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| Herman Friele | |
|---|---|
| Name | Herman Friele |
| Birth date | 1943-11-15 |
| Birth place | Bergen, Norway |
| Nationality | Norwegian |
| Occupation | Businessman, Politician |
| Known for | Friele coffee, Mayor of Bergen |
Herman Friele is a Norwegian businessman and politician noted for leading the family-owned coffee company and serving in municipal politics. He is associated with commercial enterprises in Bergen and has been prominent in cultural and civic institutions in Norway. Friele's career connects to business families, Norwegian politics, and regional cultural organizations.
Friele was born in Bergen and raised in a family tied to the commercial history of Bergen, linked to shipping firms and trading houses such as Bergen Handelsforening and local merchants associated with Bryggen, Nordnes, Damsgård, Sunnmøre, and Hordaland. His formative years coincided with postwar reconstruction involving agencies like Norges Bank and developments in Norwegian trade linked to European Free Trade Association and OECD. He pursued education that placed him among alumni networks connected to institutions such as Bergen Cathedral School, University of Bergen, and professional programs that also produced figures in Telenor, Statoil, Equinor, and Aker Solutions.
Friele took leadership of the family firm, a company with roots in Bergen's commercial quarter and connections to brands in the Norwegian retail sector such as Nidar, Freia, Shell Norge, and distributors active in Norsk Hydro supply chains. His tenure involved relations with trade associations like Næringsforeningen i Bergen, links to port logistics at Port of Bergen, and interactions with firms such as Bergen Group, GC Rieber, Jebsen Group, and Odfjell. Strategic decisions connected the company to export markets including partnerships resembling ties with Tine, Orkla Group, Retail Association Norway, and cooperation with organizations like Innovation Norway and Export Council of Norway. Friele's commercial leadership also engaged cultural sponsors including Bergen International Festival, Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, and local museums such as KODE and Bergen Maritime Museum.
Friele entered municipal politics and served as mayor of Bergen, engaging with political parties such as the Conservative Party (Norway), and interacting with national institutions like the Storting and ministries including the Ministry of Transport. His municipal role required coordination with municipal bodies such as Bergen Municipality, the City Council of Bergen, and committees that liaise with regional authorities in Vestland. During his term he worked on urban projects intersecting with planners and organizations including Statens vegvesen, Bane NOR, and cultural policy stakeholders like Arts Council Norway. His mayoralty involved collaboration with other municipal leaders from cities such as Oslo, Stavanger, Trondheim, Tromsø, and international municipal networks like United Cities and Local Governments and initiatives associated with Nordic Council.
Friele belongs to a family known in Bergen commercial and civic circles, with relatives connected to shipping and brewing families such as Havila Shipping, Wilhelmsen, Fjord1, and patrons of arts institutions like Den Nationale Scene and Grieg Hall. His social circles have overlapped with prominent Norwegians in business and politics including figures from StatoilHydro, SAS Group, Kjell Inge Røkke, John Fredriksen, and cultural personalities linked to Edvard Grieg, Sigrid Undset commemorations. He has participated in boards and trusteeships resembling roles in organizations such as Bergens Tidende, Norsk Rikskringkasting, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, and charitable institutions like Røde Kors in Norway.
Friele has received civic recognitions and decorations akin to honors bestowed by municipal and national bodies such as the Order of St. Olav, regional awards from Hordaland fylkeskommune, and acknowledgements from cultural organizations including Bergen International Festival and KODE. He has been celebrated alongside recipients from business and public life like laureates of the King's Medal of Merit, awardees connected to Innovation Norway grants, and honorees recognized by academies such as the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
Category:People from Bergen Category:Norwegian businesspeople Category:Norwegian politicians