Early Life and Education
German Borisovich Khan was born on October 24, 1961, in Kyiv, Ukraine, to Ukrainian Jewish parents. His father was a professor of metallurgy. Khan displayed an early interest in sports, particularly boxing, and graduated from high school in 1978. He studied mechanical engineering at the Kyiv-Pedagogical College, graduating in 1982, and later attended the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys (MISIS), specializing in steel production, graduating in 1988.
Rise to Success
Khan began his career in the late 1980s during the Perestroika era, working in wholesale consumer items. In 1989, he co-founded his own cooperative business, Alexandrina, specializing in tailoring. In 1990, he was invited by his college friends, Mikhail Fridman and Alexey Kuzmichev, to work at Alfa-Eco, a wholesale trade business within the Alfa Group Consortium. Khan became the head of wholesale trade and later the president of Alfa-Eco. He joined the board of directors of Tyumen Oil Company (TNK) in 1997, later known as TNK-BP. In 2013, TNK-BP was sold to Rosneft for $56 billion. Khan joined Mikhail Fridman in establishing LetterOne (L1) to invest proceeds from the sale of TNK-BP in international projects.
Key Business Strategies
Khan's career is defined by his strategic investments in key sectors. At Alfa-Eco, he focused the company on export and the oil trade. His involvement in TNK-BP, forming a joint venture with BP, led to significant growth. Through LetterOne, Khan has made investments in various sectors, including energy, technology, and healthcare. His business philosophy centers on pragmatism, adaptability, and long-term planning.
Philanthropy
Khan is also known for his philanthropic activities, supporting organizations promoting Jewish cultural heritage and combating antisemitism. He has contributed to the European Jewish Fund and co-founded the Genesis Philanthropy Group, which supports Jewish identity and community. He also supports the Life Line charitable program, which provides medicine and surgery for seriously ill children in Russia.