Former PHD boss Barry O’Brien to chair media charity Mayday

Tim Burrowes

April 20, 2012 10:16

Barry O’Brien is to chair media industry charity Mayday, the CEO of PHD announced at a party in Sydney last night to mark his departure from the agency.

Mayday – Media Assisting Youth – was cofounded by Kerry McCabe, now director of advertising and online at Microsoft.

During his leaving speech O’Brien told the audience that McCabe, who returned to Australia in October, had been quick to ask him to be involved when he announced he was stepping down from PHD. He said “He’s been away for two years. He found me in two minutes.”

O’Brien also used the speech to remind the audience that he was not retiring and was open to offers.

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Tim Burrowes

Tim Burrowes is the publisher of Mumbrella and Unmade. He co-founded Mumbrella in 2008 and sister title Unmade in 2021. He's worked in the UK, Middle East, Asia & Australia and has specialised in writing about the communications world for the last 25 years. He wrote the book Media Unmade, published in 2021, and became the presenter of MediaLand on ABC Radio National in 2025.