Araz Agalarov, billionaire with a human face

Childhood and studies

Aras Agalarov was born in the capital of Azerbaijan on November 8, 1955.
There, in Baku, Agalarov studied at school No. 189. Studying was easy for him. From his father, whose ancestors were engaged in trade, Aras inherited a flexible mind, erudition and entrepreneurial abilities. The Agalarov family was financially secure, since the father held a leadership position at the Institute of Water Problems of Azerbaijan. But his early death greatly influenced Aras’s worldview. The teenager experienced first-hand what financial difficulties were like. There was a need to independently achieve success in life. A. Agalarov earned his first money by selling cassettes.

In 1972, Aras Agalarov entered the Azerbaijan Polytechnic Institute to master the profession of an engineer with a specialization in “Multichannel telecommunications”.

Awards[edit | edit code]

Order of Honor (June 26, 2013) - for achieved labor successes, many years of conscientious work and active social activities
[22].
Order of the Holy Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow, II degree.
Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, II degree (2003).
Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (December 27, 2008, Italy)[23][24].
Medal “Progress” (March 13, 2006, Azerbaijan)[25].
Winner of the Commercial Real Estate Awards in the category “Developer of the Year” (2011)
Winner of The MICAM Awards
Donald Trump Diamond Excellence Award Winner
First place in the Kommersant newspaper ranking of top executives in 2010 (nomination - “Trade”)
First place in the ranking of commercial real estate owners according to Forbes magazine (2010)
"Developer of the Year" according to the Commercial Real Estate Awards 2011 (CRE Awards)
“Person of the Year” and “Developer of the Year” according to the Commercial Real Estate Awards 2020 (CRE Awards).

Carier start

After graduating from high school and receiving a diploma in 1977, A. Agalarov began working at the city long-distance telephone exchange. After 4 years, he was transferred to the Republican Committee of the Trade Union of Communication Workers, where he was elected chairman of the MK of the MTS trade union in Baku.

The young specialist was attracted to the scientific field from his institute days, so in 1983 he entered graduate school in Moscow. After graduating, A. Agalarov defends his academic degree and receives the title of Candidate of Economic Sciences.

In 1987, Aras Iskenderovich was appointed as an instructor to the city committee of the trade union of workers of the Azerbaijan Republican Agro-Industrial Complex. Soon he was transferred to the Moscow Scientific Center of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions to the position of junior researcher.

In 1988, Agalarov tried his hand at business. He creates the Shafran cooperative to produce and sell Russian souvenirs: nesting dolls, lacquer miniatures and other handicrafts. In 1989, Souvenir Trading appeared, a joint Soviet-American enterprise. Due to the expansion of activities, holding international exhibitions, and the start of wholesale and retail trade in clothing and footwear, the company changes its name to Crocus International after 2 months. The founder of the company, Aras Iskenderovich, becomes its general director. In 1993, Agalarov was appointed president of Crocus International CJSC, later Crocus Group.

Biography

Born into an Azerbaijani family.

In 1977 he graduated from the Baku Polytechnic Institute with a degree in electronic computer engineer.

From 1977 to 1983 he worked at a research institute in Baku, then at the Baku city committee of the CPSU.

From 1983 to 1987 he was a student at the Higher School of the Trade Union Movement of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions named after. N. M. Shvernik in Moscow.

From 1988 to 1990 he worked at the scientific center of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions as a junior researcher.

In 1989, he founded the American-Soviet joint commercial venture Crocus International (later referred to as the Crocus Group of companies)[3].

Entrepreneurial activity

In 2010, Agalarov took first place in the ranking of top Russian business leaders (in the “Trade” category) according to the Kommersant Dengi publication[4].

At the initiative of Agalarov, the group acted as an investor in the construction of the Myakinino metro station in order to increase the attractiveness of its Crocus City[5], as well as as a general contractor for the construction of facilities of the Far Eastern Federal University on Russky Island (Primorsky Territory)[6](inaccessible link from 15 -11-2015 (1661 days)).

Member of the board of the all-Russian public organization “Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs”[7], member of the presidium of the all-Russian public organization “All-Russian Azerbaijan Congress”[8], member of the board of the non-profit partnership “Association of Entrepreneurial Organizations of Russia” (“OPORA”)[9], president non-profit organization "Union of Manufacturers and Importers"[10].

Scientific and creative activities

Candidate of Economic Sciences, in 1998 he defended his dissertation on the topic “Formation and use of the wage fund using the example of a communications enterprise”[11].

Author of the books “My View of Russia in the Era of Reforms”, “Russia: Reflections on the Path to the Market”, “Another Attempt?... Articles on the Russian economy, published 1996-1999.”

Social activity

In 2002, he was elected vice-president of the All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress.[12]

Founder of the non-profit organization “Muslim Magomayev Cultural and Musical Heritage Foundation”[13].

Aras Agalarov’s company is a modern business empire

Today Crocus Group can be called a real empire. Agalarov's company became successful thanks to a systematic approach. As the businessman himself notes, when developing your own business in one direction, adjacent ones appear automatically. Numerous projects of the Crocus Group Group are clear evidence of this. Thus, the famous brainchild of A. Agalarov “Crocus City” is a real satellite city of Moscow, uniting a number of objects:

Crocus City Mall is a premium shopping center with boutiques of exclusive branded products;
Crocus Expo is a modern international exhibition complex consisting of three pavilions with numerous conference rooms;
Crocus City Hall - concert hall;
One of three VEGAS shopping and entertainment centers and Vegas City Hall located on its territory;
"Crocus City Oceanarium";
"Myakinino" metro station;
an office building connecting the Myakinino metro station and the VEGAS Crocus City shopping center, equipped with overhead passages.

The company has other successes:

chain of 24-hour hypermarkets “Your House”;
"Manhattan" - a modern housing and business center (project under development);
Residential complex called Agalarov House;
Agalarov Estate - an elite estate in the Moscow region;
Sea Breeze is a resort village on the Caspian Sea with separate residences and townhouses;
Pavshinsky Bridge over the Moscow River in Krasnogorsk;
The Technopark building (object - Technopark PJSC Sberbank) in the innovative.

The most large-scale and important government projects of the company under the leadership of Aras Agalarov deserve special attention.

Biography[edit | edit code]

Born in the city of Baku, into an Azerbaijani family.

In 1977 he graduated from the Baku Polytechnic Institute with a degree in electronic computer engineer.

From 1977 to 1983 he worked at a research institute in Baku, then at the Baku city committee of the CPSU.

From 1983 to 1987 he was a student at the Higher School of the Trade Union Movement of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions. N. M. Shvernik in Moscow.

From 1988 to 1990 he worked at the scientific center of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions as a junior researcher.

In 1989, he founded the American-Soviet joint commercial enterprise Crocus International (later the Crocus Group of Companies) together with his father-in-law Joseph Evgenievich Grill[3].

Entrepreneurial activity[edit | edit code]

With Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during an inspection of university facilities under construction Myakinino metro station
In 2010, Agalarov took first place in the ranking of top Russian business leaders (in the “Trade” category) according to the Kommersant Money publication[4].

At Agalarov’s initiative, the Crocus Group acted as an investor in the construction of the Myakinino metro station[5], a pedestrian bridge across the Moscow River, connecting the microdistricts of the city of Krasnogorsk near Moscow with the Myakinino metro station[6], as well as the general contractor for the construction of facilities at the Far Eastern Federal University on Russky Island and stadiums for the 2020 FIFA World Cup in Kaliningrad and Rostov-on-Don. Currently, the company is the general contractor for the construction of the Central Ring Road.

By 2020, the business portfolio of the company managed by Araz Agalarov includes: Vegas shopping and entertainment complexes, the “Your House” hypermarket chain, the luxury shopping complex “Crocus City Mall”, the Crocus Atelier Couture tailoring studio, mono-brand boutiques ( Sergio Rossi, John Varvatos, Ravazzolo, Casadei, Le Silla, Tardini, Alberto Guardiani, Artioli, Santoni, Cesare Paciotti, DeNoVo, Crocus Fashion multi-brand boutique, two Crocus Stock boutiques), watch brand U-Boat, satellite city of Moscow "Crocus City", concert hall "Crocus City Hall", metro station "Myakinino", multifunctional housing and business complex "Manhattan", "Crocus City Oceanarium", concert venue Vegas City Hall, restaurant business Restaurants by Crocus Group, country estate Agalarov Estate, elite premium village "Sea Breeze" in Azerbaijan, residential complex Agalarov House, "Crocus Bank", customs terminal and logistics, "Crocus Insurance", motor ship "Crocus".

A. Agalarov is a member of the board of the all-Russian public organization “Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs”[7], a member of the presidium of the all-Russian public organization “All-Russian Azerbaijan Congress”[8], a member of the board of the non-profit partnership “Union of Entrepreneurial Organizations of Russia” (“Opora”)[ 9], President of the non-profit organization “Union of Manufacturers and Importers”[10].

In October 2020, Crocus JSC established a subsidiary with a 90% share, which specializes in industrial freshwater fishing[11].

On April 27, 2020, amid the coronavirus epidemic, it received government contracts worth almost 1.035 billion rubles without competition. from the Governor of the Moscow Region Andrei Vorobyov for the conversion of the exhibition premises into hospitals. At the same time, the word “hospital” does not appear anywhere in the government contract; money is paid only for “adapting the premises for the provision of medical care in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus infection COVID-19,” and the document also says nothing about medical equipment. The cost of one place on the territory of Crocus Expo cost the Krasnogorsk hospital 690 thousand rubles. Previously, Agalarov compared the situation of his business with a sinking “small ship” and complained about the difficulties that had arisen[12].

Scientific and creative activities[edit | edit code]

Candidate of Economic Sciences, in 1998 he defended his dissertation on the topic “Formation and use of the wage fund using the example of a communications enterprise”[13].

Author of the books “My View of Russia in the Era of Reforms” (1998), “Russia: Reflections on the Path to the Market”, “Another Attempt?... Articles on the Russian economy, published 1996-1999.”

Araz Agalarov in January 2020 criticized the economy of the Russian Federation: GDP cannot grow in Russia with such low salaries and pensions and high taxes[14][15].

Social activities[edit | edit code]

In 2002, he was elected vice-president of the All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress[16].

Founder of the non-profit organization “Muslim Magomayev Cultural and Musical Heritage Foundation”[17].

Russky Island - Agalarov’s grandiose project in the Far East

In 2009, Crocus Group became an investor and general contractor of new facilities for the Far Eastern Federal University on the distant Russky Island . The developer achieved his goal: in 2.5 years, 40 buildings with an area of about a thousand square kilometers were built. Before the construction of the campus, people on the island lived in almost medieval conditions, but today Russky Island can be called a modern scientific and administrative center. This is how A. Agalarov himself spoke about this work: “Russky Island is a truly grandiose project, because construction work was carried out in conditions of impassability and lack of water.” In 2012, FEFU became one of the key objects of the APEC summit.

Agalarov Araz Iskender ogly

Russian entrepreneur. President of the Crocus Group of companies.

Araz Agalarov was born on November 8, 1955 in the city of Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan. In 1977 he graduated from the Baku Polytechnic Institute with a degree in electronic computer engineer. After receiving his diploma, he worked for six years at a research institute in Baku, and then at the Baku city committee of the CPSU.

In 1983, he became a student at the Higher School of the Trade Union Movement of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions named after N.M. Shvernik in Moscow. Then, until 1990, he worked at the research center of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions as a junior researcher.

Araz Agalarov has an academic degree of Candidate of Economic Sciences. He defended his dissertation on the topic “Formation and use of the wage fund using the example of a communications enterprise.” Author of the books “My View of Russia in the Era of Reforms” and “Russia: Reflections on the Path to the Market.” He also published articles on the Russian economy.

In 1989, he founded the American-Soviet joint commercial venture Crocus International, which later became the Crocus Group of companies. At Agalarov’s initiative, the group acted as an investor in the construction of the Myakinino metro station in order to increase the attractiveness of its Crocus City, as well as as a general contractor for the construction of facilities at the Far Eastern Federal University on Russky Island, Primorsky Territory.

He is the founder of the non-profit organization “Muslim Magomayev Cultural and Musical Heritage Foundation”. In 2002, he was elected vice-president of the All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress. Eight years later, Agalarov took first place in the ranking of top Russian business leaders in the Trade category according to the Kommersant Money publication. In 2012, he took 61st place in the Forbes ranking “Russia’s Richest Businessmen - 2012.”

Awards of Araz Agalarov

Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, II degree (2003);

Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (OMRI) - degree "Commander";

Order of the Holy and Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow, II degree (2005);

Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2009);

Winner of The MICAM Awards and Trump Diamond Excellence Award;

First place in the ranking of top executives by the Kommersant newspaper in 2010 (nomination “Trade”);

First place in the ranking of commercial real estate owners according to Forbes magazine, 2010;

“Developer of the Year” according to the Commercial Real Estate Awards 2011 (CRE Awards);

Order of Honor (Russian Federation) - for achieved labor successes, many years of conscientious work and active social activities (June 26, 2013);

“Person of the Year” and “Developer of the Year” according to the Commercial Real Estate Awards 2020 (CRE Awards);

Social activities of Azar Agalarov

Member of the Board of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) since 2009;

Member of the presidium of the all-Russian public organization “All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress”;

Founder of the Muslim Magomayev Cultural and Musical Heritage Foundation (2010);

Organizer and President of the Union of Manufacturers and Importers (2002);

Member of the Public Advisory Council on Customs Policy under the Federal Customs Service (since 2004);

Honorary member of the Russian Academy of Arts (2015).

Azar Agalarov's family

Wife - Irina Agalarova

Son - Emin Agalarov, first vice president of Crocus Group, singer Daughter - Sheila Agalarova, student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC, USA

Grandchildren: Ali, Mikail, Amina and Araz Agalarov.

07.11.2018

Stadiums for the world football championship

Aras Agalarov invested in the construction of football stadiums in the cities where the 2018 World Cup was held: Rostov-on-Don and Kaliningrad. The capacity of the first facility is 35 thousand people, while the second stadium is designed for 45 thousand. The commitment that A. Agalarov took upon himself is that the stadiums must be commissioned on time. At the beginning of 2020, the governor of the Rostov region V.Yu. Golubev personally awarded A. Agalarov and his company’s employees for their work.

Years of study

Araz Agalarov was born on November 8, 1955 in Baku.
There is not much information about his childhood on the pages of the virtual space, and the businessman himself only says that he studied at school easily and with interest, and quickly absorbed knowledge (this ability was passed on to him from his father). His father passed away when Araz was 14 years old, but managed to influence the formation of the boy’s character, managing to instill in him perseverance, self-confidence and a desire to win.

After school, Araz graduated from the Baku Polytechnic Institute. Acquired specialty – engineer of electronic computers. The young specialist began working at the Baku Research Institute and began work on his Ph.D. thesis (which he later successfully defended).

Thesis topic: “Formation and use of the wage fund using the example of a communications enterprise.”

Businessman Awards

Over the years of his activity, Aras Agalarov was awarded numerous awards:

Order of Honor of the Russian Federation;
Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, II degree;
Order of the Holy Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow, II degree;
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, awarded the degree of Commander;
Order "For Merit to the Rostov Region".

The businessman was also awarded the Russian Government Prize in the field of culture for the creation of the Muslim Magometovich Magomaev Foundation for the Cultural and Musical Heritage.

Aras Iskenderovich became the winner of the prestigious Trump Diamond Excellence Award and The MICAM Award. According to the Commercial Real Estate Awards 2011 and 2020. businessman o. The Kommersant publication awarded the entrepreneur first place in the honorary list of top executives in 2010. At the same time, according to Forbes magazine, Aras Agalarov became the leader among owners of commercial real estate.

Awards

In 2009, Agalarov received the Order of OMRI (“For Merit to the Italian Republic”) for his contribution to the development of economic relations between the Russian Federation and Italy. In 2013, for many years of work and public activities, he was awarded the Order of Honor and the Order of the Holy Blessed Daniel of Moscow (II degree). Was nominated for the 2011 Developer of the Year award at CREA. He is also the winner of The MICAM Awards and the Donald Trump DE Award. According to the Kommersant Money publication, he was recognized first in the ranking of top Russian entrepreneurs.

Charity

A. Agalarov pays great attention to charity. In 2019, together with the Vera and Podari Zhizn foundations, Crocus Group provided sponsorship to the House with Mayak children's hospice. This is a private charitable medical institution where highly qualified doctors, together with volunteers, help sick children.

Aras Agalarov regularly provides sponsorship to orphanages, hospitals, and charitable organizations, transfers funds for the treatment of children with serious illnesses, helps teenagers from low-income families get a decent education, and supports sports communities.

Araz Iskenderovich Agalarov: biography, photographs

About the company Management Career Tenders Press center Contacts Tenants Charitable projects

A.I. Agalarov — President of Crocus Group

Araz Iskenderovich Agalarov was born on November 8, 1955 in Baku.

1962-1972 - secondary school No. 189, Baku.

In 1977, he graduated from the Azerbaijan Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Multichannel Telecommunications with the qualification of Communications Engineer.

After graduating from the institute, he worked at the Baku telephone exchange, and in 1979 he was transferred to the disposal of the Republican Committee of the Trade Union of Communication Workers. Since 1981, he was elected chairman of the MK of the trade union of the Baku intercity telephone station.

In 1983, Araz Agalarov was enrolled in graduate school at the Higher School of Trade Union Movement of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions named after. N.M. Shvernik (Moscow). In 1987 he defended his dissertation on the topic: “Formation and use of the wage fund using the example of communications enterprises.” Candidate of Economic Sciences.

After graduating from graduate school, he was appointed as an instructor at the Baku City Committee of the Trade Union of Agricultural Workers, and in 1988 he was transferred to the Scientific Center of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions (Moscow) to the position of junior researcher.

In 1989, Araz Agalarov founded the Soviet-American joint venture Crocus International, where he became the general director, and since 1993, the president of the closed joint stock company Crocus International, later Crocus Group.

Awards:

— Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, II degree (2003);

— Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (OMRI) – degree “Commander”;

— Order of the Holy and Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow, II degree (2005);

— Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2009);

— Winner of The MICAM Awards and Trump Diamond Excellence Award; — First place in the ranking of top executives by the Kommersant newspaper in 2010 (nomination “Trade”); — First place in the ranking of commercial real estate owners according to Forbes magazine, 2010; — “Developer of the Year” according to the Commercial Real Estate Awards 2011 (CRE Awards);

— Order of Honor (Russian Federation) - for achieved labor successes, many years of conscientious work and active social activities (June 26, 2013);

— “Person of the Year” and “Developer of the Year” according to the Commercial Real Estate Awards 2020 (CRE Awards);

Social activity:

— Member of the Board of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) since 2009;

— Member of the presidium of the all-Russian public organization “All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress”;

— Founder of the Muslim Magomayev Cultural and Musical Heritage Foundation (2010);

— Organizer and President of the Union of Manufacturers and Importers (2002);

— Member of the Public Advisory Council on Customs Policy under the Federal Customs Service (since 2004);

— Honorary member of the Russian Academy of Arts (2015).

Sponsor of the construction of the House with a Lighthouse children's hospice. The total cost of the project for the Crocus Group company was 400 million rubles. (2019)

Scientific activity:

Author of the books “My View of Russia in the Era of Reforms” (Molodaya Gvardiya Publishing House, Moscow, 1998), “Russia: Reflections on the Path to the Market” (Molodaya Gvardiya Publishing House, Moscow, 1998). ).

Married, has a son and daughter.

Family and hobbies

Aras Agalarov is a loving husband and father. His wife Irina, like her husband, is involved in business: she owns a chain of beauty salons and fur clothing boutiques in Moscow.

During the marriage, the couple raised two children. Son Emin is a singer and entrepreneur, daughter Sheila lives in the USA and works in real estate.

Aras Iskenderovich adheres to a healthy lifestyle and enjoys sports: boxing and tennis, swimming and football. The entrepreneur also loves jazz music, which he became seriously interested in in his youth.

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History of success

Many call Agalarov the founder of multi-industry shopping complexes located in the nearest suburbs. Aras Iskenderovich himself claims that the success of his projects is based on a systematic approach. Thus, in his opinion, the development of one area of business helps to increase the efficiency of a related area.

For example, the construction of one object automatically increases interest in neighboring ones. At the same time, Agalarov notes that he is not a builder, not a retailer or an exhibitionist, but a conductor who controls that everything works well enough and turns out beautifully. Thus, for Agalarov, business is not only about making money, but also a way of self-realization. Consider the story of his success.

In 1977, he graduated from the Baku Polytechnic Institute with a degree in electronic computer engineering. Aras Agalarov is a candidate of economic sciences.

1977-1983 - worked at a Baku research institute, and was also a member of the local CPSU committee.

1983-1987 – was a student at the higher school of the trade union movement of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions.

1988-1990 – was a junior employee of the scientific center of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions. In 1990 he held the first computer exhibition in Russia.

1989 - founded the American-Soviet enterprise Crocus International (later Crocus Group). At Agalarov’s initiative, Crocus Group became an investor in the construction of the Myakinino metro station and the general contractor for the construction of the Far Eastern Federal University (Primorsky Territory).

1992 – headed Crocus JSC and the Krasnogorsk branch of Crocus City. He also became the head of the board of directors.

1998 - opened the “Your Home” shopping center, which combined a grocery store, a furniture complex, a home goods hypermarket and a greenhouse.

2002 - built Crocus City Mall, which became the best retail project of that year.

2007 – completed the construction of 3 phases of Crocus Expo.

2009 – completed the construction of the Vegas shopping center and the Myakinino metro station.

2013 – Aras Agalarov’s fortune is $1.8 billion. The basis of his fortune, of course, is the Crocus Group, which implements such projects as:

Crocus Expo (a huge exhibition (concert venue that seats 6,200 people);
Vegas (shopping and entertainment complex);
“Your House” (shopping complex);
Shore House (yacht club and restaurant);
"Aquarium" (business hotel);
Holiday Inn (a 1,000-room hotel due to open in 2014);
“Myakinino” (metro with a passenger flow of 25 thousand people daily);
Restaurants “Shore House”, “Edoko”, “Zafferano”, “Nobu”;
Crocus Bank;
Agalarov House, Agalarov Estate, Sea Breeze (residential property).