Arwed Peter Jessen’s 100-year Legacy
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of former Chairman A P Jessen’s birth, we reflect on a life marked by vision, resilience and lasting impact
Born on Oct 21, 1924 in Hamburg, Germany, A P Jessen was the youngest of Jebsen & Co co-founder Heinrich Jessen’s six children. Following the death of his father, the family moved to Aabenraa, Denmark, where he spent his formative years.
In 1947, A P Jessen set out for East Asia with his cousin Hans Jacob Jebsen, marking the beginning of his remarkable journey to this part of the world. First as head of the export department in Shanghai and later across various departments in Hong Kong, he played a pivotal role in advancing the trading business for sister group Jebsen & Co.
A P Jessen married Lori Jenny von Eckartsberg in 1952, and they had seven children together.
In the 1960s, he spearheaded the establishment of Jebsen & Jessen in South East Asia. Recognising the need for diversification, he laid the groundwork for the Group’s evolution from a trading entity into a multi-disciplinary business.
Over the next decades, he continued to drive the Group forward, with key joint ventures such as MHE-Demag and JJ-Degussa formed under his leadership.
Beyond his business accomplishments, A P Jessen was deeply involved in community and culture. He played the cello in the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and co-founded the Hong Kong Country Club.
A P Jessen retiredin 2003. By then, Jebsen & Jessen had grown into a diversified industrial conglomerate in engineering, manufacturing and distribution businesses.
“The character of our Group today, combining the agility and entrepreneurial spirit of an SME with the trusted reliability and governance of an MNC, is a reflection of A P Jessen’s own principles. His vision, his drive and his values form the foundation on which we operate today,” said Group Chairman Heinrich Jessen.