IESE Business School

Xavier Oliver Professor of Marketing Doctor in Communications, University of Navarra Licenciado en Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Universidad de Barcelona

His career started off at the United Nations in 1974, when he conducted a study on emergency situations in the Middle East. He also worked for the World Council of Churches (Jerusalem, 1974) and the World Health Organization (Copenhagen, 1975).

He has been Chairman and CEO of BBDO Spain, a holding company with 1.200 employees and 13 companies of commercial communications and a member of the Board of Directors of BBDO Worldwide during 10 years. He created and leaded BBDO University, a corporate university with campuses in four regions of the world. After 32 years of service he left the company to devote himself to teaching, his winery and consultancy.

Previously, he held the positions of president of the European Advertising Agencies Association EAAA (1999-2000) and the Asociación Española de Agencias de Publicidad (AEAP) (1990-1994). He was a member of the jury at numerous prestigious advertising and film festivals such as SAWA (Cannes, 1984), FIAP (Brazil, 1985) and the New York Festivals (1988). He was a founding member, advisor and jury member of the Asociación de Autocontrol de la Publicidad (Advertising Self-Regulatory Body). He was the founder and the director (from 1986 to 1996) of El Sol, San Sebastian Advertising Festival.

Prof. Oliver has written and contributed to books published by the United Nations and IESE Business School, such as Advertising Communication (1997) and Ethics in Marketing and Publicity (1998). At IESE, he has developed various cases in the areas of marketing and strategic branding.

Areas of interest

* Brands and brand development
* Commercial Communications
* Ethics in marketing and advertising