Odebrecht and Gradin families

Originally a Brazilian construction company, the global construction conglomerate Odebrecht Group was founded in 1944 by Norberto Odebrecht. In 1991, Norberto’s son, Emílio Odebrecht, succeeded his father to be CEO of what would eventually become Latin America’s largest construction company. Emílio’s son, Marcelo, served as president of the company from 2008 to 2015 and would later be embroiled in a well-publicised corruption scandal.

Joining Odebrecht in 1974 as its Chief Financial Officer, Victor Gradin, along with his family, became the company’s largest individual stockholder. In 2010, a battle between the two families ensued when the Odebrechts, with majority control of the company, attempted to buy out all minority holders. The Gradin family balked at the $1.5 billion offered for its 20 per cent share of the company, sparking a feud that saw Victor Gradin removed from the company’s board of directors and his sons, Bernardo and Miguel, leaving their executive positions with Odebrecht.

After 2014, Victor Gradin passed his stake in Odebrecht to his children. Bernardo is the founder and president of GranBio, a Brazilian biotechnology company that creates low-carbon footprint renewable products such as biofuels and biochemicals from the conversion of biomass. Miguel Gradin is a partner at Graal Participações Ltda., a holding company specialising in alternative energy.