Helmut Sohmen was born on December 10, 1939 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Austria. After 28 years at the helm, Helmut Sohmen retired in 2014 as chairman of the family's BW Group and listed BW Offshore. Married to the daughter of late shipping tycoon Pao Yue-Kong, the Austrian citizen has lived in Hong Kong for decades. A Southern Methodist University law school alumnus, he supports a graduate scholarship program for Chinese lawyers studying at SMU's Dedman School of Law. Sohmen's Oxford- and Harvard-educated eldest son, Andreas Sohmen-Pao, now runs the group.
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Does Helmut Sohmen Dead or Alive?
As per our current Database, Helmut Sohmen is still alive (as per Wikipedia, Last update: May 10, 2020).
🎂 Helmut Sohmen - Age, Bio, Faces and Birthday
Currently, Helmut Sohmen is 84 years, 11 months and 11 days old. Helmut Sohmen will celebrate 85rd birthday on a Tuesday 10th of December 2024. Below we countdown to Helmut Sohmen upcoming birthday.
| Popular As |
Helmut Sohmen |
| Occupation |
Logistics |
| Age |
84 years old |
| Zodiac Sign |
Capricorn |
| Born |
December 10, 1939 (Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Austria) |
| Birthday |
December 10 |
| Town/City |
Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Austria |
| Nationality |
Austria |
🌙 Zodiac
Helmut Sohmen’s zodiac sign is Capricorn. According to astrologers, Capricorn is a sign that represents time and responsibility, and its representatives are traditional and often very serious by nature. These individuals possess an inner state of independence that enables significant progress both in their personal and professional lives. They are masters of self-control and have the ability to lead the way, make solid and realistic plans, and manage many people who work for them at any time. They will learn from their mistakes and get to the top based solely on their experience and expertise.
🌙 Chinese Zodiac Signs
Helmut Sohmen was born in the Year of the Rabbit. Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Rabbit enjoy being surrounded by family and friends. They’re popular, compassionate, sincere, and they like to avoid conflict and are sometimes seen as pushovers. Rabbits enjoy home and entertaining at home. Compatible with Goat or Pig.
Awards and nominations:
Sohmen has set up a number of foundations.
Biography/Timeline
1939
On 10 December 1939, Sohmen was born in Linz, Austria. Sohmen grew up in Linz.
1958
In 1958, Sohmen graduated from the Linz Realschule (Fadingerschule) with distinction. He then studied law at the University of Vienna and Southern Methodist University, and won a Fulbright scholarship to continue the University of Connecticut in the United States, eventually receiving his doctorate in Vienna.
1967
In 1967, Sohmen married Anna Pui Hing Pao, whom he had met while studying in Canada. Sohmen has three children (two sons and one daughter).
1970
Sir Yue-Kong Pao, Sohmen's father-in-law, owned World-Wide Shipping Group, one of the largest shipping companies in the world. In 1970 Sohmen moved with his family to Hong Kong in order to join the family Business. After periods working in Bermuda (1974) and London (1977), in 1981 he finally settled in Hong Kong. With advancing age Pao gradually stepped back from day-to-day management and in 1986 Sohmen was appointed chairman of the World-Wide Shipping Group and Pao's ownership was passed to Sohmen's wife in 1989. In 2003 World-Wide completed the takeover of Norway's Bergesen fleet to become Bergesen Worldwide Ltd., since then renamed BW Group. The group includes 140 tankers and more than 4500 employees (2010).
1987
In 1987 he established the Egon Sohmen Foundation in memory of his brother Egon Sohmen (1930–1977). The Foundation promotes economic research and aims to get involved in important public policy debates. For this purpose it initiated its own star-studded annual international symposia and lectures at universities where Egon Sohmen formerly worked. It issued a separate publication. Scientific Advisor until 1999 Herbert Giersch, since 2002, Bernd Hans Jurgens.
1991
With the aim of enabling young Austrians to have their first contacts with the Asian region, in 1991 Sohmen set up the Sohmen-Far East Foundation (SFEF). Operational headquarters of the advisory board of the foundation is in his home town of Linz. Qualified scholarship recipients through these grants have the opportunity to expand their horizons and to establish Business contacts.
1993
In 1993, Sohmen established the Sohmen-China Foundation for the Promotion of Austria Society (ÖGCF) to promote friendly and cultural relations with the PRC. It supports a variety of cultural and intellectual events and supports aid for visitation programs, educational concerns, activities in Austria and the publication of relevant publications. In 1996 and 2003 in Shanghai and Beijing on Tiananmen Square, it has co-organized exhibitions.
2005
Sohmen's wife Pui Hing Anna Pao Sohmen held several functions in Hong Kong and was also a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. In 2005 she was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star.
2010
In 2010 he was on the Forbes list with an estimated fortune of US$1.4 billion, the fourth-placed Austrian. In 2009 he was listed as the 13th richest person in Hong Kong.
2014
In Nov 2014, Sohmen retired as chairman of BW Group. He is replaced by Andreas Sohmen-Pao, one of his sons.
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