Gustaf Douglas
Encyclopedia
Count
Gustaf Archibald Siegwart Douglas (born 3 March 1938) is a Swedish
businessman and politician, member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences
since 2007.
The oldest son of count Carl Ludvig Douglas (26 July 1908 Stjärnorp
- 21 January 1961 Rio de Janeiro
), a Swedish
nobleman and diplomat who was Royal Swedish Ambassador to Brazil, and his Prussia
n wife Ottora Maria Haas-Heye (13 February 1910 Partenkirchen - 17 July 2001).
After an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School
in 1964, he worked in Sweden and was CEO of the newspapers Dagens Nyheter
and Expressen
between 1973 and 1980. After that he founded his company Investment AB Latour
in 1984, through which he now controls security firm Securitas AB
, the world-leading lock producer Assa Abloy
and more. He forms a partnership with fellow businessman Melker Schörling
, who also controls a significant amount of Securitas shares and serves as the company's chairman. He is the seventh wealthiest person in Sweden
, according to Forbes
magazine, with an estimated net worth
of around US$
2.0 billion.
In 2001 Gustaf Douglas was elected to the board of the Moderate Party
. He has a long history of political involvement, having campaigned in his teens for what was the predecessor of the Moderates. Douglas was, however, for a time active within the Liberal People's Party
. Now he is known as a rather Conservative
Moderate with a big interest in education policy
.
His patriline is Scottish, of the Swedish-German branch, descended via two obscure generations, descended from the youngest son of James Douglas, 1st Baron of Dalkeith, ancestor of the 15th century Earls of Morton
. All these Douglases were of the Morton branch of the ancient Douglas
family.
The Douglas family was introduced in the 17th century at Riddarhuset under number 19 among families of comital
status. Gustaf Douglas has later served on the board of Riddarhuset.
His maternal great-grandfather was Philip, Prince of Eulenburg and Hertefeld (1847–1921), a friend of Wilhelm II, whose youngest child Viktoria Ada Astrid Agnes Gräfin zu Eulenburg (1886–1967) married 1909 (div 1921) professor Otto Ludwig Haas-Heye (1879–1959), and had issue, including two daughters. Gustaf descends through both his mother and father from medieval Scandinavian nobility and rulers.
He is married to Elisabeth, née von Essen, of another noble family. Gustaf and Elisabeth Douglas have two children, Carl and Eric. Both serve at different positions within the family group of companies. The Douglas family live at their mansion outside Åkersberga
. One of his younger sisters is Rosita Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough third (and former wife) of John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough
. Gustafs other sister, Princess Elisabeth, Duchess in Bavaria
is married to Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria
.
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
Gustaf Archibald Siegwart Douglas (born 3 March 1938) is a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
businessman and politician, member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences or Kungl. Ingenjörsvetenskapsakademien , founded in 1919 by King Gustaf V, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
since 2007.
The oldest son of count Carl Ludvig Douglas (26 July 1908 Stjärnorp
Stjärnorp Castle
Stjärnorp Castle is situated north of Linköping, in the southern province of Östergötland, Sweden. It was built by the Douglas Family, with a view over Lake Roxen.- History :...
- 21 January 1961 Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
), a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
nobleman and diplomat who was Royal Swedish Ambassador to Brazil, and his Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n wife Ottora Maria Haas-Heye (13 February 1910 Partenkirchen - 17 July 2001).
After an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
in 1964, he worked in Sweden and was CEO of the newspapers Dagens Nyheter
Dagens Nyheter
is a daily newspaper in Sweden. It has the largest circulation of Swedish morning newspapers, followed by Göteborgs-Posten and Svenska Dagbladet, and is the only morning newspaper that is distributed to subscribers across the whole country. In 2009 DN had a circulation of 316,000, reaching 881...
and Expressen
Expressen
Expressen is one of two nationwide evening tabloid newspapers in Sweden, the other being Aftonbladet. Expressen was founded in 1944; its symbol is a wasp and slogans "it stings" or "Expressen to your rescue", always on the reader's side....
between 1973 and 1980. After that he founded his company Investment AB Latour
Investment AB Latour
Investment AB Latour is the investment company controlled by Swedish businessman Gustaf Douglas and family.Through the company Douglas controls, inter alia, security firm Securitas AB and the world-leading lock producer Assa Abloy. Gustaf Douglas is the chairman of the company. His wife and one of...
in 1984, through which he now controls security firm Securitas AB
Securitas AB
Securitas AB is a security services , monitoring, consulting and investigation group, based in Stockholm, Sweden. The group has approximately 300,000 employees in 50 countries in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Securitas AB is listed at Nasdaq OMX Stockholm,...
, the world-leading lock producer Assa Abloy
Assa Abloy
The Assa Abloy Group is a Swedish lock manufacturer, the world's largest by sales. Assa Abloy was formed in 1994 when ASSA AB was detached from Swedish security firm Securitas AB. Shortly thereafter the Finnish high-security lock manufacturer Abloy Oy was acquired. The company was introduced to...
and more. He forms a partnership with fellow businessman Melker Schörling
Melker Schörling
Melker Schörling is a Swedish businessman. His investment company Melker Schörling AB has large interests in Securitas AB, Assa Abloy, Hexagon AB, Loomis and more...
, who also controls a significant amount of Securitas shares and serves as the company's chairman. He is the seventh wealthiest person in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, according to Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine, with an estimated net worth
Net worth
In business, net worth is the total assets minus total outside liabilities of an individual or a company. For a company, this is called shareholders' preference and may be referred to as book value. Net worth is stated as at a particular year in time...
of around US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
2.0 billion.
In 2001 Gustaf Douglas was elected to the board of the Moderate Party
Moderate Party
The Moderate Party is a centre-right, liberal conservative political party in Sweden. The party was founded in 1904 as the General Electoral League by a group of conservatives in the Swedish parliament...
. He has a long history of political involvement, having campaigned in his teens for what was the predecessor of the Moderates. Douglas was, however, for a time active within the Liberal People's Party
Liberal People's Party (Sweden)
The Liberal People's Party is a political party in Sweden. The party advocates social liberalism and is part of the governing centre-right coalition The Alliance, which achieved a majority in the general election of 17 September 2006...
. Now he is known as a rather Conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
Moderate with a big interest in education policy
Education policy
Education policy refers to the collection of laws and rules that govern the operation of education systems.Education occurs in many forms for many purposes through many institutions. Examples include early childhood education, kindergarten through to 12th grade, two and four year colleges or...
.
His patriline is Scottish, of the Swedish-German branch, descended via two obscure generations, descended from the youngest son of James Douglas, 1st Baron of Dalkeith, ancestor of the 15th century Earls of Morton
Earl of Morton
The title Earl of Morton was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1458 for James Douglas of Dalkeith. Along with it, the title Lord Aberdour was granted. This latter title is the courtesy title for the eldest son and heir to the Earl of Morton....
. All these Douglases were of the Morton branch of the ancient Douglas
Clan Douglas
Clan Douglas is an ancient Scottish kindred from the Scottish Lowlands taking its name from Douglas, South Lanarkshire, and thence spreading through the Scottish Borderland, Angus, Lothian and beyond. The clan does not currently have a chief, therefore it is considered an armigerous clan.The...
family.
The Douglas family was introduced in the 17th century at Riddarhuset under number 19 among families of comital
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
status. Gustaf Douglas has later served on the board of Riddarhuset.
His maternal great-grandfather was Philip, Prince of Eulenburg and Hertefeld (1847–1921), a friend of Wilhelm II, whose youngest child Viktoria Ada Astrid Agnes Gräfin zu Eulenburg (1886–1967) married 1909 (div 1921) professor Otto Ludwig Haas-Heye (1879–1959), and had issue, including two daughters. Gustaf descends through both his mother and father from medieval Scandinavian nobility and rulers.
He is married to Elisabeth, née von Essen, of another noble family. Gustaf and Elisabeth Douglas have two children, Carl and Eric. Both serve at different positions within the family group of companies. The Douglas family live at their mansion outside Åkersberga
Åkersberga
Åkersberga is a locality and the seat of Österåker Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden with 26,727 inhabitants in 2005.-History:In 1901 a railway station named Berga was opened on this rural spot some 30 km from Stockholm. Some shops and a post office followed...
. One of his younger sisters is Rosita Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough third (and former wife) of John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough
John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough
John George Vanderbilt Henry Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough, DL, JP , is the son of Lt.-Col. John Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough and his wife, Hon. Alexandra Mary Hilda Cadogan. His principal seat is Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, Oxfordshire...
. Gustafs other sister, Princess Elisabeth, Duchess in Bavaria
Princess Elisabeth, Duchess in Bavaria
align="right"|Princess Elisabeth, Duchess in Bavaria is the wife of Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria, heir presumptive to both the former Bavarian Royal House and the Jacobite Succession.-Family background:...
is married to Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria
Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria
Max-Emanuel Ludwig Maria Herzog in Bayern, sometimes styled Prince Max of Bavaria, Duke in Bavaria, born 21 January 1937 as son of Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria, is the heir presumptive to both the headship of the former Bavarian Royal House and the Jacobite Succession...
.