Jim Olson serves as president of the Utah Jazz, an entity of Smith Entertainment Group (SEG). In this position, he provides strategic leadership for the organization’s assets – which include the Utah Jazz NBA franchise, Delta Center, the Salt Lake City Stars NBA G League team, and Jazz Gaming NBA 2K team – and also oversees all day-to-day business operations.

Olson joined the Utah Jazz in 1994 when it was under the ownership of Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment (LHMSE) and has held multiple positions during his tenure, including vice president of ticket sales (2003-06), senior vice president of sales and marketing (2006-2013), chief operating officer of LHMSE (2013-15), and president of Vivint Arena (2015-2019). Within one year of being named president of LHMSE in October 2019, he played a critical role in helping the organization achieve two major wins. First, he helped the Utah Jazz win the bid to host the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, and, in fall 2020, he supported the seamless transition of ownership when Ryan Smith purchased the company from LHMSE, a move that kicked off a new era for the Utah Jazz. Additionally, Olson has had key management responsibilities for other entities that have fallen within the organization’s portfolio including the Salt Lake Bees, The Zone Sports Network, and the Tour of Utah.

Currently, Olson serves on both the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation board and the Salt Lake City Police Foundation Board. He has also served on the University of Utah’s Alumni Association Board of Directors and Crimson Club Board, the Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors, and the boards for the Downtown Alliance, Visit Salt Lake, and Camp Kostopulos.

A native and long-time resident of Salt Lake City, Olson graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in communications. He also achieved a master’s degree in sports and recreation management from Northeastern University in Boston.

He and his wife, Suzi, have four children and two grandchildren.