Deputy Bortsov Nikolai Ivanovich is known primarily for having one of the largest states in the State Duma. His savings are estimated at billions of rubles, not to mention how much the shares of Lebedyansky OJSC owned by him are worth. However, only a few know that in the past a Russian businessman was a simple loader, unloading pasta from morning to night at the factory.
Bortsov Nikolai Ivanovich: biography of early years
The future entrepreneur was born on May 8, 1945 in the city of Lebedyan. His childhood can hardly be called cloudless, as the whole country lay in ruins after the Second World War. The guy’s parents, like all Soviet citizens, worked hard to rebuild their country. From an early age, they taught their son that only through labor can a person achieve a brighter future.
Their lessons were not in vain. Immediately after leaving school, Nikolai Bortsov went to work as a loader at a local pasta factory. In parallel, he studied at the Lebedyansky College on the mechanics of canning production. Upon reaching adulthood, he went to serve in the army.
Upon returning home in 1970, Nikolai Ivanovich Bortsov arranged to work as a mechanic at the Lebedyansky winery. Over the next eleven years, he will work hard for the benefit of his native production. This will allow him to go the hard way from a simple locksmith to the head of the production department.
Promotion or punishment?
In 1980, Nikolai Ivanovich Bortsov graduated in absentia from the All-Union Financial and Economic Institute. Being in good standing with the party, he receives a special offer - to become the director of a local cannery. After a little reflection, Bortsov agrees to take up this matter, though soon he begins to regret it.
As it turned out, the plant was on the verge of complete bankruptcy - it worked at a loss and did not bring profit to the state. And all because the previous directors did not care about production at all. In one of the interviews, Nikolai Bortsov recalls with bitterness that the factory territory was not even surrounded by a fence - the workers could easily go home, passing the checkpoint.
Having looked at all this disgrace, Nikolai Ivanovich first of all took up discipline. Then, step by step, he began to restore workshops, equipment and warehouses. The decisive factor was that the entrepreneur changed the very concept of production: instead of thoughtlessly stamping canned food, he emphasized the manufacture of juice and baby food.
And his strategy quickly bore fruit. The plant rose from the ashes, paid off debts and began to make good profits. However, Nikolai Bortsov did not stop there. From day to day, he was looking for more and more new ways of marketing, until the turnover of production doubled. And then he completely allowed the profit to be spent on equipment modernization, which subsequently brought Lebedyansky Plant into all-Union advanced workers.
Dashing 90s
Nikolai Ivanovich Bortsov remained the director of Lebedyan OJSC even after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The change of power had a bad effect on its production. And all because the state instructed him to send a large batch of juice to the Far North, while completely forgetting about the prepayment.
In order to fulfill the order on time, the plant had to take a big loan from the bank. But the worst part is that the northerners never paid for the goods received. Naturally, this problem could be resolved through the court, but the consideration of the case would be extended for several years. And the interest rate on the loan grew by leaps and bounds every day.
The benefit of saving the plant was helped by the son of Nikolai Bortsov, Yuri. Using all his knowledge of marketing and strategic planning, he pulled Lebedyan OJSC out of the debt hole. Moreover, in the future, his skillful rule allowed to significantly expand production and achieve leading positions in the Russian market.
A happy ending
Today Nikolai Ivanovich Bortsov is a State Duma deputy from the United Russia party. In parliament, he is responsible for the agricultural sector. It should also be noted that entrepreneurial activity has made Bortsova one of the richest people in Russia. According to Forbes magazine research, in 2012, the deputy’s savings allowed him to take third place among the rich in parliament.
Nikolai Ivanovich Bortsov received most of his money from the sale of 75% of Lebedyan shares. The rest of the accumulation of the entrepreneur appeared due to additional income from his agricultural business. It should also be noted that the deputy is the founder of the Bortsovy Charitable Fund, which is engaged in investing in socially useful projects.