Mr. Jens Olesen has been President of McCann-Brazil for 30 years and 28 years as President of McCann WorldGroup Latin America/Caribbean and member of McCann-Erickson WorldGroup Board of Directors in New York for 26 years.
Mr. Olesen grew McCann-Erickson WorldGroup Latin America/Caribbean in 28 years by 742% in US dollars and in 2005 McCann-Brazil grew over 30% in US dollars to US$ 3.8 billion dollars.
Mr. Olesen is the longest serving Executive Officer in McCann-Erickson WorldGroup history
A native of Copenhagen, Jens Olesen began his advertising career in 1960 as a management trainee with Dansk Esso, joining the Interpublic Group of Companies Erwin/Wasey agency in London as a junior account executive in 1964/65.
During the first years of his career with McCann-Erickson in 1966 he worked in New York as assistant to Mr. Eugene Kummel, President of McCann Worldwide, and in the San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Boston, Atlanta, Pittsburg, Detroit and Miami offices handling important accounts such as Del Monte, Coca-Cola, Westinghouse, Esso, Gillette and General Motors, moving to Paris as an Account Executive in 1968.
Jens Olesen first came to Brazil in 1969 where he was in charge of General Motors and Goodyear accounts. In 1970 he went to Norway as the McCann Manager, and from 1971 to 1975 to Denmark as General Manager returning to Brasil in 1976 as International Senior Vice President and General Manager. By 1977 he was in charge of McCann's Latin American South region and then he was appointed Regional Director for all Latin America/Caribbean. In 1977 was made President of the McCann-Erickson WorldGroup Latin America/Caribbean
He attended the School of Commerce & Trade in Copenhagen and earned his B.A. in ‘Business Administration’ from Columbia University. He has also attended the Pittman College in London and took the AMP at Harvard University in 1980/81, INSEAD Fontainebleau-France 1982, and IMEDE Lausanne 1983. In addition, as a reflection of his international experience, he speaks English, Danish and Portuguese fluently, Swedish and Norwegian very well and understands Spanish.
Mr. Olesen has won several awards such as "Healey" Trophy from the Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG), the H.K. McCann and the American Chamber of Commerce awards for outstanding contributions to the communication industry and to McCann-Erickson.
In 1982 he was elected "Man of the Year" by the Danish and the American Chamber of Commerce, followed by "Communications Man of the Year" by the Tendência magazine and the "International Personality" by the Wall Street Journal in 1985.
Mr. Olesen's achievements have been highly recognized by Danish and Brazilian governments alike. In 1986 he was awarded the "Commander of Rio Branco" by President José Sarney and three years later President Fernando Collor de Mello awarded him the title of "Grand Officer of the Order of Rio Branco" for strengthening cultural ties between Brasil and Scandinavia.
• The Danish Queen Margrethe II bestowed the "Knight of Dannebrog" on him in 1988 for services rendered to the Danish/Scandinavian community in São Paulo during a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Copenhagen.
• In 1992 the Brazilian government also bestowed on Mr. Olesen the highest decoration of "Commander of the Order of Cruzeiro do Sul" in recognition of his significant contributions in the field of culture.
• The Mayor of São Paulo has presented him with the Anchieta Medal for "outstanding services to the city", thereby making Mr. Olesen an “Honorary Citizen of São Paulo City” a very unique distinction.
• In 1992 the most important museum in Brazil and Latin America, Museu de Arte de São Paulo, awarded Mr. Olesen the "Assis Chateaubriand" medal on the occasion of the celebration of its centennial, "in recognition of his great contributions to the culture and art in São Paulo.
• HRH King Harald of Norway bestowed on Mr. Jens Olesen, in 1993, the decoration of "Kongelig Norsk Fortjenesteorden af 1. Grad" for his invaluable help in spreading the values of the Norwegian culture in Brazil.
• In 1994, under the leadership of Jens Olesen, McCann-Brasil, for the second time in the company's history, has won the Robert E. Healey Award for the best performance among the Interpublic Group of Companies in the world.
And, for the first time in McCann-Erickson's history, Mr. Jens Olesen received, for the third time, the Robert E. Healey Award, Interpublic's highest award in recognition of management for consolidating McCann Latin America/Caribbean as the number one agency in the region for the 20th consecutive year (only IPG executive to receive it 3 times)
In 1995, President Fernando Henrique Cardoso bestowed on Mr. Olesen the "Grand Cross of Cruzeiro do Sul" in recognition for his contributions to Brazil in the advertising as well as cultural areas.
In 1997, Mr. Jens Olesen received from the President of Venezuela, Mr. Rafael Caldera, the Francisco de Miranda Grand Cross, as recognition of his great contributions to advertising in Venezuela.
In the same year, Mr. Jens Olesen has also won the McCann-Erickson World Group “5 Year Leadership Award” for his personal leadership in leading McCann-Erickson as the #1 agency in the region for the 25th consecutive year. In addition, McCann-Erickson Brasil, under Jens Olesen’s successful management has been awarded the “5 Year Leadership” award for continuous growth, profitability and New Business over the last 5 years.
In 1998, as the first foreigner to receive such an award, Mr. Olesen has been bestowed by President Fernando Henrique Cardoso the “Commander Cross for Cultural and Communications Merit”, for enhancing the Brazilian cultural ties with many countries, as well as his contributions to the communications business.
Due to his special contributions in positioning Copenhagen as the tourist, commercial, trade and cultural center of Denmark and Northern Europe, Mr. Olesen was made "Goodwill Ambassador to Copenhagen" in 1997. In 2002 and 2004 Mr. Olesen was elected "The Goodwill Ambassador of the Year" by the Lord Mayor of Copenhagen.
• In 1998 Mr. Olesen was awarded the Advertising Man of the year” by the Brazilian Advertising Association and the President of Paraguay, Mr. Wasmosy, has awarded Mr. Olesen with the “National Merit Commander Cross”.
• In 1999 H.R.H. King Carl Gustav of Sweden bestowed the decoration of “Nordstjernen 1.grad” for his contribution to Swedish cultural activities.
• In 2001 Mr. Olesen was awarded the “Commander Cross for Cultural Merit” by President Fernando Henrique Cardoso for his cultural contributions at the São Paulo Art Bienal, the Mercosul Art Bienal and many other art exhibitions in Brazil, Latin America and Scandinavia.
• In 2001 Mr. Olesen was also elected "Communications Man of the Year" by Gazeta Mercantil (Wall Street Journal in Brazil).
• In 2001 the Governor of the Distrito Federal (Brasília) awarded him the “Commander Cross” for cultural contributions.
• In 2002 the Governor of the State of Paraná (Curitiba) awarded the Commander Cross of Ipiranga for cultural contributions.
• In 2002 the Governor of the State of Pernambuco (Recife) awarded Mr. Jens Olesen with the “Grand Cross of Guararapes” for his contributions to the Albert Eckhout cultural project (only three have received this rare distinction).
• In 2003, Mr. Jens Olesen was bestowed by the Governor of São Paulo State, Dr. Geraldo Alckmin, the “Grand Official Ipiranga Medal” for his cultural contributions to São Paulo and Brazil, the first foreigner to receive this high award.
Mr. Olesen was responsible for 110 communication companies in 42 countries in Latin America/Caribbean. In more than half of the countries McCann agencies rank either number one or two. Among the multi-national accounts serviced throughout the region are: General Motors, Coca-Cola, Bayer/Miles, Esso, Lufthansa, Goodyear, Johnson & Johnson, L'Oréal, Nestle', Gillette, Bacardi, Telefonica, American Airlines, Colgate, Siemens, Italian Telecom, Banco Santander, Cadbury, Brazilian Tourist Board, MasterCard, Microsoft, Unilever, Intel etc. Under the leadership of Mr. Olesen McCann-Erickson was elected "Agency of the Year" in Brasil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Puerto Rico and has been the #1 advertising/communications agency in Latin America/Caribbean region for 28 consecutive years.
Mr. Olesen is serving as President of the Danish Chamber of Commerce, and of the International Advertising Association in Brasil, president of the Scandinavian Club, Director of the Brazilian Media Institute and of the American Chamber of Commerce. He was also chairman, from 1988 through 1992, of the Scandinavian Club's 100 years Anniversary Committee. He has been a member of the advisory board of the "Council of the Americas," New York, the American Management Center, the Young Presidents' Organization and the Harvard Club of Brazil, the Whitney Museum in New York as well as International Director/Vice-President of the XXII, XXIII, XXIV, XXV São Paulo Biennales, Vice-Commissioner for the Biennales in Venice, Istanbul, Documenta Kassel, Johannesburg, Sydney, Havana, Buenos Aires and International Director for the II Mercosul Bienal in Porto Alegre.
Mr. Olesen has published twelve books on "Creativity in Latin America/Caribbean" in 1980, "New Business - the Name of the Game”, “Normal People Do Not Work in Advertising”, “COBRA My Passion”, “Art My Life”, “My first 100 exhibitions”, “30 Years in International Advertising”, “Jens Birkemose 1975-2004”, “My Dreams – The Stars of the Royal Danish Ballet”, “To Live a Life by Living”, “Hans Christian Andersen – Carnival 2005 Imperatriz Leopoldinense”, “Mads Lange 200 years 1807-2007”.
• Mr. Olesen was elected Hans Christian Andersen Goodwill Ambassador for Latin America and Brazil in 2004, and in 2006 was given the ‘Hans Christian Andersen Prize’ in Odense.
• In 2005 Mr. Olesen was awarded the “Libertae” award by the ABP – Brazilian Advertisers Association.
• Mr. Olesen was made “Doutor Honoris Causa” by Fundação Casper Líbero/University of São Paulo in November 2005 for his contributions to the advertising/communication industry.
• Mr. Olesen was appointed Consul General of Norway in São Paulo in November 2005.
• In 2007 Mr. Olesen received the “Commander Cross of Dannebrog” from Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
• In 2007 Mr. Jens Olesen has received the “Commander Cross of Culture Cruz & Souza” from the Governor of Santa Catarina, Mr. Luiz Henrique da Silveira.
• Mr. Olesen has also been made “Honorary Citizen” of Aalesund in Norway in 2007.
• In 2009 Mr. Olesen was made “Honorary Citizen” of Lagoa Santa, Minas Gerais for his contribution to P.W. Lund.
Mr. Olesen has initiated, coordinated, supervised more than 210 major cultural events and exhibitions in the time of 1985 to 2010 in Brazil, Latin America, Europe and USA., exhibitions such as Edvard Munch, Picasso, Van Gogh, Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon, Louise Bourgeois, Joan Mitchell, Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Mondrian, Albert Eckhout, COBRA, Goya, Klein, Malevitch, Matisse, Baselitz, and many Scandinavian art exhibitions such as Per Kirkeby, Tal R, Jens Birkemose, Kjell Nuppen, Alfredo Andersen, Kenneth Nielsen, Svend Wiig Hansen, etc. including 9 tours of the Royal Danish Ballet as well as films, opera, musical, photograph events during the last 22 years.
Mr. Olesen has supervised major Brazilian exhibitions such as João Câmara, Volpi, Ianelli, Tomie Ohtake, Mira Schendell, Mabe, Antonio Bandeira, Portinari, Iberê Camargo, Sergio Camargo, Ana Mariani, and Latin American exhibitions such as Torres Garcia, Figari, Iturria, Mata, Gego, Soto, Botero, Rendon, Rufino Tamayo, Toledo, Siqueiros, Kcho.
Mr. Olesen co-sponsored the first Chinese Contemporary Chinese exhibition outside China in 1992 with Zhang Xiaogang, Deng Lin and Fang Lijun, etc. In addition, in 1996 eight Chinese contemporary artists were exhibited for the fist time at the São Paulo Bienal and in the Americas and at the 1st Polar Bienal in Ushuaia, Argentina in 2008, and Mercosul Bienal, in 2002.
Mr. Jens Olesen has been involved for more than 30 years in many ‘social community’ campaigns such as “Children on the street”, “Homeless Children”, UNESCO-Children, Children Sexual Abuse, AACC Handicapped children, Teleton, Rain Forest, ABRINQ, Hunger, AIDS, Drugs, Salvation Army, Scandinavian Fair, Save the Children, CARE, United Nations, SOS Cities, Amazonas, cholera and vaccination campaigns as well as major campaigns for “São Paulo City” as well as São Paulo Convention Bureau., not least “Brand Brazil” for the Brazilian government. Mr. Olesen has been awarded the UNESCO award in 2000 and “Pele” award in 2002, as well Mr. Olesen has won 3 Gold Lions at Cannes Festival, and 2 Gold Lions at the Venice Festival.
Mr. Olesen has been an advisor/consultant to Rio Olympic Games 2016 in 2007-2010 and Mr. Olesen was an official delegate to ‘the São Paulo City’ delegation to COP15 – 2009.