ABSTRACT
During the seventeenth century, overseas entrepreneurship did not necessarily have to take place outside the chartered company structure, but could just as well occur inside it. Here, individuals specialised in managing the business within the Nordic trading companies are examined. The chapter focuses not only on the role of the individuals in the organisational setting in Europe but also on the premises overseas, and considers how their specialised skills were deployed in the Nordic trading companies. The chapter shows that certain individuals were able to operate almost independently at the outposts. They made decisions on the ground regarding company business and, simultaneously, profited from the trade themselves. Most importantly, they coordinated the activities of the company overseas, using their knowledge of the local context to their own benefit.
