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Michael O'Brien
Michael O’Brien is Chief Strategy Office at Ketchum, focusing on the firm’s immediate and long-term global business strategies. He leads client experience globally and also coaches client directors across the global network helping solve client challenges, training to promote best practices, managing agency effectiveness — all with the goal of maximizing every Ketchum client engagement.
This is Michael’s second stint with Ketchum. Previously he headed Brand Marketing at Ketchum New York. Some of the accounts under his direct leadership included the Eastman Kodak Company and Visa USA. During his tenure, Michael’s teams won every major public relations industry award including PR Week Awards, PRSA Silver Anvils and Holmes Report Sabres. Prior to returning to Ketchum, Michael spent four years at Cohn & Wolfe, as the director of the Global Consumer and B2B Practice and the general manager of the agency’s New York office. He served as a senior counselor to many clients including Nike, Ford and Panasonic.
Michael also served as the director of Global Communications at Mastercard International. In this position Michael managed global communications strategy and implementation for consumer credit, business payments and e-commerce products. He also spent five years in various account roles at Ogilvy Public Relations.
He received a B.A. in Communications from Marist College. Michael is currently serving as Chairman of Marist College’s Lowell Thomas School of Communications Advisory Board.
Posts: Michael O'Brien
Remembering 9/11
by Michael O'Brien | September 10, 2021
If you’re old enough to have experienced, directly or indirectly, the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, you may have been asked over the years “Where were you on 9/11?” For people in New York, Washington D.C. or rural Pennsylvania, that question has a singular resonance. In my case, the answer is simple: “At Ketchum.” Where else would […]
Ketchum’s Secret Superpower: Empathy
by Michael O'Brien | July 19, 2021
I have always taken great pride in being a part of the Ketchum family, but never more than the last year. As an agency, we have truly lived our purpose, showing up for each other and our clients to do work that truly matters. The effort, resilience and care Ketchum people displayed daily was inspiring, […]
Start Your Year with Grit, Adaptability and Focus
by Michael O'Brien | January 2, 2020
Turning the page to a new year is a moment to look back at the past and forward to the future. And so, as we take our first steps into 2020, I find myself thinking about the two questions I’m consistently asked about life in the world of public relations. The first is, “What is the biggest change you’ve seen in your […]
The Right Content
by Michael O'Brien | March 9, 2014
One of my favorite websites is Humans of New York. It features photos of people in public spaces accompanied by a short story or quote that brings you into their world. The sites creator, Brandon Stanton, spoke today at SXSW about his vision. Humans of New York is regularly followed by four million people and […]
