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Norwegian businessman
Kjell Inge Røkke is a Norwegian billionaire businessman. He is the chairman of the Norwegian-based company Aker ASA, and holds directorships in Aker BP, Kværner, Ocean Yield, Aker BioMarine and Aker Energy. As of 31 December 2018, Røkke owned 68.2% of the shares in Aker ASA through his investment company, TRG AS, and its subsidiaries.
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Røkke began his career as a fisherman at the age of 18, without any secondary or higher education. In 1979, he moved to the United States to work on trawlers in Alaska, saving enough money to buy his first vessels. He eventually became the owner of American Seafoods Group. During the 1980s, Røkke was based in Seattle, Washington, where he owned and operated American Seafoods and Resource Group International (RGI), which included brands like Brooks Sports and Helly Hansen. In the mid-1990s, he returned to Norway. In 1996, Røkke became Aker ASA's main shareholder when RGI acquired enough shares to become its largest shareholder; the two companies subsequently merged, completing the merger in January 1997. Through Aker, Røkke gained a significant position in the fisheries sector and acquired the well-established fishery business J.M. Johansen, which dates back to 1876. The new company portfolio also included real estate and shipyards. Røkke is currently the largest shareholder of Aker ASA, an industrial investment company, which interests are concentrated in the oil and gas, maritime assets and marine biotechnology sectors. The company's industrial holdings include Aker BP, Aker Solutions, Akastor, Kværner, Ocean Yield, Aker Energy, Cognite, and Aker BioMarine. Its financial investments comprise cash, liquid assets, and real estate development projects. In an interview with the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten (published 1 May 2017) Røkke said he planned to give away most of his fortune. As a further step in this plan, he joined the Giving Pledge in 2017 and founded the REV Ocean initiative. REV Ocean, led by former WWF Norway CEO, Nina Jensen, works to improve understanding of the ocean and foster solutions through three initiatives: the world's largest research and expedition vessel (REV Ocean), the World Ocean Headquarters, and an open, global data platform. A 183m research and expedition vessel, the REV Ocean, is due for final delivery to Røkke in 2022. The world's longest superyacht, it is reported to have three swimming-pools and a 35-seat auditorium. Røkke has dyslexia, but claims that it has contributed to his success, and states that he would not be where he is today without it. Røkke has been described by Forbes as having "built up a reputation as a ruthless corporate raider". In 2005, Røkke was selected to the top manager in Norway by Dagens Næringsliv. Among the 18 nominees, Røkke received nearly 1/3 of the votes. In 2006, Røkke won the “Peer Gynt of the Year” award. …
Røkke is married, with four children, and lives in Vettre, Norway. He is known for having several exclusive cars, including a Ford GT acquired in August 2016. In September 2022, he announced that he is moving to Lugano, Switzerland.
Biographical detail compiled from Wikipedia and Wikidata, which are edited openly and may be incomplete or out of date. Fleet data is our own. Source →
