14 Facts About Rand Araskog

Rand Vincent Araskog was an American manufacturing executive, investor, and writer who was the CEO of ITT Corporation.

Rand Vincent Araskog was born on October 30,1931, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota in a family of Swedish descent.

Rand Araskog's father was a tax collector and a dairy farmer in the town.

Rand Araskog was elected as a valedictorian in his school and went on to the United States Military Academy at West Point where he graduated in 1953, majoring in Soviet studies.

Rand Araskog graduated from Harvard University majoring in Russian studies and spent a year in West Germany serving at a US Army intelligence post.

Rand Araskog became the chairman of the board the same year, succeeding Geneen.

Rand Araskog continued to spend the remainder of his time as the CEO in divesting the vast conglomerate as investors were vying for focus on its core businesses.

Rand Araskog was named an Officer in the French Legion of Honor in 1987.

Rand Araskog has been awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic by the President of Italy and the Order of Bernardo O'Higgins by the president of Chile.

Rand Araskog was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters by Hofstra University in 1990.

Rand Araskog was later self-employed as a private investor and acted as principal in RVA Investments and on the Board of Directors of American cable television company Cablevision and the Palm Beach Civic Association.

Rand Araskog met his wife Jessie Gustafson, when she was studying religion at Gustavus Adolphus College.

Rand Araskog died on August 9,2021, at the age of 89 in Palm Beach, Florida.

For many years, Rand Araskog resided with his family in the gated community of Smoke Rise, located in Kinnelon, New Jersey, a suburb of New York.