Patrick Janssens studied Political and Social Sciences and Applied Economic Sciences at the University of Antwerp and Statistics at the London School of Economics. From 1979 to 1985 he was an assistant to Professor H. Deleeck at the University of Antwerp's Social Policy Centre. From 1985 to 1999 he was the director of the Dimarso market research agency. Between 1989 and 1999 he occupied several posts at the VVL/BBDO advertising agency (strategic director, managing director and chairman of BBDO Belgium). In October 1999 he became the chairman of the sp.a (socialist party) and in 2000 was elected as a member of the council for the Antwerp sp.a. Since 2003 he has been mayor of Antwerp.