Gustaf Woldemar Wrede af Elimä (28 July 1889 – 17 February 1958) was a Finnish Freiherr, engineer and businessman.

During World War II Wrede led the nickel mining company Petsamon Nikkeli Oy.

[2] Carolus Wrede's companies produced agricultural machinery and he became interested in tractors, as he saw a big market potential in Russian Plains where fields reached as far as eye can see.

During 1912–1914 he worked as chief engineer for Jackson Automobile Company in Michigan, where he focused on learning tractor technology.

While the construction was modern, Kullervo was not sales success; despite government subsidies, American Fordson ruled the Finnish market.

[1] In 1920–1922 Wrede worked as general manager in another agricultural machinery producer Tykö bruks Ab.

The Wuppermann family had high expectations for potential of the Dalsbruk factory and invested on it total 23.5 million Finnish marks.

The company still owned large areas of land which was eventually sold; this reduced the need for money borrowed.

As the Finnish government changed its tariff policy more favourable, Wrede managed to press the losses down in 1930–1931.

On the other hand, following collapse of international raw material bar cartel, competition had become more intense and prices dropped.

[1] In 1932 Dalsbruk got a large order for train wheels and axles from the State Railways, which led to immediate improvement; prices had stabilised, the factory was saved, Wrede had become its owner and paid compensation to Wuppermann family for continuation of operations.

[4] Wrede got an offer for manager position in Petsamon Nikkeli Oy in Petsamo 1940, right after the Winter War.

The company management had recently decided to invest on Kolosjoki mine and Wrede led the construction project determinedly.

Due to political conditions, Wrede had to leave the mine in September 1944; he placed the company keys on his office desk before he left.

Situation changed in the 1950s after Finland had paid off the war reparations – Valmet fell into crisis, as it had to find new lines of business and start working in free market.

The company needed an experienced and determined leader, and Wrede became selected new manager of Valmet in 1954 after nomination by Väinö Tanner.

[1] It was the most significant domestic competitor of the other leading Finnish engineering company Wärtsilä Group − managed by Wrede's brother-in-law.

Finnish agriculture mechanised rapidly in the 1950s and Valmet tractors gained a strong foothold in the domestic market.