Ruslan Kogan

Ruslan Tosser Kogan
Nationality	Australian
Website	http://www.kogan.com.au

Ruslan Kogan is the 27-year old, wanna be Richard Branson and unfortunately the founder and CEO of Kogan Technologies, a lame middle man scheme that is, by media hype, innovative and apparently entrepreneurial. Well done Mr Kogan, you have succesfully set up a intermediary within a channel of distribution. So innovative!

He started working for himself at the age of ten by re-selling lost golf balls to golfers at Elsternwick Golf Course in Melbourne. He attended Melbourne High School before going on to complete a Bachelor of Business Systems (Information Technology) at Monash University. Leaving a job at Accenture, Ruslan Kogan started Kogan Technologies in 2006 in his parent's garage in Melbourne, Australia. Since then, he has grown the company significantly, with AU$9M revenue in the 2008-09 financial year, and an estimated AU$17M in 2009-10.

This success placed Kogan Technologies in the BRW 2009 Fast Starters list at rank 37 and the BRW 2010 Fast Starters list at rank 17.

The financial success of Kogan Technologies has placed Ruslan Kogan in the BRW Young Rich list in 2009 with a reported wealth of AU$15M. He was also named in The Age's Top 100 most influential people in 2008

Ruslan Kogan is also one of the founders of Milan Direct, an Australian and UK furniture retailer,

Ruslan Kogan holds controversial views regarding the consumer technology industry. He has publicly expressed his opposition of the Australian Government's proposed internet filter. He was recently invited by Gizmodo to write a guest post outlining his opposition to the filter. He is also the only executive from a consumer electronics vendor in Australia to actively be campaigning against the introduction of 3DTV into homes around the world..

Ruslan Kogan is the first Australian to register as a passenger on Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic sub-orbital spaceflight, having paid a deposit on the US$200,000 ticket.

Ruslan Kogan promised to release Australia’s first Android phone before delaying it at the last minute, saying "I can't make any further comment".

2010 Harvey Norman dispute

In August 2010 Ruslan Kogan began a "war of words" with Gerry Harvey, Founder of well-known Australian retailer Harvey Norman.

The dispute about the future of consumer electronics retailing in Australia -- and in particular whether Australians should shop online or in a bricks and mortar retailer, spilled onto the mainstream media on Today Tonight and the Sydney Morning Herald.

The dispute erupted when Ruslan Kogan challenged Gerry Harvey to a debate on national TV, which he declined. Ruslan Kogan claimed Gerry Harvey "chickened out". Gerry Harvey replied by calling Ruslan Kogan a "con" in an interview with a national newspaper.

Kogan responded with two satirical advertisements, criticising Harvey Norman.

McDonald's Job Application

In September, 2010, Ruslan Kogan made headlines for been unsuccessful in a job application to McDonald's, Elsternwick, Melbourne. Kogan reportedly wanted the job to learn about McDonald's business processes (Your kidding, right?). Kogan stated that he respected McDonald's and how they always managed to get your order right, even at 3am in the morning (It isnt effing hard mate!). McDonald's Australia commented on the story, stating that Kogan was not accepted for the job as the Elsternwick restaurant already had enough employees.

External links

• Kogan Technologies