John Hugo Loudon
Photo: Fotograaf Onbekend / Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons14

John Hugo Loudon

Dutch entrepreneur (1905 - 1996)

Jonkheer John Hugo Loudon KBE (27 June 1905 – 4 February 1996) was the CEO of Royal Dutch Shell from 1952 to 1965 and the president of World Wide Fund for Nature.2

From Wikipedia’s article on John Hugo Loudon (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Jun 27, 1905, died Feb 4, 1996.1

Companies

Early life and education

  • Date not recordedUtrecht University3

Born in The Hague, Netherlands, the son of former Shell president Hugo Loudon and grandson of Jonkheer Hugo Loudon, John Hugo Loudon got a law degree at Utrecht University. He joined the company in 1930, working in the oilfields of Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela.

From Wikipedia’s article on John Hugo Loudon (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Career

Occupation: businessperson.6

  • 1976 to 1981Chair, WWF International5
  • 1952 to 1965Chairperson, Royal Dutch Petroleum Company4
  • 1952 to 1965Shell chief executive4

In 1952, Loudon became the head of Shell Petroleum. In this role he tried to prevent discrimination between nationals and non-nationals in the work force. In May 1960, he was featured on Time magazine's cover. He resigned as the CEO of Shell in 1965 and continued to serve the company as chairman of the board of supervisory directors for the next 11 years.

Following his role with Shell, Loudon was appointed the chairman of an international business advisory committee at Chase Bank by David Rockefeller. Loudon retired from this role in 1977.

Loudon became president of World Wide Fund for Nature in 1977 and served as president until 1981.

From Wikipedia’s article on John Hugo Loudon (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Personal life

  • BornJun 27, 1905, The Hague7
  • DiedFeb 4, 1996, Haarlem8 9
  • CitizenshipKingdom of the Netherlands10
  • SpousesCharlotte van Sminia11; Maria Cornelia van Tuyll van Serooskerken married 193111

In 1931 he married Marie van Tuyll van Serooskerken who became lady in waiting to Queen Wilhelmina and with whom he had four children. Later he married Charlotte van Sminia.

Loudon spoke five languages and was a member of the Royal yacht Squadron.

His niece Lydia Frederika Loudon was the wife of the Scottish businessman and politician Sir Jack Stewart-Clark.

From Wikipedia’s article on John Hugo Loudon (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Awards

  • Date not recordedKnight Commander of the Order of the British Empire12

Sources

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