. The eldest of them has already graduated from MGIMO, but went to study further, because she wanted to become a director. The oldest 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. The housekeeper helps her, but Elena goes shopping and to the market.

In his spare time Andrei likes to go fishing. His personal record is a fish of 120 kg. But he does not recognize the hunt, justly believing that shooting at defenseless animals is mean. In addition, he is fond of motorcycles, loves a dashing ride, so that the wind in his ears whistles, but the attributes of bikers in the form of leather jackets with a mass of chains and buttons are alien to him. And Andrei Korkunov likes cars. Once his father had a black "Volga", now he has the blue "Mercedes" and "Jeep". As Andrew says, he rarely uses the services of a personal chauffeur, mostly at the wheel himself.

Due to the high workload, Andrei Korkunov devoted very little time to his relatives. The family (photo of his eldest daughter with his grandson is presented in our article) for him is a quiet cozy harbor where he can stay himself, relax. Andrei says that he loves when his wife feeds him with a spoon, like a small one. Elena shares the secret of her husband's favorite dish. Surprisingly, these are not overseas marzipans, but the usual potatoes baked with fat in the oven. Korkunov himself considers himself a gourmet. He recalls that as a child he had never eaten yesterday's dishes, he wanted everything to be fresh. To give up these principles he had only in his student years, when he lived in a dormitory.

As a truly Russian peasant, Andrei can drink vodka, sometimes he speaks a strong word in his conversation. He does not consider this a great vice. Korkunov is proud of the fact that he never once committed deceit and deceit in his life, he always did everything according to conscience.