Nels Olson Managing Director, Eastern Region Senior Client Partner Board & CEO Services New York and Washington DC
Recognized in the industry for his keen business sense and political knowledge, Mr. Olson has advised many clients through challenging management transitions. In the past 14 years, he has completed in excess of 350 successful senior leadership searches for a wide range of Fortune 500 companies, associations and non-profit organizations.
Mr. Olson’s executive search and board assignments span the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America and lie across multiple industries, including advanced technology, financial services, industrial and healthcare.
Recent CEO level assignments have included the commissioner of the NFL, Boston Federal Reserve, NFIB, PhRMA and Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers to name a few. Recent Board assignments include NewsCorp and Pepco Holdings.
Mr. Olson joined Korn/Ferry International in 1993 after a successful career in public relations and government service. Prior to joining the Firm he was with the public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard, Inc. Preceding this, Mr. Olson served on the staff of the White House in the Office of Presidential Personnel. In this capacity, he identified and recommended candidates for senior political positions in cabinet agencies and was responsible for the political clearance for all presidential appointees.
Mr. Olson is a board member of the WolfTrap Foundation and the Starlight-Starbright Foundation.
Mr. Olson earned a bachelor of arts in political science from the State University of New York and a master’s in business administration from The George Washington University.
