Mr. Wästberg is a distinguished diplomat, writer, and communications consultant, serving in almost every aspect of Swedish international relations for the last 50 years.
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, July 13, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to name Olle M. Wastberg a Lifetime Achiever. An accomplished listee, Mr. Wastberg celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mr. Wastberg is a distinguished diplomat, writer, and communications consultant, serving in almost every aspect of Swedish international relations for the last 50 years. He transitioned from a successful career in journalism, broadcasting, and finance, serving for five years as the consul general of Sweden to New York. Mr. Wastberg was named the 2003 Swedish Man of the Year in New York, and won the 2013 Karl Staaf Liberal Gold Medal. He serves his country today on the Committee on Public Service in Sweden, as partner of Industricentralen Inc., as well as chair of the Isaac Hirsch Foundation in support of the elderly.
Born to Erik and Greta Wastberg in 1945, Mr. Wastberg is a Stockholm native and studied at the University of Stockholm to earn a Bachelor of Arts in 1972. He became involved in the Liberal Youth political society of Sweden as early as 1966, serving as secretary and vice president. While at the university, he taught political science, wrote as a journalist in the political department of the Expressen, and was also involved in research at the Business and Society Research Center until 1976. In that same year, Mr. Wastberg became a member of the Swedish Parliament and the president of Aktieframjandet, becoming a more active member in the business community.
Of particular note, Mr. Wastberg served on the board of the Stockholm Stock Exchange from 1979 to 1983, and again from 1988 to 1992. He was made editor-in-chief of the Expressen for one year, and served as the president of the Swedish Newspaper Promotion Association. In the '90s, Mr. Wastberg was appointed undersecretary of state for the Swedish Ministry of Finance, and became president of the board for Nordic Investment Bank and the Swedish Broadcasting Corporation.
With one hand in business and one hand in communications, Mr. Wastberg had never set foot in a diplomatic role, but his appointment as general consul was mutually beneficial for Sweden and the U.S. between 1999 and 2004. On his website, Mr. Wastberg reflects on the importance of the U.S. as a trading partner, and the unique relationship of Sweden as an investment center for Americans. His efforts are largely concentrated in promoting the image of Sweden, and he utilizes the diversity of New York as an important representation of Americans' reception to Swedish production.
Mr. Wastberg continued to serve in the early 2000s as director general of the Swedish Institute, and devoted the last six years to leading the board of the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education. In a related role, he served as the government coordinator for the Raoul Wallenberg Centennial, the jury of the European Council Raoul Wallenberg Award, and on the board of the Raoul Wallenberg Academy. Mr. Wastberg accepted the position of chair for the Swedish Government's Committee on Democracy from 2014 to 2016. As a member of the Swedish Parliament, he holds the honor of being able to name candidates to the Nobel Prize, and was instrumental in that capacity for Holocaust survivor and celebrated author Elie Wiesel, who won in 1986.
The Swedish Psychological Defense has employed Mr. Wastberg as head of department, and he has served in a professional capacity with Ethico, the Bertil Ohlin Institute, government committees in South Africa, Bord G10 at the International Monetary Fund, Working Party 3 at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the government globalization council of the Swedish American Foundation. Outside his capacity as an important member of the international community, Mr. Wastberg has served as president of the board for Thiel Art Gallery, chair of the Stockholm City Theatre, chair of the Friends of Hebrew at the University of Jerusalem, and president of the executive committee of the Liberal Party in Sweden. He is on the board of the Swedish Public Art Association, Swedes Worldwide, and the Sweden American Foundation. Mr. Wastberg has authored numerous books and articles on African problems as well as immigration politics and economics.
For Mr. Wastberg's invaluable service as a Swedish diplomat, international businessman, and media leader, he was awarded the 2013 His Majesty the King's Medal from the country of Sweden and the 1982 Gold Medal from the Swedish Marketing Group. He was selected for inclusion in numerous volumes of Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the World, and the 1998 to 1999 volume of Who's Who in Finance and Industry. To find out more about Mr. Wastberg, please visit his website at http://wastberg.se.
In recognition of outstanding contributions to his profession and the Marquis Who's Who community, Mr. Wastberg has been featured on the Marquis Who's Who Lifetime Achievers website. Please visit www.ltachievers.com for more information about this honor.
About Marquis Who's Who :
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America , Marquis Who's Who has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
# # #