Otto Wolff von Amerongen
Encyclopedia
Otto Wolff von Amerongen (August 6, 1918 - March 8, 2007) was an influential German businessman, who chaired Otto Wolff AG
, one of the largest trading groups in West Germany
.
His father was industrialist Otto Wolff, his mother Elsa von Amerongen. On his father's death he became a board member and co-proprietor of his father's business, the Otto-Wolff-Konzern. In 1942, during World War II, he was sent to Portugal to handle import-export business for the firm. He was briefly interned following the Allied invasion of Germany but was given responsibility for re-establishing the company's export business in 1947. On the 1966 flotation of the business, Wolff won Amerongen became Chairman of the board, a position he retained for the next twenty years.
He held positions on the boards of other major firms. In 1971 he became a director of Standard Oil of New Jersey, later Exxon
.
From 1955 he was Chairman of the German East-West Trade Committee, and served as Chairman of the Cologne Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 1966 and 1990.
In 2001 he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
, 1st Class.
Otto Wolff AG
Otto Wolff AG was a German steelmaker founded in Cologne by the industrialists Otto Wolff and Ottmar E. Strauß in 1904. One of the largest business in pre-war Germany, it exists today as an independent subsidiary of the ThyssenKrupp group.- History :...
, one of the largest trading groups in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
.
His father was industrialist Otto Wolff, his mother Elsa von Amerongen. On his father's death he became a board member and co-proprietor of his father's business, the Otto-Wolff-Konzern. In 1942, during World War II, he was sent to Portugal to handle import-export business for the firm. He was briefly interned following the Allied invasion of Germany but was given responsibility for re-establishing the company's export business in 1947. On the 1966 flotation of the business, Wolff won Amerongen became Chairman of the board, a position he retained for the next twenty years.
He held positions on the boards of other major firms. In 1971 he became a director of Standard Oil of New Jersey, later Exxon
Exxon
Exxon is a chain of gas stations as well as a brand of motor fuel and related products by ExxonMobil. From 1972 to 1999, Exxon was the corporate name of the company previously known as Standard Oil Company of New Jersey or Jersey Standard....
.
From 1955 he was Chairman of the German East-West Trade Committee, and served as Chairman of the Cologne Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 1966 and 1990.
In 2001 he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Bundesverdienstkreuz
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
, 1st Class.