Klas Erik Böök was a Swedish diplomat and public servant who served as Governor of the Swedish National Bank from 1948 to 1951 and was Swedish ambassador in various countries between 1951 and 1972.
Career
Böök was born in Lund, Sweden, the son of professor Fredrik Böök and his wife Tora. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lund University in 1934 and studied at London School of Economics in 1935 and received a Licentiate of Philosophy degree from Lund University in 1936. Böök became lieutenant at Wendes Artillery Regiment's reserve in 1935 and was hired by the Swedish National Bank in 1936 where he became secretary in 1937. He was acting bank advisor and head of the Statistics Department in 1940. Böök was deputy director of the Foreign Exchange Control Office in 1940, was a director there in 1947 and chairman from 1948 to 1951. He was a member of the National Export Credits Guarantee Board in 1943 and deputy chairman from 1947 to 1951. Böök was bank director and head of the II section within the Swedish National Bank in 1943 and was governor of the bank from 1948 to 1951. His diplomatic career began when he was appointed head of the Commercial Department of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and envoy from 1947 to 1948. He was minister in Ottawa from 1951 to 1956, ambassador in Beijing from 1956 to 1961, also accredited as envoy to Bangkok from 1956 to 1959. Böök was ambassador in New Delhi, also accredited to Colombo and Kathmandu from 1961 to 1965 and in Bern from 1965 to 1972. He had special assignments for the Foreign Ministry from 1972 to 1975. Böök was a member of the Trade Commission from 1944 to 1947 and was the deputy chairman from 1945 to 1947. He was a member of the National Reconstruction Board from 1944 to 1946 and the Foreign Capital Control Office Board from 1945 to 1951. Böök was also member of the board of an international bank in Basel from 1949 to 1951, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development from 1951 to 1952, the International Monetary Fund in 1951 and the Postal Savings Bank Council from 1949 to 1951. Böök was participant in the negotiations on trade and payment agreements.
Personal life
In 1933 Böök married Aina Hakon-Pettersson, daughter of engineer Erik Hakon-Pettersson and Julia. He was the father Annika, Ole, Kim, Susanne and Peter. Böök died in 1980 and was buried at Östra Karup Cemetery in Östra Karup.
