Dan Olson
Managing Partner, North America/Irvine
Wunderman and Y&R Advertising
"Marketing always has involved the art of managing and leveraging change through thought leadership and accountability. And today, the geometric change in our environment makes it even more important than ever before to focus on knowing your customer in order to drive business success through rigor and creative solutions."
A veteran marketer, with strong relationship and digital marketing experience, Dan Olson oversees the strategic development and execution of the agency's complete Young & Rubicam Brands offering, which includes Wunderman and Y&R Advertising, and other marketing services.
For Wunderman, Dan leads growth strategies and business development and is responsible for direct and customer relationship marketing, events, promotions, customer dialogue, creative, database and digital marketing campaigns.
In 2008, Southwest Airlines selected Wunderman Irvine as Agency of Record for the airlines' award-winning frequent flyer program, Rapid Rewards. In addition, Dan was instrumental in the agency's wins of Toshiba, Jenny Craig, Hilton Hotels, Doubletree Hotels, Southwest Airlines and Altria.
Dan joined Wunderman in 2001 and quickly rose in the ranks from account director to managing director. In 2005, Dan was promoted to chief operating officer of Young & Rubicam Brands in Irvine - a combined office which includes Y&R and Wunderman. In January 2008, Dan took over as the Irvine office CEO.
Prior to Wunderman, Dan was at Choicepoint Direct, then the world's fourth-largest database marketing company, where he managed the West Coast office and served clients such as Citibank, Washington Mutual, Esurance, and Lucky Supermarkets.
During his early career, Dan owned and managed a small boutique agency with offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Clients included Bank of America, Warner Lambert, Johnson & Johnson, and Paramount Great America Parks.
Dan received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from California State University - Long Beach. He is a member of the American Association of Advertising Agencies Southern California Council. Dan enjoys piano, fishing, skiing and running.