Early Life and Education
German Borisovich Khan was born on October 24, 1961, in Kyiv, Ukraine, to Ukrainian Jewish parents. His father was a metallurgy professor. Khan developed an interest in sports at a young age, particularly boxing. He graduated from high school in 1978 and worked as an apprentice in a factory for a year. Khan then studied mechanical engineering at the Kyiv-Pedagogical College, graduating in 1982. In 1983, he enrolled in the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys (MISIS), specializing in steel production, and graduated in 1988.
Rise to Success
After graduating, Khan began his career in the late 1980s. He co-founded Alfa-Eco, a commodities trading firm. He held managerial positions within Alfa Group, including head of wholesale trade and export departments. He became president of Alfa-Eco in 1996, focusing on export and the oil trade. Khan played a key role in the acquisition of TNK Oil Company (Tyumen Oil Company) by Alfa Group in 1997. He joined the board and was involved in mergers and acquisitions. In 2003, he helped form TNK-BP, Russia's third-largest oil company. He, along with Mikhail Fridman, founded LetterOne (L1) in Luxembourg to invest the proceeds from the TNK-BP sale.
Key Business Strategies
Khan's business strategies included focusing on the oil trade, strategic acquisitions, and forming partnerships. He expanded Alfa Group's interests in various sectors, including banking and telecommunications. He was instrumental in directing Alfa-Eco towards export and oil trading. After selling their stake in TNK-BP, Khan and Fridman established LetterOne (L1) as an investment vehicle. His involvement in TNK-BP made it a top ten private oil producer globally.
Philanthropy
Khan is a philanthropist and supports Jewish heritage and education. He co-founded the Babi Yar Holocaust Memorial Center in Kyiv. He supports the Life Line charitable program, which provides medicine and surgery for seriously ill children in Russia. Khan actively supports Jewish initiatives in Russia and Europe.