Gustav Aarestrup
Encyclopedia
Gustav Nicolay Aarestrup (1 January 1916 – 15 November 2005) was a Norwegian businessperson. He was both CEO and board chairman during his career in Storebrand
.
as a son of vicar Joakim Homboe Aarestrup and his wife Anna Sofie Wiig. The family moved to Sagene
two years later. He finished his secondary education in 1933, and took the cand.jur. degree in 1938. He worked as a jurist in Mysen
and Farsund
. In July 1941, one year after the German invasion
and occupation of Norway, Aarestrup was arrested for an attempt to flee the country. He was first imprisoned in Kristiansand
's Arkivet, and later sat in Møllergata 19
from 8 to 22 August and in Grini concentration camp until mid-October 1941.
. After a year as a secretary-in exile for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
in London
from 1944 to 1945 he returned to Storebrand. He rose in the hierarchy, and was vice president from 1957 to 1961 and CEO from 1965 to 1976. He was then chairman of the board until his retirement in 1982. In both 1965 and 1976 he succeeded Per M. Hansson. From 1971 to 1974 Aarestrup was also the board chairman of the Association of Norwegian Insurance Companies, a predecessor of the Norwegian Financial Services Association
.
In the mid-1980s Aarestrup was a proponent for a road tunnel to lead the European route E18
away from the city core of Oslo
, specifically the square Rådhusplassen. Since the tunnel would be built under the Oslofjord
, the project was called Vannlinjen. In 1984 Aarestrup became a founding board chairman of the company of the same name. Board members were Ole S. Gilbo, Ragnar Hurum, Johan B. Holte, Olav Selvaag
, Erling Storrusten and Jan Bille. As it turned out, the Festning Tunnel
project, proposed by the company Fjellinjen
, prevailed. In 1986, when the tides were turning for Fjellinjen, Aarestrup referred to the project as a "misère from beginning to end".
He was also a board member of Elektrisk Bureau
until 1985. In politics he was a member of the so-called "economic committee" of the Conservative Party of Norway
, which was responsible for collecting party funds. Fellow members were Bjørn Bettum (chair), Johan H. Andresen, Per Chr. Frich, Aase Gudding and Per Strøm.
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, since 2006, P&C insurance products...
.
Early life
He was born in SteinkjerSteinkjer
is a town and a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Innherad region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Steinkjer, which is also the seat of the county government...
as a son of vicar Joakim Homboe Aarestrup and his wife Anna Sofie Wiig. The family moved to Sagene
Sagene
Sagene is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway. The area became part of the city of Oslo in 1859.The name Sagene itself is the plural of the Norwegian word for "saw", reflecting all the old industrial mechanical saws powered by the river Akerselvain this area in the 19th and early 20th...
two years later. He finished his secondary education in 1933, and took the cand.jur. degree in 1938. He worked as a jurist in Mysen
Mysen
Mysen is the administrative center of the municipality of Eidsberg in the county of Østfold in Norway.Between 1920 and 1961, it was a separate municipality. Mysen became an independent municipality on 1 July 1920 when it was spun off from Eidsberg. On 1 January 1961 Mysen was merged again with...
and Farsund
Farsund
is a town and municipality in the county of Vest-Agder, Norway.The town of Farsund was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 , although already recognized as a trading center in 1795...
. In July 1941, one year after the German invasion
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
and occupation of Norway, Aarestrup was arrested for an attempt to flee the country. He was first imprisoned in Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
's Arkivet, and later sat in Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19 is an address in Oslo, Norway where the city's main police station and jail was located. The address gained notoriety during the German occupation from 1940 to 1945, when the Nazi security police kept its headquarters here...
from 8 to 22 August and in Grini concentration camp until mid-October 1941.
Later career
In 1942 he left Farsund, being hired in the insurance company StorebrandStorebrand
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, since 2006, P&C insurance products...
. After a year as a secretary-in exile for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the foreign ministry of the Kingdom of Norway...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
from 1944 to 1945 he returned to Storebrand. He rose in the hierarchy, and was vice president from 1957 to 1961 and CEO from 1965 to 1976. He was then chairman of the board until his retirement in 1982. In both 1965 and 1976 he succeeded Per M. Hansson. From 1971 to 1974 Aarestrup was also the board chairman of the Association of Norwegian Insurance Companies, a predecessor of the Norwegian Financial Services Association
Norwegian Financial Services Association
The Norwegian Financial Services Association is an employers' organisation in Norway.It was established in 2000 as a merger between the Norwegian Bankers' Association and the Association of Norwegian Insurance Companies....
.
In the mid-1980s Aarestrup was a proponent for a road tunnel to lead the European route E18
European route E18
European route E18 runs from Craigavon in the United Kingdom to Saint Petersburg in Russia, passing through Norway, Sweden, and Finland. It is about 1,890 km in length.-United Kingdom:...
away from the city core of Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, specifically the square Rådhusplassen. Since the tunnel would be built under the Oslofjord
Oslofjord
The Oslofjord is a bay in the south-east of Norway, stretching from an imaginary line between the Torbjørnskjær and Færder lighthouses and down to Langesund in the south to Oslo in the north....
, the project was called Vannlinjen. In 1984 Aarestrup became a founding board chairman of the company of the same name. Board members were Ole S. Gilbo, Ragnar Hurum, Johan B. Holte, Olav Selvaag
Olav Selvaag
Olav Selvaag was a Norwegian engineer and residential contractor, known for his innovative approach to designing and building affordable housing in the post-war era.-Biography:...
, Erling Storrusten and Jan Bille. As it turned out, the Festning Tunnel
Festning Tunnel
The Festning Tunnel is a motorway tunnel on European Route E18 in the city center of Oslo, Norway. The tunnel has two tubes, with three lanes in each. It runs from Bjørvika, under Akershus Fortress, The City Hall Square and Vika to Filipstad. The tunnel is and elevation at the deepest.The tunnel...
project, proposed by the company Fjellinjen
Fjellinjen
Fjellinjen AS is a municipal company owned by the City of Oslo and Akershus County Municipality . It is responsible for the collection from the toll ring around Oslo, with a total of nineteen toll plazas.-History:...
, prevailed. In 1986, when the tides were turning for Fjellinjen, Aarestrup referred to the project as a "misère from beginning to end".
He was also a board member of Elektrisk Bureau
Elektrisk Bureau
Elektrisk Bureau or EB was a Norwegian manufacturer of telecommunication equipment. It was founded in 1882 and lasted until 1993 when it became part of Asea Brown Boveri . The company was located at Billingstad in Asker.-History:...
until 1985. In politics he was a member of the so-called "economic committee" of the Conservative Party of Norway
Conservative Party of Norway
The Conservative Party is a Norwegian political party. The current leader is Erna Solberg. The party was since the 1920s consistently the second largest party in Norway, but has been surpassed by the growth of the Progress Party in the late 1990s and 2000s...
, which was responsible for collecting party funds. Fellow members were Bjørn Bettum (chair), Johan H. Andresen, Per Chr. Frich, Aase Gudding and Per Strøm.