Torvild Aakvaag (27 January 1927 – 9 April 2020) was a Norwegian

businessperson A businessperson, also referred to as a businessman or businesswoman, is an individual who has founded, owns, or holds shares in (including as an angel investor) a private-sector company. A businessperson undertakes activities (commercial ...

. He was born in

Bærum Bærum () is a list of municipalities of Norway, municipality in the Greater Oslo Region in Akershus County, Norway. It forms an affluent suburb of Oslo on the west coast of the city. Bærum is Norway's fifth largest municipality with a populatio ...

, and was a

cand.jur. Candidate ( or ) is the name of various academic degrees, which are today mainly awarded in Scandinavia. The degree title was phased out in much of Europe through the 1999 Bologna Process, which has re-formatted academic degrees in Europe. The de ...

by education. He was employed in the

Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs ( Norwegian or ''Utenriksdepartementet''; or ''Utanriksdepartementet''; UD) is the foreign ministry of the Kingdom of Norway. It was established on June 7, 1905, the same day the Parliament of ...

from 1951 to 1956, but left for a career in

Norsk Hydro Norsk Hydro ASA (often referred to as just ''Hydro'') is a Norway, Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company, headquartered in Oslo. It is one of the largest aluminium companies worldwide. It has operations in some 50 countries around th ...

. He was promoted to head of the judicial department in 1967, and head of the petroleum department in 1970. He advanced to become assisting director-general in 1977, and director-general (CEO) in 1984. He succeeded

Odd Narud Odd Narud (3 February 1919 – 22 April 2000) was a Norwegian businessperson. He was born in Furnes, and was educated as a siv.øk. He was hired in Norsk Hydro Norsk Hydro ASA (often referred to as just ''Hydro'') is a Norway, Norwegian alumi ...

. He stayed in this position until 1991; after this he was chairman of the board from 1992 to 1997. He has also been a board member of Orkla Borregaard,

Storebrand Storebrand is a financial services company in Norway. By volume, the company's main activities are related to life insurance and pension savings. However, the company also has major divisions working on investments, banking and, until 1999 and ...

and Nobel Industrier, and chaired

Hydro Aluminium Hydro (from ) may refer to: Energy technologies * Water-derived power or energy: ** Hydropower, derived from water ** Hydroelectricity, in electrical form * "Hydro", AC mains electricity in parts of Canada * Micro hydro, a type of hydroelect ...

and Korn- og Foderstof Kompagniet. He was decorated as a Commander of the

Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav (; or ''Sanct Olafs Orden'', the old Norwegian name) is a Norwegian order of chivalry instituted by King Oscar I on 21 August 1847. It is named after King Olav II, known to posterity as St. Olav. Just be ...

in 1989. At the time of his death, he had a reported net worth of NOK 42 billion (£3 billion) through privately held asset vehicles and left the vast majority of his fortune to his grandson, Magnus Aakvaag.

References

1927 births 2020 deaths People from Bærum Norwegian jurists Norwegian businesspeople Norsk Hydro people {{Norway-business-bio-stub