Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller
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Arnold Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller
13 July 1913 Hellerup, Denmark
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| Died | 16 April 2012 (aged 98) Copenhagen, Denmark
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| Nationality | Danish |
| Occupation | Shipping |
| Spouse(s) | Emma Mc-Kinney Møller |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Arnold Peter and Chastine Estelle Roberta (née McKinney) Møller |
| Awards |         Life Honorary Member of the Baltic Exchange |
Arnold Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller (born 13 July 1913 – died 16 April 2012) was a very important Danish businessman. He was known for his work in shipping, which means moving goods around the world by sea. He spent most of his life working for the A.P. Moller–Maersk Group, a huge company started by his father.
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About Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller
Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller was born in Hellerup, Denmark. His father, Arnold Peter Møller, founded the A.P. Moller–Maersk Group. His mother, Chastine Estelle Roberta (née McKinney) Møller, was from America.
In 1940, Mærsk married his high-school sweetheart, Emma Neergaard Rasmussen. They were married for 65 years until Emma passed away in 2005. Together, they had three daughters: Leise, Kirsten, and Ane. Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller was one of the wealthiest people in Denmark during his lifetime.
His Work in Business
Møller joined the A.P. Moller–Maersk Group as a partner in 1940. During World War II, when Germany occupied Denmark, Møller moved to the United States. He managed the family business from New York until he returned to Denmark in 1947.
When his father passed away in 1965, Møller took over as the main leader of the company. He became the CEO and chairman. From 1970 to 1984, he was also the first non-American person to join the board of IBM, a famous technology company.
Møller stepped down as CEO in 1993. However, he remained the chairman of the board until 2003, when he was 90 years old. He continued to own a large part of the company's shares until he died.
Maersk and North Sea Oil
In 1962, the A.P. Møller–Maersk company received special permission to find and use oil and natural gas in Denmark. This gave Maersk a very strong position in the energy business. The company worked with other large energy companies like Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron to get the oil and gas.
Who Took Over Maersk?
After Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller passed away, his youngest daughter, Ane Mærsk Mc-Kinney Uggla, became the chairperson of the foundation that controls Maersk. She planned to keep the company running in a similar way, as a group of different businesses.
Giving Back to Denmark
Møller was also known for his generous donations. He gave money to build the Copenhagen Opera House, which is one of the most expensive opera houses ever built. It cost about 2.3 billion Danish kroner. The Opera House is located right across the harbor from the royal palace, Amalienborg Palace. It is also close to the Maersk headquarters.
In the 1980s, Møller also donated Amaliehaven, a beautiful park located between the Palace and the harbor.
His Passing
Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller died on 16 April 2012, when he was 98 years old. He passed away just a few days after his last public appearance. His three daughters survived him.
Special Awards and Honors
Møller received many special honors during his life. He was made a knight of the Danish Order of the Elephant in 2000. This is a very high honor, usually given only to royalty or heads of state. This award gave him the title "His Excellency."
He also became an honorary member of the Baltic Exchange. This was in recognition of his important contributions to the shipping industry. Maersk had been doing business through the Baltic Exchange since the early 1900s.
A large new container ship was named after him: the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller. This ship is part of the "Triple E-class," which are some of the biggest container ships in the world.
| Coat of Arms of Arnold Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller | |
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| Armiger | Arnold Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller |
| Adopted | 2000 |
| Motto | Per Aspera Ad Astra ("Through Hardships to the Stars") |
| Order(s) | Order of the Elephant |
