Norwegian aluminium producer Norsk Hydro ASA was included in this year’s list of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies.
Hydro made the list as one of only three Scandinavian countries, joining Denmark’s shipping company Maersk and Swedish automotive manufacturer Volvo.
Hilde Merete Aasheim, Hydro President and CEO, credited the firm’s global workforce in achieving the ranking in a related press release.
“This is a great recognition of the work that is being done by our people around the globe. I am also impressed that we are one of only three Scandinavian companies on the list.”
Fortune’s rankings are the product of measuring the globe’s top firms across several criteria, including investment value, product and management quality, talent retention, and social responsibility. Researchers study almost four thousand top executives and directors from those companies and, in conjunction with financial analysts, derive the rankings of top companies in their respective sectors and around the world.
Norsk Hydro, which was founded in 1905, financed by the Swedish Wallenberg family and French banks, began its life named Norsk hydro-elektrisk Kvælstofaktieselskab (literally, “Norwegian hydro-electric nitrogen limited”) by Sam Eyde. The Norwegian government owns approximately 40% of the company at the present time. Norsk Hydro is one of the largest aluminium companies in the world, with plants in Rjukan, Raufoss, Vennesla, Karmøy, Høyanger, Årdal, Sunndalsøra, and Holmestrand. Norsk also has several plants abroad.