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Igor YakovlevRussian businessman, founder and owner of Eldorado
Country:
 Russia |
Content:
- Biography of Igor Yakovlev
- Entrepreneurship and Achievements
- Challenges and Controversies
- Personal Life and Hobbies
Biography of Igor Yakovlev
Early Life and EducationIgor Yakovlev, a Russian businessman, was born in Makhachkala. He served in the army from 1984 to 1986. Yakovlev pursued higher education first at the Dagestan Polytechnic Institute, where he graduated in 1990, and then at the St. Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, where he completed his studies in law in 2001.
Entrepreneurship and Achievements
In 1990, Yakovlev moved to Moscow and started his career in trading. In 1994, he became the president of the retail chain 'Eldorado,' a position he holds to this day. Known for his demanding and assertive nature, Yakovlev capitalized on his exceptional business skills and transformed two small stores in Moscow and Saratov into the largest non-food retail chain in Russia. As of 2007, 'Eldorado' had a turnover of 6 billion dollars, surpassing its main competitor, 'Euroset,' by 400 million dollars.
Challenges and Controversies
However, not everything was smooth sailing for Yakovlev's thriving company. The planned initial public offering (IPO) in 2009-2010 failed due to tax-related disputes with the authorities. Yakovlev faced a 15 billion dollar debt accusation resulting from alleged tax evasion in 2004 and 2005. Despite his attempts to prove the innocence of his company, the problems escalated. To resolve these issues, Yakovlev was forced to sell half of his network to the Czech company 'PPF Group' in September 2008.
Personal Life and Hobbies
Little is known about Igor Yakovlev's personal life. He is married and has a son. In his free time, Yakovlev enjoys traveling with his family and has a passion for playing sports. Evaluating Yakovlev's exact net worth is challenging. In early 2007, 'Forbes' ranked him 43rd on the list of the top 100 Russian millionaires, estimating his worth at 1.6 billion dollars. However, the magazine 'Finans' placed him at 51st with a more modest figure of 1.2 billion dollars. Interestingly, 'Eldorado' is not Yakovlev's only business venture. He also manages the retail chains 'Banana-Mama' and 'Banana-Baby,' specializing in children's goods and clothing.
