Wilhelm Wilhelmsen Dies at 82

Wilhelm Wilhelmsen, owner of the Wilhelmsen Group, has passed away at the age of 82, the group announced Sunday.

Wilhelm  Wilhelmsen was the fourth-generation family owner of the Norwegian shipping group founded by his grandfather in Tønsberg in 1861. He officially joined the company as partner in 1964 and was elected as chair of the board in 1992, a position which he held until 2010. 

Wilhelmsen is credited with growing Wilhelmsen group from a traditional liner company to a leading maritime industry group with nearly 15,000 employees in more than 70 countries. 

“In addition to serving on boards of many companies and having honorary posts in several Norwegian and international shipping and maritime organisations, Wilhelm Wilhelmsen was a true believer in sharing some of the values his family generated,” the group said in a statement announcing his passing. “Through the Tom Wilhelmsens Stiftelse, a family foundation named after his father, he contributed to donate large sums back to society, including maritime and medical research, sports, culture, and humanitarian organisations. For his outstanding contribution to business and society, Wilhelm Wilhelmsen received The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav Knight 1^st Class in 2007.”

Wilhelmsen is survived by his wife Ninni, three children and eight grandchildren.

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