Ola Skjåk Bræk
Ola Skjåk Bræk | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Eidsvoll, Norway |
| Died | December 26, 1999 (aged 87) Trondheim, Norway |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, politician |
| Years active | 1935–1979 |
| Known for | Minister of Industry (1972–1973) |
Ola Skjåk Bræk (born 4 February 1912 in Eidsvoll, died 26 December 1999 in Trondheim) was a prominent Norwegian banker and politician affiliated with the Liberal Party. He held the position of Minister of Industry between 1972 and 1973.
He was the son of Gudbrand Bræk, who was both a local banker and one of the founders of Bøndernes Bank. Ola completed his law degree (cand.jur.) at the University of Oslo in 1935. He married Ingeborg Wergeland, known for her peace activism; their daughter, Lise Skjåk Bræk, gained recognition as a fashion and costume designer. In 1950, Ola assumed the presidency of Aalesund Nye Kreditbank, a regional savings and loan institution that eventually merged into Sunnmørsbanken. He continued his banking career there until his retirement in 1979, after which he moved to Trondheim.
In terms of his political career, he served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament for the constituency of Møre og Romsdal during two periods: 1965–1969 and 1973–1977. Following Norway’s 1972 referendum that rejected EU membership, Skjåk Bræk joined Lars Korvald’s cabinet as Minister of Industry. He opposed Norway's entry into the EEC and remained loyal to the Liberal Party after its division in 1972. His efforts were instrumental in advancing economic growth in Western Norway during the post-war era, with a particular emphasis on responsible stewardship of the country’s natural resources.
In 1990, he authored his memoirs titled Hva brast så høyt?, which reflect on issues concerning Norwegian economic policies.