Olsen+Partners
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public relations, Marketing, Advertising |
| Predecessor | A. W. Olsen & Partners |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Gints Lazdins, Olga Kazaka |
| Headquarters | Riga , Latvia |
Area served | Baltic region, International |
Key people | Gints Lazdins (Co-founder), Olga Kazaka (Co-founder) |
| Products | Public relations services, Marketing services, Advertising services |
Olsen+Partners—previously known as A. W. Olsen & Partners—is a communication firm based in Latvia, established in 2005 by Gints Lazdins and Olga Kazaka. The agency focuses on public relations, marketing, and advertising services, securing a significant foothold both within the Baltic region and on the international stage. It holds the record for the most IPRA Golden World Awards received by any Baltic agency, totaling nine honors.
History
From its inception, Olsen+Partners has been recognized for delivering influential campaigns. In 2011, the agency earned a Gold award at the Baltic PR Awards for an effective lobbying initiative. Five years later, in 2016, it achieved two Gold distinctions at the same awards for the #pay (#nomaksāt) campaign targeting social and public sectors, along with a European Excellence Award in the category of "Change Communications."
The 2018 #FraudOff (#atkrāpies) campaign garnered multiple prestigious awards, including an IPRA Golden World Award for public sector engagement, a European Excellence Award, and accolades at the Eventiada IPRA Golden World Awards under "Social Projects." Additionally, the "Celebrity Box" digital communications effort was honored with a Bronze at the Mi:t&links Baltic Communication Awards.
In 2019, Olsen+Partners was recognized with an IPRA Golden World Award for successfully blending traditional and new media. The agency sustained its momentum in 2021 by securing a European Excellence Award in "Change Communications" and three IPRA Golden World Awards for the "Be Real!" ("Esi reāls!") initiative developed for Latvia’s Consumer Rights Protection Centre to encourage critical awareness of social media content.
By 2023, Olsen+Partners had won four IPRA Golden World Awards spanning categories such as "Integration of Traditional and New Media," "Public Affairs," "Public Sector," and "Healthcare." That same year marked its rebranding from "A. W. Olsen & Partners" to "Olsen+Partners," highlighting trust-building as a core element of its strategic direction.
Founders
The agency was co-founded by Gints Lazdins and Olga Kazaka, both possessing extensive backgrounds in corporate communication and trust development.
Olga Kazaka, who holds a PhD in Communication Science, is an academic specializing in corporate communication, leadership, organizational culture, and trust management. Between 2011 and 2024, she served as a lecturer on Corporate Communication and Organizational Culture at the University of Latvia. She is the author of the pioneering PR textbooks in Latvian (“Pirmā PR grāmata”) and Russian ("Первая книга о PR"), alongside numerous scholarly articles and business publications. Her expertise encompasses strategic communication, leadership within PR contexts, and brand identity formation. Kazaka is also an active participant in international conferences and evaluates entries as a juror in worldwide competitions.
Gints Lazdins earned his bachelor's degree in political science followed by a master's in Cultural Management. Since 2002, he has provided consultancy to private enterprises, governmental bodies, and municipal institutions, shaping legislative policies and advising Latvian organizations on crisis communication strategies.