Andrey Korkunov

Andrey Korkunov or Andrei Nikolaevich Korkunov (born September 4, 1962) is a Russian entrepreneur. He was a rocket scientist but he was noted for founding the A. Korkunov chocolate manufacturing company, one of the largest confectionery companies in Russia and considered the only producer of high-end chocolates in the country.[1][2] Korkunov is also an investor.

Andrey Korkunov
Andrey Korkunov
Born (1962-09-04) 4 September 1962
Aleksin, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
NationalityRussian
Alma materMoscow Power Engineering Institute
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, investor

Biography

Korkunov was born on September 4, 1962, to a family of engineers in the city of Aleksin.[3][4] He started doing odd jobs in his early years and supplemented them by selling illicit cigarettes and clothing he purchased from tourists.[2] He obtained his undergraduate degree at the Moscow Power Engineering Institute.[4] After graduation, he was employed by the Podolsk Electromechanical Plant, where he rose to become a foreman of an assembly unit.[4] He then worked for a design bureau in Kolomna, Moscow before retiring from the Russian industrial military complex due to the significant decline in demand for military hardware after the perestroika.[4]

Korkunov started his chocolate company with his own money.[5][6] The enterprise was established as Odintsovo Chocolate Factory and it introduced the now-famous brand "A. Korkunov".[7] Central to the founding of his company was David Munger, a Canadian-born business owner, who eventually became the manager of the chocolate business.[8] The pair worked to operate a profitable business by scouring Europe for cheaper suppliers.[8]

Aside from his confectionery company, Korkunov is also an angel investor. He founded Ankor Bank and has invested in internet companies such as Apps4all, a platform that connects international technology companies with mobile application developers.[9] He also expanded his business by venturing into the storage services through a his company called Mobius.[10]

In 2004, Korkunov was awarded the Employer of the Year in Russia.[6] By 2021, he was declared bankrupt following a court ordered debt restructuring in response to a request by Ankor Bank.[11]

References
  1. United States Congress Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (2006). U.S. Policy Towards Russia: Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session, June 21, 2005. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-16-075664-1.
  2. "Chocolate CEO - Russia's Only Gourmet Chocolate Producer Makes Forays into International Markets". www.managementtoday.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  3. "Andrey Korkunov: Biography And Personal Life | Biographies 2022". Culture oeuvre. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
  4. "Korkunov who is the manufacturer". caffeilcarro.ru. September 8, 2021. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
  5. Relations, United States Congress Senate Committee on Foreign (2006). U.S. Policy Towards Russia: Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session, June 21, 2005. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-16-075664-1.
  6. "- U.S. POLICY TOWARD RUSSIA". www.govinfo.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
  7. "Andrey Korkunov". Roscongress Building Trust. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
  8. Kerawala, Minaz (November 5, 2017). "How a Quebecer became the Kremlin's official chocolatier in Putin's Russia". CBC. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  9. Vedomosti; Golitsyna, Anastasiya (2013-07-18). "Founder of Ankor Bank invests $1 million in Apps4all". Russia Beyond. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  10. Dranishnikova, Maria (2010-12-05). "Korkunov Builds Up Warehouse Firm". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
  11. ""Chocolate King of Russia" declared bankrupt". Silkway News. 2021-03-11. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
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