Early Life
Aleksandr Ivanovich Skorobogatko was born on September 15, 1967, in Horlivka, Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union). He came from a modest background, with his father working in the coal mines. Skorobogatko initially pursued athletics, excelling in judo and sambo. He earned a degree in physical education from the Slavyansk State Pedagogical Institute in 1994. He furthered his education by obtaining a master's degree in finance from the Plekhanov Russian Academy of Economics in 1996.
Rise to Success
Skorobogatko's entrepreneurial journey began in the late 1980s with ventures in Crimea, partnering with Alexander Ponomarenko. Their early businesses included a perfume factory and the sale of construction materials. In 1996, they co-founded the Russian General Bank in Moscow. After the 1998 financial crisis, they acquired stakes in stevedoring companies, leading to the creation of the Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port (NCSP), which became Russia's largest port. The IPO of NCSP on the London Stock Exchange in 2007 generated substantial wealth for Skorobogatko and his partner.
Key Business Strategies
A key strategy was identifying and capitalizing on opportunities. For example, acquiring stevedoring companies during the financial crisis. Another pivotal move was investing in the development and modernization of Sheremetyevo International Airport through TPS Avia Holding. Moreover, the sale of their stake in the Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port provided significant capital for subsequent ventures.
Philanthropy
Skorobogatko is known to support healthcare, children's institutions, and religious causes. He has donated to treat severe diseases and assisted in building and renovating numerous Russian Orthodox churches. In recognition of his philanthropic efforts, he was awarded the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh by the Patriarch of Moscow in 2004.