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Our Founder

Harold Mitchell AO – is a leading Australian businessman and regarded as the country’s most influential media planner and buyer. The son of a saw-mill worker, Harold’s career in advertising started at the age of 17 when he left the Victorian country town of Stawell for Melbourne with £2 in his pocket and found a job as an office boy in an ad agency. At 24, he became the media manager at USP Needham, and by the time he was 33 he was running the media buying operations of Masius Wynne Williams, Australia's third-biggest ad agency. Harold Mitchell pioneered the idea of an independent media agency in 1976 when he opened the doors of his own business Mitchell & Partners. He felt that the business community had a need for an enterprise that was totally dedicated to the task of researching, analysing and buying media made sense.  Mitchell & Partners is recognised as one of the first media specialist agencies in the world and has a distinguished 30+ year history, including many industry firsts and the proud ability to respond to the changing and evolving media landscape.

In May 2007 Harold sold his family business to the listed company emitch and formed Australia’s largest independent communications group, “Mitchell Communication Group”. The company works with clients across media planning & buying, strategy, digital media & marketing, branded entertainment, public relations, brand experience, sponsorship, sportsground marketing, direct marketing and corporate social responsibility.

Today, Harold is the Executive Chairman of the Mitchell Communication Group which has an annual turnover of over one billion dollars and offices in Australia and New Zealand.

In December 2000 he launched the Harold Mitchell Foundation, a philanthropic foundation to distribute funds between health and arts projects.

Harold is well known for his generosity with his time and his desire to give back to society. Living on the outskirts of Melbourne with wife Bevelly, they have two children; Stuart, the Chief Executive Officer of Mitchell Communication Group; and Amanda, who was a Director of the Foundation from 2000 to 2008.

In January 2004 Harold was awarded the Officer of the Order of Australia for his services as a benefactor and fundraiser in support of artistic and cultural endeavour.

In the past Harold has served as President of the Asthma Foundation of Victoria (1993 – 2003), the Melbourne International Arts Festival (1994 – 2001), the National Gallery of Australia (1998 – 2005), the Museums Board of Victoria (2001– 2008), and Opera Australia (1999 – 2009)

Harold is currently the Executive Chairman of Mitchell Communication Group, Chairman of CARE Australia, Chairman of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Chairman Art Exhibitions Australia, Chairman Melbourne Rebels Rugby, Chairman ThoroughVision, Director of Tennis Australia, Director Television Sydney, Director Deakin Foundation, Director Melbourne Recital Centre and Committee Member of the Grattan Institute's Public Policy Committee.

In December 2002 Deakin University conferred on him an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.  In July 2005 he was awarded the Richard Pratt Business Leader Award given by the Australian Business Arts Foundation in recognition of excellence in arts leadership, and in September 2008 the University of Western Sydney presented Harold with an Honorary Fellowship as part of the University’s Spring Graduation ceremonies.