Andrej Babiš

Early Life

Andrej Babiš was born on September 2, 1954, in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). His father was a diplomat, which led to spending some of his childhood in Paris and Geneva. He studied international trade at the University of Economics in Bratislava, graduating in 1978. In the 1980s, he was listed as an agent for the StB, the secret state security service, although he denies knowingly collaborating with them.

Rise to Success

After graduating, Babiš began his career in foreign trade. He founded the Agrofert holding company in 1993, which has since become one of the largest firms in the Czech Republic. Agrofert initially started as a trading company, but under Babiš's leadership, it expanded into a large conglomerate with interests in agriculture, food processing, chemicals, and media.

Key Business Strategies

Babiš's business strategy involved aggressive expansion and diversification. He made significant investments in various sectors, including agriculture, food production, and chemicals, to create a vast business portfolio. Agrofert's growth strategy included acquisitions and calculated investments.

Philanthropy

Babiš is also involved in philanthropy through the AGROFERT Foundation. The foundation supports single parents, organizations helping people with handicaps, and other initiatives. Babiš himself donated his entire ministerial salary to the AGROFERT Foundation.