John Ortega

About Me

John Ortega
Currently living in Moscow,Russia 10 years
From: Newport Beach, California
Master Knight of The Vine Russia
Ambassador to Russia Chevelier du Cep France http://www.chevaliers-du-cep.com/uk/monde-pays-5.html

From 1974 to 1997 I was CEO Chairman of Clothestime Stores Inc a 578 young women?s clothing store chain in 23 states. I took the company public in 1983 CTME was the ticker symbol. In 1998 I joined ICN Pharmaceuticals in the OTC area, in August there was a Crisis in Russia, and I was appointed General Director of ICN Pharmaceutical Russia the largest pharmaceutical manufacturer in Russia, we were a New York Stock Exchange Company. We had five manufacturing plants, nine distribution centers and 110 drugstores called ICN Apteka, and one 12,000 meter office building in Moscow on Usacheva Street we had 12,000 employees; I started the drugstore chain with one store in 1999. Had full P&L responsibility for all operations in Russia, audited by Price WaterHouse Coopers, and reported directly to CEO Founder, Chairman Milan Panic at the California Headquarters. We sold the entire operation to Roman Abramovich?s Millhouse Capital in London in June 2003.
In May 2004 I bought 70% interest in Passport Magazine printing 15,000 copies a month.
In December of 2004 we went to 40,000 copies and a goal to be at 70,000 copies by September 2005
PASSPORT is dedicated to helping people to become better acquainted with Russia, and to help them to integrate more comfortably into the community. As such, each issue features articles about Moscow, profiles of interesting people in the community, travel to CIS destinations, restaurant and entertainment news, a calendar of events for the coming month, books, news items and interesting features. PASSPORT is printed on high-quality paper with a glossy lacquer cover, insuring that readers pick it up, read it and share it with family and friends. It is designed to be a reference which is saved and referred to throughout the month, unlike many other publications which are designed to be flipped through once and discarded.

PASSPORT is distributed free at over 250 locations throughout the city, including all 5-star (and most 4-star) hotels, class-A business centers, fine restaurants, Western medical and dental centers, exclusive residential complexes, at meetings of International Women's Club, American Women's Organization and other venues. We are also distributed at many social events, such as fund-raisers, balls and concerts. In addition, we deliver over 1,000 copies per month by direct mail to the country managers and directors of the largest international companies operating in Moscow. We are also placed in rooms at such hotels as the Ararat Hyatt, Marriott and other fine hotels, as well as in first and business class sections of all Delta and JAL flights. In short, we reach the kind of people who I believe represent a valuable part of your target audience. For a full list of distribution points, please refer to the Media Kit on our web site at www.passportmagazine.ru

In 2005 International Apparel was created to import close out and offprice clothing to Russia. www.intlapparel.ru
In September 2006 Fashion Mart in Moscow was opened as a deep discounter of branded apparel carrying Zara Diesel Tommy Hilfger Miss Sixty and hundreds of famous maker clothing at half price.
www.fashionmart.ru
John Ortega