Oei Wie Gwan

Oei Wie Gwan, a native of Lasem, Central Java, was the founder of the iconic kretek company PT Djarum. The company was established on April 21, 1951 on Bitingan Kudus Street with the aid of 10 employees. The small time venture soon took off.

Oei Wie Gwan in the mid-1950s, purchased the defunct Djarum brand from its license holders. The word "Djarum" refers to a gramophone needle.

His first business venture was the establishment of a fireworks factory under the brand Leo, located in Rembang, Central Java. Leo became a leading fireworks brand in Indonesia. The factory, established pre-World War II, stopped production after the nation gained independence, due to a government ban which resulted in the closure of fireworks factories all over Indonesia.

Kretek became Oei Wie Gwan's business of choice following the closure of his fireworks business. Under the PT Djarum brand, tobacco and cloves, were blended in cigarettes.

In 1963, his death left his sons Michael Bambang Hartono and Robert Budi Hartono at the helm of the company.