German Khan is a prominent Russian entrepreneur, co-founder and shareholder of Alfa Group, where he heads the fuel resources segment.
As of February 2023, German Khan is ranked 219 in the Forbes list. The magazine estimates his net worth at $8.9 billion.
German Khan actively supports charitable organizations. Together with his colleagues Mikhail Friedman and Pyotr Aven, he supports the Genesis Group and the European Jewish Foundation, whose activities are aimed at preserving the cultural traditions of Judaism in the Russian-speaking Jewish diaspora around the world. He also supports a program that helps children suffering from serious illnesses.
Education
Herman was born and grew up in the city of Kyiv, Ukraine. Even as a child he loved to work, and as soon as he finished school he went to work as a metalworker in a factory. However, the job did not become an obstacle to higher education. German graduated cum laude from an industrial and pedagogical technical school, and in 1988 he graduated from the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys as a specialist in ferrous metal casting.
The First Business
In the late 80’s the USSR saw the active development of cooperatives and Khan joined one of them, called “Cosmos”. As part of this cooperative, he started wholesale trade in various goods – sewing accessories, shoes and jewelry.
In 1989 Herman Hahn founded his own cooperative, Alexandrina, which sewed clothes.
The heyday of Alfa Group
Khan’s rapid rise as an entrepreneur began in the 1990s. He was then appointed head of the wholesale division of Alfa-Eco, part of the powerful Alfa Group holding company, and went on to hold a number of strategically important positions, rising steadily to the top of the company.
In 1998, he became First Vice President of Tyumen Oil Company (TNK), which was co-founded by Alfa Group, and remained its Executive Director until 2013.
At the moment
On August 11, 2023, German Khan was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department. The other co-founders of Alfa Group – Pyotr Aven, Mikhail Fridman, Alexey Kuzmichev, and the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs – were also sanctioned.
Charity
Herman Khan is not only an entrepreneur. He is also a philanthropist. In keeping with his heritage, he provides financial support to several important organizations dedicated to preserving Jewish cultural heritage, commemorating Holocaust victims, and strengthening local communities.
He supports the initiatives of the European Jewish Fund, whose programs aim to strengthen the national identity of the Jewish people, promote tolerance and combat anti-Semitism.
Serves on the Board of the Russian Jewish Congress, the largest non-governmental organization of the Jewish population in Russia. The organization is dedicated to developing and strengthening the Jewish community in Russia and representing its interests on the global stage.
Herman Khan is one of the founders of the non-profit group that established the Genesis Award for outstanding achievements of the Jewish people and their contribution to the development of human civilization. This award is sometimes referred to as the Jewish Nobel Prize.
Herman Khan is one of the co-founders of the Babi Yar Holocaust Memorial Foundation in Kyiv. The Foundation’s mission is to create a memorial at the site of the mass execution of the Jewish population by the Nazis in 1941. Herman was personally affected by this tragedy, as his relatives were victims of Babi Yar.
In addition to his Jewish projects, Herman Khan also supports the well-known Russian foundation Liniya Zhizni (Life Line). It specializes in helping children suffering from serious illnesses that can be cured with modern medical treatment. The foundation’s main programs include proton therapy, laser surgery, treatment of brachial-radial syndrome and rehabilitation. In its 18 years of operation, the Foundation has saved and significantly improved the quality of life of nearly 12,000 children. Herman Khan actively supports this program and provides financial assistance, including funding through LetterOne.
Family
Herman Khan is married. His wife’s name is Angelika Khan. They have daughters named Eleonora and Eva and two sons.
