Victor Kiam

Victor K. Kiam (07 December 1926 - 27 May 2001) was an American entrepreneur and the owner of the New England Patriots from 1988-1991.

After attending such universities as Yale, the Sorbonne and Harvard Business School, Kiam became part of the Lever Brothers and Playtex company as a salesperson. He first made his fortune as the President and CEO of Remington Products, which he famously purchased after his wife bought him his first electric shaver. In 1994, Victor Kiam sold controlling interest of Remington Products to Isaac Perlmutter. Kiam also operated two other companies: Ronson and TravelSmart. Kiam also bought the Benrus Watch Company in 1967. The company filed bankruptcy in 1977.

He became even more famous as the spokesperson for his Remington shaver. Kiam's famous catch-phrase, "I liked it so much, I bought the company!" made him a household name; the phrase "Doing a Victor Kiam" has now become a term for a customer who becomes the owner of a company. He famously recorded each advert in the native language in which the advert was broadcast.

Upon Kiam's death "The Times" quoted one of his closest business associates in later years, Jonathon Lyons, as saying that he was "a truly remarkable entrepreneur of the old kind - the kind they simply don't make any more."

Kiam wrote a number of business books:
*"Going for It!: How to Succeed As an Entrepreneur"
*"Keep Going for It!"
*"Live to Win: Achieving Success in Life and Business"

Kiam last resided in West Palm Beach, Florida.

References

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External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1356903.stm BBC obituary]