Norberto Odebrecht () (October 9, 1920 – July 19, 2014) was a Brazilian engineer, businessman and philanthropist. He was the founder of
Odebrecht
Odebrecht S.A. (), officially known as Novonor, is a Brazilian conglomerate, headquartered in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, consisting of diversified businesses in the fields of engineering, construction, chemicals and petrochemicals. The company w ...
.
Early life
Norberto Odebrecht was born on October 9, 1920 in
Recife
That it may shine on all ( Matthew 5:15)
, image_map = Brazil Pernambuco Recife location map.svg
, mapsize = 250px
, map_caption = Location in the state of Pernambuco
, pushpin_map = Brazil#South A ...
, Brazil. He was the son of the pioneer and a grandson of , a German
geodetical engineer and
cartographer
Cartography (; from grc, χάρτης , "papyrus, sheet of paper, map"; and , "write") is the study and practice of making and using maps. Combining science, aesthetics and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality (or an im ...
, who emigrated to Brazil in 1856. He studied at the
Polytechnic School of Bahia.
Career
Odebrecht founded a construction company from which the
Odebrecht Group in
Salvador da Bahia
Salvador (English: ''Savior'') is a Brazilian municipality and capital city of the state of Bahia. Situated in the Zona da Mata in the Northeast Region of Brazil, Salvador is recognized throughout the country and internationally for its cuisine ...
was created in 1944. Today, the company has become an international
conglomerate
Conglomerate or conglomeration may refer to:
* Conglomerate (company)
* Conglomerate (geology)
* Conglomerate (mathematics)
In popular culture:
* The Conglomerate (American group), a production crew and musical group founded by Busta Rhymes
** Co ...
and employs more than 167,500 people in over 60 countries around the globe.
In 1991, he passed the presidency of Odebrecht to his son
Emílio Odebrecht
Odebrecht S.A. (), officially known as Novonor, is a Brazilian conglomerate (company), conglomerate, headquartered in Salvador, Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, consisting of diversified businesses in the fields of engineering, construction, chem ...
, and remained as chairman.
Norberto Odebrecht's "thoughts" have been compiled in three volumes distributed to all employees of the group.
Philanthropy
Odebrecht was the founder of the Brazilian
Odebrecht Foundation
The Odebrecht Foundation (Portuguese ''Fundação Odebrecht'') is a private Brazilian institution created in 1965. It was launched by Norberto Odebrecht, a Brazilian engineer and businessman, who in 1944 founded the Odebrecht company, in order to p ...
(
Portuguese
Portuguese may refer to:
* anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal
** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods
** Portuguese language, a Romance language
*** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language
** Portu ...
: Fundação Odebrecht).
Death
Odebrecht died on 19 July 2014, aged 93, in
Salvador, Bahia
Salvador (English: ''Savior'') is a Brazilian municipality and capital city of the state of Bahia. Situated in the Zona da Mata in the Northeast Region of Brazil, Salvador is recognized throughout the country and internationally for its cuisine ...
.
References
Brazilian engineers
Brazilian businesspeople
1920 births
2014 deaths
Odebrecht family
Brazilian people of German descent
Brazilian billionaires
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