{{Short description|Swedish businessman}} {{Infobox person | name = Erling Persson | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1917|1|21|df=y}} | birth_place = Borlänge, Sweden | death_date = {{Death date and age|2002|10|28|1917|1|21|df=y}} | death_place = Stockholm, Sweden | children = Stefan Persson<br>Lottie Tham | relatives = Karl-Johan Persson (grandson)<br>Charlotte Söderström (granddaughter)<br>Tom Persson (grandson) | nationality = | other_names = | known_for = Founder of H&M | occupation = }} '''Erling Persson''' (21 January 1917 – 28 October 2002) was the founder of H&M (Hennes & Mauritz).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1412974/Erling-Persson.html|newspaper=The Telegraph|title=Erling Persson obituary|date=13 November 2002|accessdate=28 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="independent">{{cite news |title=Erling Persson: Founder of the fashion retailer H&M |first=Linda |last=Watson |newspaper=The Independent |date=2 November 2002 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/erling-persson-603055.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619135124/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/erling-persson-603055.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 19, 2010 |accessdate=25 September 2010}}</ref> He got the idea following a post-World War II trip to the United States: he was impressed by the country's efficient, high-volume stores.<ref name=independent />
He established the company in Västerås, Sweden, in 1947 selling women's clothing, calling it ''Hennes,'' Swedish for "hers." In 1968, Persson acquired the premises and inventory of a Stockholm hunting equipment store named Mauritz Widforss. In 1982, his son, Stefan Persson took over as the managing director, and today is the chairman of the board.<ref name=independent /> The Persson family owns about 47% of the company and has a 74% voting rights.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://e24.no/a/24555099|title=H&M-leverandører sparker tusenvis av misfornøyde ansatte|last=E24|website=E24|date=5 February 2019 |language=nb|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref> He died in Stockholm on 28 October 2002.
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Persson, Erling}} Category:1917 births Category:2002 deaths Category:Swedish businesspeople in fashion Category:People from Borlänge Erling