Jakov Bienenfeld

Who is Jakov Bienenfeld?

Jakov Bienenfeld is Croatian entrepreneur and developer.

Bienenfeld was born in Zagreb on July 28, 1948 to a Jewish family. Most members of his family have perished during the Holocaust. His father, Zlatko Bienenfeld, was Major general of the Croatian Army and personal adviser to late Croatian defence minister Gojko Šušak. Bienenfeld is prominent entrepreneur, who owns several successful businesses, including travel agency and developing company. In the 1990s Bienenfeld brought an exclusive German fashion brand Escada to Croatia. Bienenfeld is also member and Council member of the Zagreb Jewish community.

During the Croatian War of Independence, in 1991, he co-organized aid convoy on ferryboat "Ilirija" to bring the humanitarian aid to bounded Dubrovnik. With the help and cooperation from Slobodan Praljak, Bienenfeld also co-organized rescue of more than 1,200 Jews from Sarajevo during Bosnian War. Bienenfeld testified in Praljak's favor during his trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.