The chief founder of Vísir hf., Páll H. Pálsson, was born in Reykjavík in 1932. A few weeks old he moved toThingeyri, where he grew up with his parents and three siblings. His parents were Páll Jónsson and Jóhanna Daðey Gísladóttir. The family lived in the heart of Thingeyri at Aðalstræti 4. His father, Páll, owned the boats Fjölnir and Hilmir. He went down with Hilmir, whilst fishing in Faxafloi in 1943. Jóhanna Daðey managed Fjölnir during the war, where it operated as a herring and fish transport vessel until it sank. It collided with an English Post Ship at the end of the war, in March 1945.

Páll H. Pálsson was eleven years of age when he first went to sea as a shipmate on board Fjölnir. There after he worked as a fisherman on several boats and trawlers until entering the School of Navigation. He graduated from there in 1953. That year, alongside others, he purchased Águst Thórarinsson, a 100-ton boat from Stykkishólmur. It was subsequently re-named Fjölnir ÍS 177 and operated as a long-line fishing vessel from Thingeyri.

During his school days in the south of Iceland, he became acquainted with Margrét Sighvatsdottir. They got married on Fisherman’s Day in 1955 and set up home in Keflavik. They have recently celebrated a dual Anniversary, 50 years of marriage and 40 years in business. Pall and Margret have six children. They are Margrét, Pall Jóhann, Pétur Hafsteinn, Kristín Elísabet, Svanvít Daðey and Sólný Ingibjörg.

After graduating from The School of Navigation, Páll took up the position of first mate on m/v Vonin from Keflavik and later m/b Hilmir. Next he became captain on m/b Nonni and thereafter on m/b Báran. In 1963 Páll purchased m/b Farsæll and used it for long-line and lobster fishing. The following year, together with Kristmundur Finnbogason and Ásgeir Lúðvíksson, he purchased the motorboat Vísir KE 70 and the fishing factory Sævik in Grindavík. It was there that the family relocated in November 1965. The Company Vísir hf. was subsequently officially founded on the 1st of December 1965.

Páll was Director up to the year 2000 and is presently the chief operations officer. He received the honorary Icelandic Order of the Falcon in 200, for his lifetime achievement within the fishing industry and fish processing.