Olof Söderberg (1872–1931) was a prominent actor within several central networks in Swedish business life during the early 20th century. We now publish a brand new biography about this key character in one of Sweden’s business dynasties, which until now has been surprisingly unknown to the public and academia.
Olof Söderberg (1872-1931) was a prominent member of several central Swedish business networks and a key figure in the Swedish iron and steel industry through the firm Söderberg & Haak as well as Norway’s long-term consul general in Stockholm. He served as a board member in large companies, trade organizations and interest associations, contributed to new legislation in trade and diplomacy and was also one of the initiators of the Stockholm School of Economics and the Swedish occupational pension system. From 1916 to 1923, he led one of the country’s oldest and most important industries, Stora Kopparbergs Bergslag in Falun.
Despite being the main figure in one of Sweden’s great business dynasties, he has so far been surprisingly unknown to the public and research. But a brand new biography, Olof Söderberg – handelsledare, industriman, samhällsbyggare (Business History Publishing, 2023), written by our Benito Peix Geldart and based on a large number of previously unused primary sources, sets out to show his place in Sweden’s business history. The book is available for purchase in our bookstore or where books are sold from September 20.
